Little League/travel ball/ middle school what bat to use?

Welcome to the HSBBW. Your first question is a good one and one that just about every parent has to ask. Changing times (and exciting times) for your son. The big adjustment isn’t in the larger diameter of the bat but in the increased weight of the bat when he shifts from a “hyper lite” bat to a -3. His physical strength does factor in so take that into consideration. Generally speaking I think he’s at a good age to “start” making the adjustment to the -3. To help make the adjustment you could set up some light specific drills to strengthen the forearms and wrists to help him handle the increased weight. I “bolded” light because he’s only 11 and you don’t want to focus on heavy training at this young age. This would also be a good time to let an instructor work with him so he doesn’t develop any bad habits because of the increased weight. I think I would purchase a 2 5/8 -3 (maybe a 30/27) at the end of this season and let him use it this summer and never pick up a skinny “lightweight bat” again. I don’t particually like the ultra light bats because it seems as if those bats are made to fit the kid when eventually the kid has to adjust to the bat. The -3 also allows the hitter to switch back and forth from wood and it won’t be long before he will be entering wood bat tournaments. My son was playing travel and pre-high school ball when the bat regulations came out. As soon as the -3’s hit the market he never picked up another “lite” bat again. When he first switched ( I think he was about 12) it was a little tough to catch up with the fast balls but an instructor worked with his swing and as a freshman he was hitting in the 3 hole on a very good high school varsity team. There is no doubt in my mind that adjusting to the -3 early helped him in the long run. What brand? It's more in HOW he swings the bat than what logo (or price tag) he swings.
Fungo

I'd follow Fungo's advice. He will struggle intially making such a jump but with good mechanics he overcome any problems. If the prospect of a -3 drop seems too overwhelming (could be at that age) you might consider a "transition" bat at the Senior level which would be -5 drop. The Omaha line from Louisville Slugger is one example.

At 11, light training is the way to go. Simple pushups, pullups and situps will do wonders. Anything to build strength in his hands will help also...rice bucket is something simple to do. If nothing else, it gets him into the habit and mindset of training/working out which will be mandatory in HS. Actually, even if he doesn't even play HS sports it's a great habit for life itself.

His coach may be under a different mindset than -3/-5; he could be as much a problem as the weight of the bat. Patience will be required from all...coach, Dad and son.

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rice bucket is something simple to do.

Good point. I ditto the rice bucket. A favorite of my son.
Fungo

Thanks for the advice.

Going with a -3 after this season sounds like a good idea. I was thinking he would go between a -3 and -8 or -5, but since highschool and middle school require a -3 it sounds like that is the best way to get prepared.

He takes hitting instruction from the Varsity coach of the school he attends. He told him two years ago to do a lot of pushups and situps and ever since he has been doing 100 situps and 100 pushups almost every day. (I dont even ask him, he just wants to do them.)

He swings a 2 1/4 30 inch wood bat when he does soft toss and tee work and then switches to his game bat.
I was thinking that swinging the wood bat would be helpful in making that transition as well.

Dennis

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Originally posted by DenJake:
It seems most of the kids on the travel teams use a 2 5/8 bat...

I've seen quite a number of travel teams and players (from all across the country) over the last 3 years, and pretty much universally 12U players use 2 3/4 "big barrel" bats, usually with around a -8 drop. Even at 13U, I'd say more than half of the players use light big barrels.

So, if you plan to have your son use a -3 in games this year (as opposed to just practice), expect to get push back from the coaches, and some implied peer pressure to use a lighter bat. Depending on the chemistry of the team, your son may end up using another player's bat during games.

Common practice aside, if you are going to have him use a -3 this year, I would echo Fungo's advice to have an instructor work with him.

Do you guys see any issues with practicing with the -3 and using a -8 in the games?

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if you plan to have your son use a -3 in games this year (as opposed to just practice), expect to get push back from the coaches

Would these be coaches more interested than winning now than developing future high school baseball players?

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Originally posted by DenJake:
Do you guys see any issues with practicing with the -3 and using a -8 in the games?

My son used a -10 in LL and travel (sorry son, one bat) and a -2 wood bat in BP. When he was 5'2", 105 in 13U he didn't have any trouble hitting with a -3 metal bat.

I think too much is made of the perfect bat and switching bat sizes. When we were kids we grabbed a bat and hit. When the bat broke, we grabbed the next available bat and hit regardless of size and weight. Kids don't need a perfect world. In fact, if they don't have the perfect world they just might adapt and become better players.

And yes, it cost my son some power swinging a LL bat in travel ball. So what! It was preteen travel.

