His current bats are an Easton Stealth Composite (31/20) and an Anderson Techzilla (31/22) - so I obviously don't mind spending a bit on good bats. He likes the pop of the Anderson more but prefers to use the lighter Easton vs. faster pitchers and the Tech vs. slower/easier pitching.
He also played a Spring season this year of 12U AAU and used some of his teammates big barrel bats (-10 Catalyst mostly). He felt it was more forgiving, but I thought his batspeed suffered a bit? Maybe just the better pitching? For Cooperstown next month, I suspect he won't be comfortable yet to use a -8 or -5, so I think he'd just continue sharing his teammates' -10 BBB for that one week. He can also take along his -10 Stealth LL bat, just in case he really feels like he can't get around (or is that just a crutch?).
Being a late July birthday, he will enter 8th grade this year (no middle school teams), which means he'll only get ONE year on the big field prior to reaching high school, at which point he'll have to swing -3.
Options being considered:
GAME BAT (High-end big barrel):
1. "Lightweight"
a. 31 -8, which will weigh 23 oz. (i.e. ExoGrid or Demarini F3). He dry-swung both yesterday and seemed a little slower than his LL bats. But he didn't feel like they were heavy. He could also hold either out w/ his arm outstretched to his side for 30+ seconds w/ no problem.
b. Or get a -10 (i.e. Stealth COMP) because it'll be easier for him to swing NOW w/ some decent batspeed. But then if he has to jump down to -3 a year later, will that be too much? Hopefully, he'll reach puberty during that year and that could help w/ strength, but no guarantee he does.
2. "Not so lightweight", like a -5 (2-5/8 or 2-3/4"?). This will be closer to eventual high school weight, but will he be able to have enough success to keep his confidence up? I realize the pitchers are 10-14' further back at 13 too, but will his mechanics suffer if the bat swings HIM?
PRACTICE BATS:
a. -5 2-5/8 bat. It is closer to the -3 and might help him prepare for the jump (as long as mechanics don't suffer).
b. Wood - we've always used wood at home ~30-50% of his practice (since he was 7 or 8). Should this be an inch shorter than his aluminum bats (so that it's not too heavy)?
My son is not particularly strong or quick for his size - at least not the "quick' part.
He routinely peppers our LL field's fence in BP (200' at corners and 220' in CF), and had 1 HR this year during the season, as well as a couple ground-rule doubles. Not what I'd consider "strong". We do need to work on improving his "core strength" this fall, as I believe that smaller players will need to be able to run faster than he currently does. Any good core training programs (DVDs, books, etc.) out there? He's a bit "doughy" - not fat, but some noticeable pre-pube "baby fat" in his torso. So I'm not sure he has the core strength to swing a -3 or even -5 yet?I do have some cheap -3 bats at home for me and my brothers/friends. One is a 31/28, another is 32/29. I also have a 32/27. He might be able to swing some of these, but I'd expect a sloooow swing w/ 'em, given the length and weight.
Thanks,
Sandman