What size bat? Need help ASAP

[BubsMom]

What size bat would you reccommend for an 8 year old. He is 52 inches tall (4' 4") and 68-70 lbs.We are lokking for a senior league bat for travel ball. He usually uses a 29/17 or a30/17 little league bat. Is a 28/18 too small for him? Should we drop the length to compensate for the weight gain? I would appreciate as many responses as possible.

[dsore1218]

The expert is the 8 year old. What does he like to swing? I would go with a 28" bat and you would have a tough time talking me up any more sizes. I have a 13 yr old that is 5'2" or so that swings a 29" bat. We have kids on the high school team that swing 30 and 31 inch bats. No need to rush stuff like length and weight. Get comfortable.

Do not spend a lot of money. You want results? Find a good coach that can teach your son a good swing and repeatable training/warmup steps to maintain that swing. The bat is a tool, plain and simple. When you are 8 it really does not matter if it is an alloy (metal) bat or a composite bat or whatever. What matters is if the player is having fun and wants to play and develope the rest of his or her life. Let them make the choice, you be there to support the decision and to continue to give them opportunities.

Don't worry about my start them young wisecrack. My graduated senior started at 6 and his little brother started at 4. Every level above where they should have been tried to draft them or invite them up. We fought it as much as we could but eventually it was funner to play with the same skill level instead of the same age. Good Luck!!

[scarletqb02]

the lighter the better.the quicker the bat speed the better.like dsore sed you need to get the proper swing and mechanics down first but the quicker bat speed the easierr it is to learn. im about 6'4 and i use a 31 inch bat

[BubsMom]

My son works with a private coach 1-2 times a week. He has great swing mechanics and a good eye. He is in the top percent of his age group. I know that the bat is just a tool. But the bat does make a difference or everyone would be using $20 Wal-Mart bats.

[dear ol dad]

I agree with dsore. 28" -10 catalyst with 2 3/4 barrell is the absolute best choice in my opinion. I got my 8 year old one a year ago for All Stars he still loves it a year later playing travel and rec ball. You see a ton of those bats for good reason. I'd be curious what you end up getting

[dsore1218]

Yes, I think they make a difference but let me explain my 'it's a tool' thought. If a player does not have a comfortable grip, cannot fire the hips and hands at the right time, never learns to pick up the spin of the ball, and so on, then what does it matter if he swings a Wal-Mart bat or a $400 bat?

Spend the elite bat money on coaching or travel teams, things that give him more experience and a nice swing. Then once he gets older, spend the money on a bat he likes that accentuates his swing mechanics. He may like a bat that is end-loaded or one that is balanced. He may like a proven alloy over a composite. There are a lot of things about bats that can help or hurt that swing. Tools come in different sizes and weights with different purposes, just like bats. That is where I get my bat as a tool idea.

Good for you in having him in lessons and learning to love the game. That is the best part of this whole process.

I am not telling anyone to buy any old piece of crap bat. Buy a good bat, one that he likes to swing. Buy the latest, greatest bat every season if you can afford it. Just realize that when your 8 year old son gets to High School he will have benefited more from opportunities to play and lessons than any CF3 or EXO 2 that he swung as an 8 year old or a 12 year old, etc.

My second son still has a Rawlings Plasma in his bag that is at least 3 years old, a Voodoo that is 2 years old and he uses them because he likes them and is comfortable with them. He has been offered a Catalyst, a CF3 and the new white Nike CX2. In regular summer games he will swing other bats to see if he likes them but when it is a tournament or any type of upper competition, out come the bats that suit him the best. Last weekend he went 4-5 with 3 RBI's and 2 walks over a 2 game set with last years State Champions, a private Catholic high school. All with an old Plasma.

I don't really talk to our guys about this stuff but I know the serious, kill-ya baseball players take every critical swing with the same bat, the one that is the best tool for that player. Some are new technology but some are dirt sticks, the most comfortable thing they can swing.

Lastly, it is not a money thing with us. We get lots of rep support with new bats and some gear. My son can pick any bat from any rep. He has swung many of them in practice. Same with any kid on the team. They are team bats on loan from reps. No cost to the kid. In the end I think they swing what they like and what they think will be successful. Most don't bat hop either.

I hope this helps you understand where I am coming from. I have been at it for 13 years in every role you can think of other than the ones that I know are over my head. I do not claim to know everything but I will let you know what I think and I will try to find any answers that I do not know.

[dear ol dad]

Bubs Mom what bat did you get??