Youth Baseball Bat Sizes
What is the right size baseball bat for your youth? The question should be what kind of bat helps your son or daughter have the most fun. What can you afford? How often do your kids play?
FYI: the number under the handle on most bats is the length of the bat, example 29 would mean 29 inches long. The number on the barrel is the weight of the bat, example 19oz would mean 19 ounces. The minus number on most bats is the length minus the weight, example would be a 29 inch bat thats 19 ounces would probably have a "-10" on the barrel somewhere.
Fast answer: smaller bats often are easier and faster for a youth to swing which could lead to hits more often. Larger bats are heavier and some young players may have a hard time having fast hands and getting on base often, but when the kids do connect with large barrel bats the ball often goes deep into the outfield.
Baseball bats have gone thru quite an evolution since the days when only wooden bats were used. The original aluminum bats that were introduced sometime in the 70's have changed dramatically. Technology has taken over and it is true the newest and sometimes expensive bats have much more response and can turn an average little league player into a slugger.
Many coaches and parents have different ideas about what is the best baseball bat size for youth players. In my opinion it depends more on the skill and size of the player. I will list a few questions to consider to help you choose the right size bat with my own reasoning listed.
Q #1. Is your youth player new to the game?
If You Answered Yes: Try to spend well under $60 dollars on your childs bat and see if he/she will continue to play without breaking your budget, spend the rest on ice cream after the game or practice (or any healthier choice). Spend time hitting balls at the field on your own time or go to your local batting cages and practice.
If You Answred No: Go to the next question.
Q #2. Do you want your child to have a high batting average or just a few big hits once in a while?
If You Answered High Batting Average: Try and get a shorter light weight youth baseball bat depending on your childs own size, some kids are pretty big these days. My son batted about 600 all thru little league using a TPX by Easton that was about 29 inches long and 17 weight, very light, cost under $75.
If You Answered Big Hits: get a bat thats over 30 inches long with a big barrel as long as it is a legal to-use bat, some senior size bats are not allowed in some youth leagues. Expect to pay over $100. May be hard to get use to but watch that ball fligh!
When coaching batting some coaches teach players to step which can lead to helping a youth baseball player get the heavy bats kids love to use around easier, but it may also through off proper mechanics of a swing.
Some batting coaches, especially in the Big Leagues, usually teach players not to step, a youth players swing should make their feet just spin towards the ball, resulting in better placement of hits and more of them!
Go to your local batting cage and have the manager go over your childs swing, they are usually quite accomodating and love to teach.
