bat for a 13 u?

My son went from a 31/21 bat as as 12U to a 32/24 as a 13U and is moving to a 33/28 as a 14U.  He's 5'10" and 138 lbs.  He loves the Combat Maxums but those are becoming very hard to find.

What grade will he be in during the 2017/2018 school year?

One of the best things I've done for my kid's hitting was to get him using BBCOR early, because it is an adjustment.   He hit with a BBCOR his entire 8th grade year.   At 13U I would get a kid swinging a Drop 5 at the very least

He will be in 7th

At the beginning of 13U my son was 12, 5'2" and 120 lbs. (7th Grade).  He swung the Demarini CF Zen (31/26) in 13U tourneys (later in the year changed to 32/27) and a Demarini CF Zen (32/29) in 14U games.  He is now 13 1/2, 5/5" and 135 lbs., and is swinging the Demarini CF Zen BBCOR (33/30).  As you can see, he REALLY likes the Demarini bats.  The length and drop should be based on your son's strength and bat speed, but he should not swing anything less than a -5 or he is going to have a difficult transition to BBCOR at 14U.  Plus, from what we have seen, the -5 bats have a ton of pop.  Good luck to your son.  The 13u season is really fun.

My boy preferred an end loaded  -8 32 24 XL1 over the balanced Combat wanted -5 32 27. He said they swung about the same but the end loaded bat had more power? 

At 13U switch to BBCOR or wood. If your not going to then most 13U tourney bats aren't very regulated with a lot of them only requiring 1.15. Check the tourney organizations your playing in and make sure. If so get on the Internet and find an old Easton CNT -3. You won't find a better bat IMO. With that said IMO at 13 go with BBCOR. 

I respectfully disagree with those who say to hit with wood or BBCOR at 13U for a kid of average size and strength. Unless a kid is an absolute stud he's going to be at a  competitive disadvantage, both against opponents and kids vying for PT on his team.  Plus it's just not fun watching your long flies get caught while others are going over the OF's head, and that is what's going to happen.

That said, he should transition away from drop 10-12 and  hit with a  -5 if possible or a -7 at the most.

As for what bat -- DiMarini, Easton, LS -- really, they are all good.  Have him pick what feels right to him in terms of end-weighted vs. balanced, 1-piece vs. 2-piece, and metal vs. composite.

Dadof3 posted:

He will be in 7th

I would get him swinging a Drop 5 in 7th grade, and have him swing BBCOR in 8th.   Yes, there'll be a slight competitive disadvantage swinging a Drop 3 in 8th Grade 14U but I believe the developmental advantage outweighs anything else.

Thanks all.  Good information here.

At his age and weight he should be using at a minimum -5 where he is allowed. The CF8 and Zen are fantastic. Demarini isnt making a -5 composite for 2018 so if you go that route get one now while you can.

Bats are an interesting topic as everyone has there opinion.  My son played tournament ball (13U 54/80) and local little league (Juniors 60/90).  During the 2017 season I had him swing a 32/24 in tourneys and a 32/27 in little league.  The 2018 season my son will swing a 33/28 in tournaments and then a 33/30 in his second year of Juniors little league.  I used little league as a "bat transition" to move him up in bat weight gradually versus going to a flash cut to the much heavier bat.  

If he's playing this Fall you may want to stick with the current CF5. This winter transition to a -5 (Easton XL1 32/27 SL15X15) . Next Fall transition to BBCOR.

Dadof3 posted:

OK, So looking to possibly get a new bat for my 12 u who will be 13 u next year.  He mainly used his youth mako beast (32/21) this past year, but ended the year using his demarini cf5 (32/24).  I am told the Demarini cf zen (big barrel) is a great bat.  He doesn't really like the big barrel Mako.   FYI - as of right now he is 5'5.75" and 130lbs. Typically bats in the 3 or 4 position.  I would love to know any thoughts or ideas anyone has.  I know I am going to get various opinions, but would like to know if anyone has any experience wih a bat they would highly recommend or if they think the cf5 is a great bat.  I looked and it appears that most of the tournaments they are doing will NOT comply with the new bat standard.  They are doing open tournaments.

He's not average size, he's huge for 7th grade.  If you are looking for a bat next year I would go with a Demarini Voodoo or a Rawlings Velo.  The rawlings has a gosh awful PING sound, but both are priced lower than the big dogs and the Voodoo was hot out of the wrapper.

Dadof3, this is about his long term baseball goals.  When he shows up to high school in 14u he should be swinging a BBCOR.  According to PG profile at 12u my son was 5'7, 145#'s.  13u he was 5'11 and 160, 14u he was 6'1 and 170....he's STILL growing, up to 6'2 at last check, your son sounds like he is on track for this type of height as well.  The drop 5's (in my opinion) are made for the little guys, the 13u kids that are still 4'9 and 85#'s...it's a waste of money to buy a drop 5 for a big kid.  He CAN swing the BBCOR so he should be swinging the BBCOR next year. My son went from a drop 10 at 12u to a drop 3 at 13u and it went just fine because he is a big kid.