I played Little League and 8th grade both last year. The bat adjustment didn't hurt me at all but I was lifting weights nearly 4 times a week after practice to make sure that it didn't affect anything. I would advise you son to do the same if he plans on using 2 different bats this year. I have a Louisville Genesis -3 bat and love it, very good price($50 bucks) and stays in great condition. If you need anything else, PM me and I will help you out.

I remember the rule for LL baeball is the barrel should be under 2 1/4. I am not sure if there are any new rules in the LL. If your son would like to play in the LLWS, he should stick with the 2 1/4 bat.


My son started to use big barrel when he is 12,
it was 30 inch 21.5 Oz. then 31 inch 23.5 Oz,
now 31 inch 28 Oz. The bat size is usually depend on what the size of your son is and how fast his bat speed is.

Some 12 year old skinny kids try to swing a 23 Oz bat, you can see they really struggle with it. Maybe
I am a small town boy, I never saw a 12 year old kid
swing a -3 bat, anyone here saw it, please let me know.

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Originally posted by coachbwww:
I remember the rule for LL baeball is the barrel should be under 2 1/4. I am not sure if there are any new rules in the LL. If your son would like to play in the LLWS, he should stick with the 2 1/4 bat.


My son started to use big barrel when he is 12,
it was 30 inch 21.5 Oz. then 31 inch 23.5 Oz,
now 31 inch 28 Oz. The bat size is usually depend on what the size of your son is and how fast his bat speed is.

Some 12 year old skinny kids try to swing a 23 Oz bat, you can see they really struggle with it. Maybe
I am a small town boy, I never saw a 12 year old kid
swing a -3 bat, anyone here saw it, please let me know.

Myself sir. I was 12 most of the season last year and used -3 all of last year for 8th grade ball. Last year I was around 5'6" 115 lbs and very much skinny. Was lifting weights nearly 4 times a week after practice trying to bulk up and was very use to the -3 bat around that time. Sorry for asking, but why is it surprising?

Myself sir. I was 12 most of the season last year and used -3 all of last year for 8th grade ball. Last year I was around 5'6" 115 lbs and very much skinny. Was lifting weights nearly 4 times a week after practice trying to bulk up and was very use to the -3 bat around that time. Sorry for asking, but why is it surprising?[/QUOTE]

Your team name please? I would really love to watch you play. Amazing!

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I played Little League and 8th grade both last year.

You were 12 in eighth grade?

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Originally posted by lebanonbb:
I remember the rule for LL baeball is the barrel should be under 2 1/4. I am not sure if there are any new rules in the LL. If your son would like to play in the LLWS, he should stick with the 2 1/4 bat.


My son started to use big barrel when he is 12,
it was 30 inch 21.5 Oz. then 31 inch 23.5 Oz,
now 31 inch 28 Oz. The bat size is usually depend on what the size of your son is and how fast his bat speed is.

Some 12 year old skinny kids try to swing a 23 Oz bat, you can see they really struggle with it. Maybe
I am a small town boy, I never saw a 12 year old kid
swing a -3 bat, anyone here saw it, please let me know.

Most junior high teams use -3.

I always had the theory that for younger kids, you want the lightest bat you can find. And LL does require the skinny 2.25 barrel.

Travel ball allows the big barrel bats. Still, we looked for the lightest one we could find.

Last year (age 14), with HS and -3 looming, we switched to a -5 bat to kind of transition from -10 to -3. He also uses nothing but wood in practice which is -2 or -3 anyway.

As I learn more with my oldest, youngerpapi (age 10) swings a -8.5 in games but is beginning to practice with the -2 wood. Trying to develop that good, strong, quick swing with the heavier bat.

My son is 11 this year and is 5th grade. He will be 12 and trying out for the middle school next year. (6-8 grade team). The middle school team uses a -3 as well as the JV and Varsity teams for his school. I am certain the mandate to use a -3 is coming from the JV and Varsity coaches wanting to make sure the kids are prepared to swing the -3 when the move up. He will certainly have to swing a -3 next year if he makes the team as a 12 year old.

I think they only take 2-3 6th graders a year on the team , but he practiced with the middle school team all last year and has been invited to practic with them this year as well. He uses his little league bat in the practices for now, but will have to swing the -3 as a 12.

Next year will probally be a difficult year for him playning little league (2 1/4bat and 45-60 field) , Middle school (-3 bat and 60-90 field) and travel ball using anything bat he wants and the 50-70 field.

Do you think this will be too difficult for him to make the adjustments between the different bat and field changes? I am starting to think he should wait for 7th grade before playing for the middle school team but I know that would break his heart.

