New bat help! COMbat, DeMarini or Easton...

[southernsam]

My son is 10yrs old, 4'10" and 105 lbs. He one of the taller kids on his team.He's currently using an Easton Impact SC900 Scandium 29/16 -13. I want to give him a new bat because his current bat seems to be too light for him. He's used his 29 inch for 2 years now and I'm hoping this next bat will last him thru next season. I'm considering the COMbat B3, DeMarini CF4 ST and Easton Stealth Speed XL, all 30/20's. I know this is a big jump in weight but most of the composites these days seem to be very well balanced. I'm leaning toward the Easton Stealth Speed XL. We've swung the DeMarini and the COMbat but would be buying the Easton blind, based only on what I've read and my experience with Eastons. I guess I'm looking for some reassurance that I'm making the right call...or at least a good call. Thanks for your comments!

[Vendettta person]

Buy a bat that your son can swing without losing mechanics. If he has a good coach, consult him first.

[FH123]

B3 30/18 is my vote.

[KevinOK]

Measure your son from the wrist to the ground, with no shoes on and hands at his side.

This will give you a better sizing for length than the charts the manufacturers put out.

Also I'd recommend a drop 10.

My guess 29/19. An inch and and an ounce go a long ways.

Every kid is different but rarely have I seen kids undersized in bat's, almost often the opposite.

Combat B3.

[LLdad]

Just because we have one.http://www.baseball-bats.net/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

I'm a Combat fan. My son uses a 30/18 B1 that has been going strong for two seasons. It's scary hot now and is probably on its last leg. All of the smaller kids on my 11-12 year old team use it.

Most of my bigger kids are using the newer, 30/20 B3. It only took one BP session for them to fall in love with it. It has plenty of pop and a wildly large effective hitting area. The actual sweet spot may be just like other bats, but the "almost sweet spot" on this bat is about 8 inches long.

They both (B1 and B3) swing very easy, though I'm not going to stick my neck out and tell you that a 30/20 is the ideal size/weight for your kid. Only you and/or his coach can really decide that.

[robeyeshua221]

i have the stealth and the b3 - the combat is stiff - the stealth has flex - 2 completely different feels to the hitter - the b3 is NOT as hot as the b1 was - the b3 balance is decent but a tad bit end heavy - the stealth has much better balance - the key is the type of feel you want - i can assure you that its apples against oranges when it comes to the difference in the way they "feel" when the kid hits it - my son is 12 - 5 ft about 105 lbs - take a little more time before you buy - find someone who has them - he will immediately tell you i think which type feel he likes

[southernsam]

Like I said, we've swung the COMbat and the DeMarini. The problem is the retailers around where we live currently dont have the Easton Stealth in stock. The COMbat and the Easton seem to be the favorites in the LLWS...He likes the heavier slightly longer 30/20 bats however the weighting/balance is much different from bat to bat. Thanks for commenting, I'll continue to check back :)

[Hookem74]

Honestly you can't go wrong with all three,might come down to what he likes in the color & graphics and feel.

[tom2p]

A 30-18 or 30-20 may be the ideal size - but because the kid is currently swinging a 29-16 - I would be hesitant to move directly to a 30" whatever. Not in a game at least - until kid has spent some time with it in BP (unlesss you take pleasure in watching your kid struggle - which I doubt).
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29-16 to a 30-18 - and especially to a 30-20 - is a *huge* step. Sure - the 29-16 is too small - probably way too small (105 lbs using a 16 oz bat ! ) - but that is the bat the kid currently uses. This is your starting point. Maybe you can borrow a bat to use in transition for a little while - and after kid displays he swings/hits well with that bat, then he can begin swinging/using the larger bat.
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[Joe Haynes]

I would have to agree with you Tom, like I have said on a couple of other posts just like this one. My son is 10 and 75lbs. Took him most of the season to get used to his 30-18 b-2 and I'm not about to go any bigger for next year if this one breaks I'll get another 30". I've even seen some of the 12 yr olds using 30" bats but most of them go to a -10.

[southernsam]

Well...took my son and a friend of his to a nice field for some serious bp. His friend happens to be virtually the exact same size as my boy. He was swinging an Easton Cyclone 31/21. So I had my son do the entire bp with that. He got around on it well even tho it's a very noticeable increase in both weight and length. Although I do believe the 31" is probably a tad much I was pleased with his performance. My hope is that the transition will be smooth with the Easton Stealth Speed XL 30/20. Based on what I saw today, I think we're definitely in the right ball park. Thank you all again for your posts :D

[tom2p]

I coached an 11 yr old kid a few years ago that was 5-6 135 lbs and he used a 30" bat (30-22). The bat eventually expired and when kid could not locate the same bat, he reluctantly moved up to a 31" (which actually might have been more appropriate).
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