I respectfully disagree about what the result will be with a drop 10 vs. a drop 3.  In my opinion a big kid swinging a BBCOR bat on a 13u field will have good results, plus, he WILL need to be swinging BBCOR in high school. Spring/summer of 8th grade he should be swinging a BBCOR.

To back up CaCO- Son was 12 in 7th grade and 120 if he was lucky.  Had to use a drop -3 for JR High Baseball.  Kept other bats for tournament play.  And he's been using -3 since 13/u.  Fast forward to just turning 15/u and he still is only 5'9 at 140.  He doesn't hit for power but he hits for a  high average for travel and HS JV.  This year in travel he hit 8 doubles (as opposed to 8 probably his entire life). So he increased his bat speed.  CaCO just happens to have a kid who likes to eat and is big.  I have a kid who enjoys grazing and is not.  Both are productive but in different ways.  He lead his travel team in BA this year and if you were to listen to parents they acted like he was getting a hit every time he was up (which he didnt but he almost always put the ball in play).  

He used a -3 and he knows how to hit.  But he doesn't try to hit for power.  He makes solid contact when he can and tries to line drive.  

As far as bats, he primarily uses a custom Voodoo and always grabs his buddies Rawlings Velo when he can.  He also has a loud Rawlings 8150 (if Im right ) he uses in BP and his woodbat is a MacDougall.  For anyone who hates spending $100 on a wood bat that their kid breaks in two weeks.  Look em up.  5 month warranty against breakage for adult bats....1 yr on youth league bats...       FANTASTIC bats. Pricey ($200) but well worth it.  If you crack the handle and its out of warranty, they can refit it and they warranty that again.    

Why would a 13/14U payer want to swing a bbcor in a tournament when no one else is? Ive never seen it, its a complete disadvantage. 

bbcor is just -3, its just weight that doesnt have the pop of a -5. If your concerned about the weight swing a end loaded -5, its the same as a balanced -3. 

Any kid with any strength will have no difficulties switching between the two

Kevin A posted:

To back up CaCO- Son was 12 in 7th grade and 120 if he was lucky.  Had to use a drop -3 for JR High Baseball.  Kept other bats for tournament play.  And he's been using -3 since 13/u.  Fast forward to just turning 15/u and he still is only 5'9 at 140.  He doesn't hit for power but he hits for a  high average for travel and HS JV.  This year in travel he hit 8 doubles (as opposed to 8 probably his entire life). So he increased his bat speed.  CaCO just happens to have a kid who likes to eat and is big.  I have a kid who enjoys grazing and is not.  Both are productive but in different ways.  He lead his travel team in BA this year and if you were to listen to parents they acted like he was getting a hit every time he was up (which he didnt but he almost always put the ball in play).  

He used a -3 and he knows how to hit.  But he doesn't try to hit for power.  He makes solid contact when he can and tries to line drive.  

As far as bats, he primarily uses a custom Voodoo and always grabs his buddies Rawlings Velo when he can.  He also has a loud Rawlings 8150 (if Im right ) he uses in BP and his woodbat is a MacDougall.  For anyone who hates spending $100 on a wood bat that their kid breaks in two weeks.  Look em up.  5 month warranty against breakage for adult bats....1 yr on youth league bats...       FANTASTIC bats. Pricey ($200) but well worth it.  If you crack the handle and its out of warranty, they can refit it and they warranty that again.    

*cough* 5150

Youngest just finished his 13u season.  Team played all 14U Major tournaments except year end trip to Georgia.  

Started season at 5'7" and 152, ended season at 5'9" 160.  

Due to the fact that we were playing against older kids we intentionally went down 1" so he swung the Louisville Slugger Prime (Red/Black/Neon) -5 all season (31-26).    He has said that he thinks that this bat should be good for this upcoming year also.

We made the mistake with the older boy of going to bigger bats to fast.  He eventually came back down to 33" for his senior year and had a better year.

johnnysako posted:

Why would a 13/14U payer want to swing a bbcor in a tournament when no one else is? Ive never seen it, its a complete disadvantage. 

 

Development is more important than winning.   A full year of swinging BBCOR before needing to in high school is a complete advantage, not a disadvantage.

Depending where they are playing, they are using bbcor before HS. So they should use it even when they dont have to? Mine didnt, no one else ive ever seen did either, they all seem to swing the same weight bat just fine. To each his own I guess.

