Bat size question

[SpikeDmax]

What are the drawbacks of going with a too small of a bat? My son is 8, almost 9 and is tall and skinny 4' 11" and 75lbs. He had a terrible year hitting this spring, striking out nearly every time at bat swinging a 29" - 17 oz bat. We have since got him a couple seasons and saw the error of our ways with stance and swing dynamics and he seems to be doing better but hasn't been up against a kid pitch yet. I'm thinking of getting him a 28-18 bat but before I do I'm looking for other input/opinions. What about a 29-19? Any suggestions?

Thanks

[LLdad]

That's hard to answer without watching your son hit with a variety of bat lengths and weights. I've spent three years coaching 8-10 year old Little Leaguers. I start out every year by letting the kids choose their bat, then telling them which one I think they should use after a few sessions. I'm not always right...in fact I seem to be wrong as often as I am right. I had little kids who are very strong that are most comfortable staying back off the plate and open. A couple of these little guys thrived once I gave in and let them use our 30/18 B1. They had no trouble getting it around and the extra length gave them better plate coverage. My own son, who I bought the bat for but didn't really expect to use it this year, had a big turnaround in his hitting. He crushes the ball to the opposite field which always draws oohs and ahhs from opposing coaches who don't expect that out of a sawed off little lefty.

The best hitter on my team was a skinny little 10 year old who has 190'-200' power, but does nothing but flail with any bat over 29". He stuck with his 29" Easton Rampage all year (I think it's 29/20) and absolutely dominated. In 2008, my best two hitters were both 10, both right at 5', and both used our 28/15 Catalyst all season. I put them through a few BP sessions with 29" and 30" bats and kicked myself for a week as they couldn't hit a basketball with those bats and both went into slumps from trying.

The best advice I could give you is to just go to the cage and try a variety of sticks over the course of several sessions. You can pick for him, and try to work on his approach and mechanics until it works, but I think it's better at that age to go with what compliments him the best and gradually work on the swing. He'll have more fun and be more coachable that way.

[KevinOK]

I agree with LL, kids are different. As a starting point if you don't have the luxory of several bats to test with measure from wrist to ground with your son standing straight.

That measure seems to be much more closer than any chart.

There again, length, weight, end loaded versus balanced, each variable plays the right size.

My kid is a 9 year old, stands 4-11 at 105lbs. He swings a 28/18 best given pitchers are 46 feet away. We had one field that had the pitching mound 44 feet, pitchers with speed could dominate on that field.

[tom2p]

Agree - difficult to suggest without observation.
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Having stated that ....
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The bat is probably not the issue because the size is in the general 'ballpark'. This may be more an issue of form/mechanics.
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However, a move to a smaller bat (28") may be worth a try - even after the issues with form and mechanics are attended to. In my experience, I have seen many kids use a bat that was too big - but only a few kids use a bat that was too small. And the few kids that used a bat that was too small still hit the ball. Typical bat for a 8yr old is a 28-16. This may be a good starting point. The 28-18 (and especially 29-19) would not be a bat I would recommend if the kid is struggling with a 29-17 (kid might be better choking up with the 29-17).
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If the kid is not hitting off a T and soft toss, begin this immediately. Consider the purchase of a pop-up net so these drills can be done at home (and often). I will rarely spend any time with a kid in the cage until they are accomplished hitting off the T and soft toss. And the T and soft toss are ideal drills to observe/evaluate the swing when using different bats (length/weight).
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Good Luck !
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[dolphindan1]

I agree..T work then too soft toss....if he hits ok off the tee but cant hit soft toss...it may be a hand eye issue or you may need to get his eyes checked...

I had a kid a couple years ago...hit great off a tee, and hit ok in the box...but could not touch the ball in soft toss after about 3 days working him and him getting frustrated I suggested his mom get his eyes checked...sure enough he had some sort of tunnel vision...now he bats cleanup...he could pick up the ball coming at him ok and sitting on the tee but the up down of soft toss was too much....he hits it fine now