Choosing the right bat for kids is important to their skill development and to prevent injury.
Selecting the right baseball bat is important for performance, and if you are a younger player, selecting the wrong bat can be unsafe. A number of factors should be considered when choosing a bat for yourself or your child including age, size, strength, level of play, regulations and cost.
Instructions
1. Research the specific bat regulations of your baseball league. In the United States, high-school regulations require a bat barrel to be 2 5/8 inches in diameter and have a drop weight of minus-3; "drop weight" is the difference between the length and weight of the bat (for example a 32 inch bat that weighs 28 ounces has a drop weight of minus-4). The NFHS also requires that bats used in high-school leagues have a BESR sticker (Bat Exit Speed Rating). Senior amateur leagues may or may not have similar regulations. Their may also be restrictions with respect to bat materials and construction. For example professional players must use wooden bats which cannot be "corked" or hollowed out. Amateur leagues may have specific rules relating to the use of particular aluminum, composite or wood bats.
2. Decide on the bat material you are looking for. If regulations allow you to use any type of bat, consider the pros and cons of each material. Composite bats can be lighter than aluminum bats but they are more susceptible to damage in the cold and/or rain, and they are usually more expensive than aluminum bats. Wooden bats are relatively inexpensive but they will lack the "pop" or power of aluminum and composite bats.
3. Select a bat weight and length. Numerous length and weight charts are available online which will recommend particular bat specifications for different age groups and heights. Generally speaking, children under the age of 10 should be using bats in the 24 to 28 inch range. Adolescents can usually make effective swings with bats ranging from 30 to 32 inches, and adults will generally be effective with bats between 32 and 34 inches.
4. Consider cost. Prices have risen with advances in bat technology. Today a baseball bat can cost you $200 or more. When considering the cost of a bat, think about the use you will get out of it. Don't buy a really expensive bat for a 7-year-old who will grow out of it in a year or two. If baseball is your passion and you play at a relatively competitive level, you might want to invest the money in purchasing a high-end composite bat. Worked in and cared for properly, these bats can provide quite an advantage to the competitive amateur baseball player.
Tags: drop weight, leagues have, aluminum bats, aluminum composite, length weight