At this point it becomes an exercise in anecdotal evidence.  On my 2017's 13u & 14u teams, only one kid always hit wood.  He was 6' 1", 175 lbs back then and very strong.  He did well, but would have done better using the -5 bats all other kids used.  He's out of the game now - quit during HS senior year due to lack of PT.  Of the other kids 3 that I know of are in Juco, one D3, one D2, two D1, plus a couple others still in HS who will probably play in college. All of those guys transitioned just fine to BBCOR during their freshman years.  Fall ball helps there.

Similar discussion the other day. 

http://community.hsbaseballweb...29#46910925155298329

I think buckeye 2015's response summed things up very well:

I think I know where you're going with this.  Had an argument with a friend when we were both coaching in our local junior high league (no sanctioning...swing what you bring).  Our guys were using -3 and -5.  He had kids swinging -8.  I couldn't get him to understand that if our kids were swinging a 32-27 or a 31-28 at the same bat speed as his kids swinging 31-23 that the extra weight of our bats would allow them it hit harder.  He just absolutely refused to believe it.....even though our kids were hitting balls 20-30' further on average than his kids.  My son actually tried one of their -8's....he was swinging a -3 and laughed when he couldn't get balls anywhere near what he was with his -3.  Even after seeing it, my friend stuck to his argument lol.    I wouldn't be real concerned with a 14 year old kid swinging a 22 oz bat.....I'd be more worried about the kid swinging the 32-29.

My son (7th grade) is going into his 13u season starting this fall and I am making him move into a -5.  He is not a big kid - 5"2, 100lbs, so we stick with balanced bats, specifically the CAT7.  My son loves it - hit with that bat this year and will continue with that this next season.

Our league doesn't require a specific bat drop at 13 or 14u, but I could care less.  He has to be hitting a BBCOR by freshman year, so I am having him make the transition over the next 2 seasons.  

While youth baseball should be fun and kids should have an opportunity to experience some success, isn't it also developmental, to get them ready for HS?

OK, so what are the disadvantages of moving to a -5?  If there are any? It took until the end of the season to get my 12u to understand he hits better with the -8 then he did with the -10.  He was convinced he was hitting the ball farther with the youth bat then with the senior league bat.  I am thinking of just getting him a -5 and telling him that is the bat he is using this year....

Let the kid swing the best tool available for the job.  What we saw from the strong players that works just fine.

7th grade balanced -5 for example Easton XL3 was a great balanced bat.  

8th grade end loaded  -5 such as XL1 one the hottest bats and as heavy as BBCOR, start introducing bbcor in pick up games and practice. 

9th grade BBCOR 

Why swing BBCOR before required?  How exactly does it make you a better hitter than a kid swinging a -5 XL1 leading up to BBCOR?

I would argue you are stealing AB's from your son and other players on the team when swinging BBCOR.  How does less AB's and lower success translate to developing?  

So looking at the cf zen.  Does that hold up pretty well?  For example, Makos were great bats but you couldn't get through a season with one. My son would go through 2 and that was only because he saved them for games. 

Downside to a drop 5 is one year of use. I wasn't will to spend the money.

Dadof3 posted:

So looking at the cf zen.  Does that hold up pretty well?  For example, Makos were great bats but you couldn't get through a season with one. My son would go through 2 and that was only because he saved them for games. 

With composites, I would plan on having two of the same bats. One for practice/BP and one for game only. 

Don't all composite and metal bats have a 1 year guarantee?

CaCO3Girl posted:

Downside to a drop 5 is one year of use. I wasn't will to spend the money.

If the kid is 13u he can get 2 years with it if he doesnt need to go up in length. Thats always my issue, bats hold up but he keeps growing. I do always get the $400 bats but never pay that for them. If you shop hard enough u can fine them for ~$200, maybe no receipt, maybe a demo, they are out there. Then when im done i sell them for sometimes almost what i paid. One time i bought a cf8 demo used it for a year and sold it for $80 more then i paid for it. Demarini composites resell very well. 

Dadof3 posted:

So looking at the cf zen.  Does that hold up pretty well?  For example, Makos were great bats but you couldn't get through a season with one. My son would go through 2 and that was only because he saved them for games. 

My kids been swinging the -5 zen since january its held up fine. 

CF Zen. It was, by far, the most used bat last year in the Atlanta area. I got my kid the Insane (which is the end loaded version of the Zen) because he thought it swung better. Lucky me, it was cheaper as well because the balanced Zen was in such high demand comparatively. We had a Combat that I was stubbornly making him use. His friend bought a Zen so I took them to the field to compare bats. No comparison. The Zen traveled further. 

johnnysako posted:

CaCO3Girl posted:

Downside to a drop 5 is one year of use. I wasn't will to spend the money.

