What bat would you choose?

[stoked64]

Hey guys,

I register on this board a little of a year ago and have been a regular poster and daily reader since then. The advice I have received from board members has been awesome. To start last year (Oct 2 2009) I decided to buy my son a 30/18 Combat B2 for Christmas, based on comments I received from this board. This bat has not been a disappointment. Last week in travel ball (yes my son is still using a 2 ¼ barrel bat in travel ball) he hit the ball deep three times. Anyway, here is my question to the board members.

My son’s B2 is Hot as can be right now but he’s ready to step up from a 30/18, I have been letting him use a 31/20.5 Easton Connextion for BP and he’s getting around with now problem. I know by next spring he will be much bigger and stronger (currently 78 pounds). I found at a local store a 32/20 B1 for the original price ($199) but was leaning toward a drop-10 31/21 B2.

What bat would you choose? Money aside… only concerned about the right size bat.
32/20 B1 for the original price
Drop-10 31/21 B2. For ebay stupid price… but I love his B2 now that it has broken in.

Thanks in advance.

[LLdad]

is to get ahead of the possible ban on composites. The best alloy bat, in my opinion, is the Anderson Techzilla. The double wall Voodoo Black isn't far behind. The thing about both of these is that they are heavy swingers due to the way weight is distributed, and probably weigh substantially more than what they're supposed to. I would not recommend going up an inch with either model. The Tech is 30/21 while the Voodoo is a very heavy (supposedly) 30/20. The 30 inchers put it over the fence no problem.

I have a full arsenal of 30" and 31" composite bats and will spend my money this year on one or both of the above bats.

[T Munson]

My son prefers the -10 B1s to the -12. Started with a 29/19 stayed with them through 31/21. I always prefer to see our players swing a shorter heavier bat. I don't know a 78# kid that should be swinging a 31" bat, let alone a 32". We always go up weight before length, and focus on fundamentals and increasing bat speed.
That being said, we have not found a bat hotter than the Techzillas. The Combats are great for their pop and forgiveness, but in the hands of a strong kid with a fundamentally sound swing, the Techzilla's pop is unmatched.
We were hitting on the high school field yesterday with the varsity coach, and he called me over to ask about the Tech- he was really impressed with the the bats pop, and couldn't believe the distance for a 2 1/4 barrel. My son hits numerous buckets (only real balls) just about every day from early April thru October, and we have not seen any durability issues with either the B1 or the Techzillas.

[stoked64]

I decided to pick up the B1 32/20, at $199 this bat is hard to find at this price and will be saving it for X-mas.

His B2 30/18 has been a great bat but it's starting to look small and by next spring I think he will be fine with the bigger bat. The boy is starting to eat me out of house and home and at a 11 years old (12 this spring) he's starting to hit that growth spurt.

Will work on soft toss throughout the winter and hit the batting cages and that will help him build up his strength. If I see his swing mechanics starting to waiver due to the bigger size bat, I'll pull out the Insider bat.

I think this spring rec. ball he should be fine with a 32/20 and I will be putting his 30/18 B2 up on ebay this spring and maybe pick up a Techzilla.

[joker4802]

I just want to say thanks to LLdad. My son swings a B2 and a B1 and I was a little worried about LL banning the comps in the major division. Read this post and then grabbed a Vodoo black off of E-bay really cheap. This way he now has a bat to use all winter and if the ban doesn't happen I didn't spend much for a back-up. Thanks again!!

[LLdad]

A bunch of our kids fell right in love with that bat when one of them bought it at the end of this past Spring. The ball definitely jumps off of it and while probably nowhere near as forgiving as a -10 Combat, it' seemed pretty darned good in that department as well.

I found them at Dicks for $129 last night, but alas, no 30". They were all 29". I would have walked out with one for sure.