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Do you think this will be too difficult for him to make the adjustments between the different bat and field changes?

This is determined more by his physical age (maturity) than his chronological age.

My son will be 13 this season. He is 5' 7" and 160lbs. He will use his -3 for middle school ball and in the woodbat league at the end of the summer. He will use his -7 for his AAU and Babe Ruth seasons. He is only a 7th grader so he has 2 years before worrying about the high School teams. Why wouldn't you want to swing the lighter bat in games when you can? He is strictly using his -3 bat during his winter workouts and is alternating between his wood bat and his metal bat. It isn't that he can't swing the -3 with his size but the slightly lighter bat helps him with increased bat speed in the games. Next year when he is 14 and one year away from high School and playing full time in middle School, that is when we will invest in a top line -3 bat and make the change permanent. 12 & 13 should still use a lighter bat if possible in my opinion, every little bit of bat speed helps. Keep the -3 to Middle School ball and workouts / practice.

I also agree that pushups and situps plus some leg work (squats / sprints) will help strengthen their core until their bodies mature enough to do real weight work. I am going to try the rice bucket workouts with him too.

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Originally posted by RJM:

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I played Little League and 8th grade both last year.

You were 12 in eighth grade?

7th grader last year, 8th grade this year. Had to tryout for the team last year and made it.

My team name is Lebanon Middle School Pioneers in Lebanon,VA. If your wondering about anything else pm me.

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Originally posted by DenJake:
My son is 11 this year and is 5th grade. He will be 12 and trying out for the middle school next year. (6-8 grade team). The middle school team uses a -3 as well as the JV and Varsity teams for his school. I am certain the mandate to use a -3 is coming from the JV and Varsity coaches wanting to make sure the kids are prepared to swing the -3 when the move up. He will certainly have to swing a -3 next year if he makes the team as a 12 year old.

I think they only take 2-3 6th graders a year on the team , but he practiced with the middle school team all last year and has been invited to practic with them this year as well. He uses his little league bat in the practices for now, but will have to swing the -3 as a 12.

Next year will probally be a difficult year for him playning little league (2 1/4bat and 45-60 field) , Middle school (-3 bat and 60-90 field) and travel ball using anything bat he wants and the 50-70 field.

Do you think this will be too difficult for him to make the adjustments between the different bat and field changes? I am starting to think he should wait for 7th grade before playing for the middle school team but I know that would break his heart.

No way. if he's good enough to make it, don't make him wait. Field Changes and bat changes really don't effect much. In my honest opinion alot of the Little League games are considered practice for 8th grade ball in some kids mind. The lower skill level of most of the little leaguers is very helpful for 8th grade ball players. It was never a problem for me but some people are different. Just My opinion.

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Do you think this will be too difficult for him to make the adjustments between the different bat and field changes? I am starting to think he should wait for 7th grade before playing for the middle school team but I know that would break his heart.

Absolutely not. Have him play MS if he makes the team.

My guy is turning 12 in a couple of weeks and will be playing in both a 12U and a 13U loop with a team across the border this summer.

Last year in Ontario, he was pitching from 44' and swung a 28/19.5 Omaha Sr Yth bat in City Rep ball.

This summer in the 12U loop he will use a 30/21.5 ExoGrid and pitch from 51'. In the 13U loop, he will swing a 31/28 2007 Stealth Stiff Flex. Both are 2 5/8".

My guess is that from the longer distance a batter will have about 10% more time from the hand to the point of contact. Although the swing time is relatively short in itself, the time to start the swing will probably have to start 30% sooner, as it takes longer to get the heavier bat around.

It will be tough to move between these two different scenarios from one day to the next.

At a strong 5'5" 155 lbs., he is able to control the bat through the swing. It is fatigueing but, controllable.

It is true that for most players, they do not see the ball during the entire flight (the human eye does not rotate fast enough). There are a couple of methods that it uses to approximate the contact point. For this reason, I think it will be difficult to move from one bat to another on days where the games are back-to-back.

Cheers,

D

Hmmm... The key with making baseball a long term experience for your children is to keep things age-appropriate. Putting this much thought into an 11-y/o may need reconsideration.

My youngest son swung and hit with my 34"33oz softball bat when he was less than 3yrs old. He hit the ball pretty hard too!
He swings anything from a 32" -10 to a 34" wooden cave man club while practicing now.....hits a 32" -3oz almost as far as the -10.
I think using different weights in practice gives him a better feel for timing adjustments.BTW I pitch to him from less than 30ft at about 40 to 45mph.
Rollerman