Looking for 22 oz / 2 1/4 alluminum bat

[smg]

Hi all,

I am looking for a 21 to 22 oz aluminum bat that has a 2 1/4 " barrel. My son plays in a Cal Ripken rules league and we need a bat to finish the tournament and all star season. The league may go to USSSA rule next year so I don't want to spend much. My son is 10 yo and weighs 140#. He is swings a 30 inch 22oz 2 3/4 big barrel in travel games and has no problems with it.

It is hard to find heavier 2 1/4 " barrel bat for this age group.

I found a web site selling Mac Gregor bats. They have New Mac X9 , New Mac x8, and New Mac X88 bats that are in the right weight range. they have 7046 alloy. Will any of them work?

I am also looking at a LS TPX Genesis bat.

Any comment on these two bats?

Thanks.
SMG

[tom2p]

Agree - very difficult to find the heavier bats (-8, etc).
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The low-end/inexpensive LS -8 bats will do the job - but they are not constructed of a top/high-end material and (therefore) will dent - especially if the kid has a good swing (great bat speed) and faces fast pitching.
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Another option - if you can find one in good shape - a used DeMarini 30-20 doublewall - F2 or F3. The F2 and F3 actually weigh more than advertised - close to 22 oz - and swing more like a 23 or 24 oz bat (because they are end/perimiter weighted).
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A few years ago, many (if not most) of the top kids with power in our league used a 30 or 31 DeMarini doublewall. And most of these kids were able to make the transition to -3 bats for middle school ball relatively quickly. The best batter in our league - ironically (and very amusing) used the cheapest/least expensive bat - a $40 LS 30-22. He used the bat until it dented and cracked - could not find another - did find a similar 31-22 or 23 - and then dented this bat also.
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btw - check your regs/rules - many no longer permit 2 3/4 bats - must use 2 5/8 ....
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[smg]

The travel games he has played in so far have used USSSA rules which allow the big barrel bat.

Our CR and BR league use the 2 1/4 for CR and 2 5/8 for BR. It would be nice if everyone used a common bat. :)

I may try to find a cheap LS bat.

Thanks.

SMG

[tom2p]

Took a quick look at our (youth) 2.25 -8 and -9 bats.
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Most are old - LS and Easton. There are LS 'Powerbolt' and Easton 'Powerbolt' bats.
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Also have an old -9 DeMarini Nitro. I believe the more recent version of the Nitro is -10. (I believe the -8 Nitro is a big barrel bat). There may still be some new -9 Nitros laying around.
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Used 30-20 F2 or F3 might be ideal. There are also some new ones laying around (F3 mostly) - but most are still fairly expensive. Still a popular bat with many.
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Good luck !