Bat Size

[D_wats]

My son is now 8 and I have him using a Rampage 30/19. He used this all last year as a 7 yr old and at one point had 6 home runs (out to the fence) in 7 at bats, so even then he could handle the bigger bat.

This year he's on a traveling team, so I was asking the coach about bats as I'm thinking about upgrading. He is weary of me changing anything as Keegan is waxing the ball in practice. However the bat I'm looking at is the Techzilla, and that is a -9 bat, so he'll move up to a 30/21. Now I'm thinking that if he could swing a 30/19 with authority as a 7 yr old that surly he can handle a 2 oz heavier bat a year later, and if not they have the 30 day money back option. Thoughts...

[hardhitter]

Unless you son is huge ( height and weight) that bats way to big for most 7/8/9 year olds, he might be getting away with it now but as pitching improves he's gonna fall behind.

I would go to at the most a 29in, weight is whatever he's able to swing without a huge loss in bat speed and the time to get to max bat speed.

The reason he's hitting so many most likely is do to the bat being so big, make sure he's not messing up his swing, I'd go see a hitting instructor on the size and his swing. Not a travel coach..

My son is 9, 4'8" and weights about 78lbs and I won't allow him to hit with anything over 29" and 20 oz


Good Luck

[D_wats]

Keegan is around 4’6” and 75 lb. Plus he has rode motocross for the last couple of years so his upper body strength may be better than most kids his age from fighting his bike.

As for an instructor, that may happen some day, most likely involving his throwing as that can be a crap shoot. But I would be hard pressed to fiddle with his hitting, and the coach has said as much. He’s stated that Keegan is one of the only boys he’s seen that could swing that bat at his age. My thinking is that since he swung it so well last year that 2 oz surly wouldn’t make that much of a difference a year later, also it would give him something to grow into. I am a little concerned that these bats are front end loaded making them a little harder to swing, maybe that coupled with the 2 oz increase would be too much, but if he can’t handle it they have the 30 day return policy. That’s the main reason I’m considering an Anderson first, or I’d be looking at an Easton.

As for the coach, well he’s best friends with Scott Rolan, grew up with him, so I’d assume he is a little more knowledgeable than your average youth league coach.

[hardhitter]

Forgot to add if you go with a Techzilla and use a 30/21( same as he was using) remember it's end loaded so you need to be a little strong to swing vs a balanced bat



Here's a math fact for you - (Pitch speed X .2 ) + ( batspeed x 1.2) =ball exit speed

Ball exit speed is by far the most important aspect of hitting the ball far ( all thing being equal - bat weight and weight location and sweetspot,ball)

Example for youth ave. pitch speed at that age is 44mph and the ave bat speed is also 44mph, you would have a ball exit speed of 61.6 mph.. For every mph different the ball would lose 4 to 5 feet distant ( if hit at the correct 35 degree angle) so at 61.6mph the ball would travel 246 feet ( let say thats with a 30in/20oz balanced metal bat). Well if you increase bat weight and he loses a few mph of bat speed then the effect are bigger then gain with the added 2oz


vhit = .2vball +1.2vswing
h = 105 = d = 400+ft at 35dgree angle

One other thing at at the same pitch speed above and same swing speed it takes ~.71 sec for the ball to reach the batter, it takes~.2 sec to observe(Pro adult) and .1 to start swing(pro adult). for every change in 1mph in bat speed the hitter could be off by over 1foot.

Like I said stay with the same size at the very least, or drop 1in and you'll see an improvement with the Techzilla.

[D_wats]

Well we went to a pro shop tonight that had a batting cage where you could try a bat out. It came down to the TeckZilla (30/21) and a DeMarini F3 (30/20) and he picked the Teckzilla. Swung both of them about the same, but just liked the way the TZ felt.

The dealer we bought the bat from didn’t know anything about the 30 day satisfaction or return deal, but looked it up and said they would honor it, so he’ll hit it a couple of weeks and we'll go from there.

[hardhitter]

I bet moto cross made him stronger, I remember when I use to ride a lot it was better then working out.

Keep me up to date on the Techzilla, my son likes way better then the stealth


Which is for sale 28/17 used in fallball

[dad_3420]

I purchased one for my son this year as well but living in the notheastern states we haven't used it other than to hit the plastic balls off of our tee. I have heard that there is a break in period about 50 hits? PLaese any feed back?
I also bought one of the bat warmer sleeves not the one you stick in the microwave, his first indoor practice is in a week the temp. are stil in the fourties but I ahve him keep his bag in the basement , durability a concern?