bat for a 13 u?

4T2 posted:

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

 

42 - If your son was playing up then he was swinging a -8 at the age of 12; -5 at the age of 13 but practicing with -3; at the age of 14 he was -3 full time.  Am I getting that correct? 

BBalldad, the boy was swinging -8 at 12, -5 at 13 (practice with wood), -5 for summer ball at 14U (practice with wood), worked -3 and wood after 14U summer (all off-season), so as a freshman (still 14 through the season, playing JV), he was completely comfortable with the -3. Switched away from the Combat Portent when he went to BBCOR (he really loved those Combats at 1.15, but didn't have the same "feel" in BBCOR), initially to the Demarini Insane. About halfway through the HS season he used the Rawlings Velo (yes, the one with the rather distinctive sound) and never looked back--he preferred it over the Insane. He hit 3 HR with each bat, so it's not a performance issue--purely a comfort thing (just making sure I'm not coming off as saying one bat is better than the other). I believe he just feels better with the more balanced bat than the end-loaded one. Almost impossible for an outsider to determine the "right" bat for somebody else--but it's my opinion that the one your kid is most comfortable with is the one he'll swing the most confidently with.

-42

Wow, pretty remarkable that this thread has gone on for so long.... 

Swing the biggest stick you can swing well...  that is, maintaining bat speed and mechanics.

Search bat reviews to make sure you aren't buying a clunker.  Swing before you buy ( a friend's or in store) to make sure it feels good to you.

Remember and emphasize... it's the Indian, not the arrow.  You just need a straight arrow.

Yeah, you need to factor in that the player has to transition up to a -3 for HS so make progress but always within the guidelines of being able to maintain bat speed and mechanics.

Man the CF zen 32/27 must be a hot commodity.  There are only about 2 out there right now.  I can't believe I can't find a leftover or anything.  Hopefully more pop up as the end of the year approaches.

Dadof3 posted:

Man the CF zen 32/27 must be a hot commodity.  There are only about 2 out there right now.  I can't believe I can't find a leftover or anything.  Hopefully more pop up as the end of the year approaches.

You're looking for the 2017, Dadof3? I would imagine the stock is low because of the bat rules change; increased demand. I have an Insane if he wants to go endloaded. Harder to sell next to the balanced Zen. Interesting how some kids prefer the feel of the endloaded bat. 

CABBAGEDAD, not that simple to just say buy what feels good to you in the -5 market. The Zen actually was the hotter bat last year. You simply get more distance. I am told that BBCOR is much different and that you can choose on feel because the top bats will all be similar in performance. We got a 2017 LS 517. 

Yes, looking for a 2017.  Not sure about endloaded.  He has only swung balanced to this point I guess.

Dadof3 posted:

He will be in 7th

7th drop 5, 8th BBCOR

Elijah posted:

Dadof3 posted:

Man the CF zen 32/27 must be a hot commodity.  There are only about 2 out there right now.  I can't believe I can't find a leftover or anything.  Hopefully more pop up as the end of the year approaches.

You're looking for the 2017, Dadof3? I would imagine the stock is low because of the bat rules change; increased demand. I have an Insane if he wants to go endloaded. Harder to sell next to the balanced Zen. Interesting how some kids prefer the feel of the endloaded bat. 

CABBAGEDAD, not that simple to just say buy what feels good to you in the -5 market. The Zen actually was the hotter bat last year. You simply get more distance. I am told that BBCOR is much different and that you can choose on feel because the top bats will all be similar in performance. We got a 2017 LS 517. 

My kid only likes end loaded.  Youth bats it was Easton all the way, BBCOR end loaded Easton was BLAH....on hittrax when searching for a BBCOR bat, so there went the Easton dynasty in his bag, lol!

CaCO3Girl posted:

Elijah posted:

Dadof3 posted:

Man the CF zen 32/27 must be a hot commodity.  There are only about 2 out there right now.  I can't believe I can't find a leftover or anything.  Hopefully more pop up as the end of the year approaches.

You're looking for the 2017, Dadof3? I would imagine the stock is low because of the bat rules change; increased demand. I have an Insane if he wants to go endloaded. Harder to sell next to the balanced Zen. Interesting how some kids prefer the feel of the endloaded bat. 

CABBAGEDAD, not that simple to just say buy what feels good to you in the -5 market. The Zen actually was the hotter bat last year. You simply get more distance. I am told that BBCOR is much different and that you can choose on feel because the top bats will all be similar in performance. We got a 2017 LS 517. 

My kid only likes end loaded.  Youth bats it was Easton all the way, BBCOR end loaded Easton was BLAH....on hittrax when searching for a BBCOR bat, so there went the Easton dynasty in his bag, lol!

What are you looking at when using Hittrax to compare bats? We use it almost everyday at dBAt. Not sold on it, or rather I don't trust the numbers. Regardless, my son was getting to choose from the alloys and stay under $200. He does have the Combat Portent B4 2013 BBCOR because I am a sucker and bought nostalgia for cheap (his first real bat was the 31/21 B4). We'll see how it matches against his Baum and the LS in spring after I put 40lbs of pure muscle on him.

Elijah posted:

CaCO3Girl posted:

Elijah posted:

Dadof3 posted:

Man the CF zen 32/27 must be a hot commodity.  There are only about 2 out there right now.  I can't believe I can't find a leftover or anything.  Hopefully more pop up as the end of the year approaches.

You're looking for the 2017, Dadof3? I would imagine the stock is low because of the bat rules change; increased demand. I have an Insane if he wants to go endloaded. Harder to sell next to the balanced Zen. Interesting how some kids prefer the feel of the endloaded bat. 

CABBAGEDAD, not that simple to just say buy what feels good to you in the -5 market. The Zen actually was the hotter bat last year. You simply get more distance. I am told that BBCOR is much different and that you can choose on feel because the top bats will all be similar in performance. We got a 2017 LS 517. 

My kid only likes end loaded.  Youth bats it was Easton all the way, BBCOR end loaded Easton was BLAH....on hittrax when searching for a BBCOR bat, so there went the Easton dynasty in his bag, lol!

What are you looking at when using Hittrax to compare bats? We use it almost everyday at dBAt. Not sold on it, or rather I don't trust the numbers. Regardless, my son was getting to choose from the alloys and stay under $200. He does have the Combat Portent B4 2013 BBCOR because I am a sucker and bought nostalgia for cheap (his first real bat was the 31/21 B4). We'll see how it matches against his Baum and the LS in spring after I put 40lbs of pure muscle on him.

The better baseball hittrax cage. Take any bat off the wall, swing it several times, get a reading.

CaCO3Girl posted:

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.

While we are not exactly a household name (yet) we, MacDougall Bats, are approved for all PG wood bat events and are on the list.  They approved us as a "solid wood bat".  100% real wood and a 5 month breakage warranty.  See Kevin A's post above.  Call us anytime with questions.  Our hallmark is customer service and helping parents and players get the bat they will have the most success with.