What is the best way to choose a little league bat?

You're picking the right time....because you'll save money buying a bat this time of the year, right after traditional spring little league has come to an end.

the composite bats are expensive, but you will notice a difference in terms of pop. i don't think i'd bother with that for a 6 year old, though...but by 8 or 9 the difference in using that and a typical aluminum bat is big.

27" is a lot for a 6 year old...i think you're looking at somewhere between 24 and 26.... if you can find one at 15 oz or 15.5 oz, that's great. just making contact is important at that age to build confidence...and because so often just putting the ball in play means they get to first base given 6 year olds playing defense.

 

Well I'm not too sure the type of bat would make a HUGE difference for a six-year old. You might get a little faster bat speed, but all in all I don't think there is much stock put in the bat. At that age I think it is all about the kid.

That being said, as your son gets older the type of bat becomes a big deal. For me, the biggest thing was always a comfort level. There were bats that every kid seemed to have that I hated to swing. There will always be stages where a certain bat is all the rage... don't assume your kid will like it too. Always have him take a few practice swings before buying.

(Side note: As a former Academy employee... DO NOT EVER take the plastic off the bat unless you are 100% sure you want to keep it. Academy would take almost anything back while I worked there, but never a bat with no plastic. No exceptions.)

Also, I don't know if this is still the case, but about 2 or 3 years ago composite bats were the way to go. There is something in the way they are made that makes the bat speed quicker and the ball go farther. (or something like that). My little brother got one and turned into a power slugger; it was insane. I actually wouldn't be surprised if they are outlawed now, just because they were so good.

There's always new technology coming out, so if you research bats I'm sure you can find a lot of useful info about them. But always remember that the most important factor is your son's relationship with the bat (as cliche as that sounds), because if he isn't comfortable with it, then it will show at the plate.

 

http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/bats-new/compalum.html

Kind of a long article, but this should answer any question you could have. Hope this helps!

 

Swoly where you at?

 

your 6 year old shouldn't care which bat he's using! he's too young to care!

 

you know i was just poking fun at bobrek right?

 

I'm staying out of this one.

 

My kids are 32 and 27. My grandkids are 14 years old and 18 months.

 

Where can I buy an adult bat in Houston? I also need a glove.

 

where can i find a baseball bat that won't crack. and that won't leave my finger prints on the bat.

 

Its not that hard. I would just buy the bat that hits the farthest. I thought you were a smart man DaDa.

 

A bigger bat we decrease his bat speed. Have him swing his old bat, then his new bat. Look for and watch his bat speed thru and out of the zone. If there's not much of a difference speed wise he should be okay, but I always like to defer to the smaller side. Many have the notion that the larger the bat the hard he will hit it, but this is not the case. The power comes more from bat speed, driving thru the ball and putting together all the mechanics in a swing. If the bat is too heavy, his swing will slow down and he just won't hit the ball the same. Kids need to feel comfortable with their bats and able to swing it properly.

Try this: have your son grab the bat a few inches from the knob with his backhand or strong hand. The knob should be touching his wrist at this point. Have him hold his bat out to his side at shoulder level, horizontally. If he can hold the bat in this position for more than 13 or 14 seconds without the bat head dropping from him getting tired of holding it, then he should be okay. If it starts to drop from him getting tired it's probably too heavy.

The bat should never be longer, "height wise" than from the ground to his belly button. In T-ball kids pitches are at the same spot everytime and he shouldn't have to reach outside pitches. So personally I also would defer to a shorter bat, maybe waist level in height.

As far as which kind of bat to buy. If price is not a problem composite is the way to go. They do have Titanium bats now but these are even more expensive. With your son being in t-ball he'll probably need a new bat when he moves up in level as he'll out grow the one he has. Kids at this age grow fast. They make a bat that is half aluminum half, composite and these are a little cheaper and probably last him threw next year also, saving your pocket book a few dollars.

My recommendation is to find a sporting good store with knowledgeable people. Typically ones that give lessons and have actually played baseball before. Lay out several bats ask him to walk you thru each bat as to pros and cons, materials, and brands. Find the one that best suits you then find the size and weight appropriate for your son. They guys that own these baseball complexes will not have a problem walking you thru each one. Good Luck.

Hope you and your son finish the season with a BANG!

P.S. My son uses a Omaha composite, 27in. 15oz. Now he's ready for a new one!

 

Choose the bat that leaves no visible bruises.