If the kid is 13u he can get 2 years with it if he doesnt need to go up in length. Thats always my issue, bats hold up but he keeps growing. I do always get the $400 bats but never pay that for them. If you shop hard enough u can fine them for ~$200, maybe no receipt, maybe a demo, they are out there. Then when im done i sell them for sometimes almost what i paid. One time i bought a cf8 demo used it for a year and sold it for $80 more then i paid for it. Demarini composites resell very well. 

Every tourney my son played during 14u required a BBCOR bat. The only org I know of that doesn't require BBCOR at 14u is USSSA.

In our league we can use -5 at 14u, although we are doing a PG tourney next month and when I looked at website it said metal bbcor, which is weird if you require bbcor thats fine but why also metal? Is that normal for PG?

We can use -5 at 14 too i believe

johnnysako posted:

In our league we can use -5 at 14u, although we are doing a PG tourney next month and when I looked at website it said metal bbcor, which is weird if you require bbcor thats fine but why also metal? Is that normal for PG?

If you click on the actual bat regs, listed next to "metal bat", I think 14u and up says you can use wood if you want to as well, but then you also have to be sure your wood bat is allowed.  PG likes one piece wood, and a few Baum woods, but not much else in the wood dept.

3and2Fastball posted:

johnnysako posted:

Why would a 13/14U payer want to swing a bbcor in a tournament when no one else is? Ive never seen it, its a complete disadvantage. 

 

 

Development is more important than winning.   A full year of swinging BBCOR before needing to in high school is a complete advantage, not a disadvantage.

Agree with 3and2 - Kids need to show up to their high school swinging a bbcor.  Work the timeline backwards from when your son will enter HS.  7th grade, drop 5; 8th grade, -3 if they can handle it (some cant).  If they cant handle a -3 in 8th grade, that's fine.  Use the -5 for games but they need to use the -3 for BP.  Remember, the goal is to be able to handle a -3 by the time they walk into high school.  How you get to that point is up to you. 

By the way, I always cringe when I see a freshman come to tryouts with a youth bat. 

bballdad2016 posted:

3and2Fastball posted:

johnnysako posted:

Why would a 13/14U payer want to swing a bbcor in a tournament when no one else is? Ive never seen it, its a complete disadvantage. 

 

 

Development is more important than winning.   A full year of swinging BBCOR before needing to in high school is a complete advantage, not a disadvantage.

Agree with 3and2 - Kids need to show up to their high school swinging a bbcor.  Work the timeline backwards from when your son will enter HS.  7th grade, drop 5; 8th grade, -3 if they can handle it (some cant).  If they cant handle a -3 in 8th grade, that's fine.  Use the -5 for games but they need to use the -3 for BP.  Remember, the goal is to be able to handle a -3 by the time they walk into high school.  How you get to that point is up to you. 

 

By the way, I always cringe when I see a freshman come to tryouts with a youth bat. 

Agree with johnnysako, but only for the 13u group. My kid is now 14 and using -3. He has been (in the cage) swinging a wood -3 for two years previous. For his 13u year, he used the -5 Insane. We routinely saw -8's at tournaments (ridiculous). Although he could have swung the -3, I also believe this is a self imposed disadvantage. They are still competing and it is a mental disadvantage for a kid to watch HR's hit by your peers while you are trying to muscle a -3/.5 around. Taking the advantage of a 1.15 and hitting more HR's is good for the soul. When we practiced on the field, we used the -3 (after he hit a couple out with the -5 for fun). He knew that the -5 distances were enhanced. 

All that said, I am very happy to be away from the -5 mirage and into -3. As Caco said, unless it is a USSSA-type tourney, 14u only uses -3. We don't play USSSA. Big boys swinging -5's = unsafe.

11U (little league), my son used the small-barrel Mako (-11)and crushed. Went to 13U Travel the following year (played up), used a -8 Combat Portent. He loved that bat, and I can honestly say it out-performed other bats he used. Could easily have been a confidence factor, as the other major bat brands also have good stuff. 14U he went to the -5 Combat Portent for summer. Worked with wood in practice both seasons, switched to -3 BBCOR DeMarini Insane after the 14U summer season along with the wood (so, all winter), entered high school swinging it just fine (led his team in most offensive categories, had more XBH than singles with a .417 average). The -11, -8, -5, -3 progression (3oz per season, basically) worked out just fine--but he put in significant work in the offseason with the next-level bat so that he would be ready for the next year. If a kid is willing (and able) to put the work in during the offseason to be ready for the heavier bat the following year, I don't see the advantage to going through that adjustment period on the field. Learn/work in the cage, perform/play in the field.

Just my opinion, of course.

-42

My kid went the same route from drop 11 to 3 but unfortunately did it from drop 11 @10, -8 @11, -5 @12 spring/summer and -3 summer/fall.