Need a New Bat

You may want to check out the player only section, it has many topics regarding bats.

Good luck with the not too expensive part....

Don't know what "not too expensive" means to you. It means different things to different people. I think though that most everyone would agree that paying upwards of "3C's" for a bat is pricey. My son is starting his freshman year of college next month. He stuck with TPX/Louisville Slugger through high school and will continue the trend in college. He's swinging the TPX Exo-Grid right now. Price: $349.99.

"Not too expensive" and "good baseball bat" are mutually exclusive.

My two college playing sons both also use the TPX EXO-GRID.

My suggestion is try EBay; you may get a pretty good slightly used bat at a great discount. Players dump bats like girl friends sometimes, and there are moms and dads selling them on there every day.

Make sure the bat is silk-screened stamped NF on it. An old bat you might buy off E-bay may not have the stamp. And I wouldn't pay over 200 bucks but that's just me talking... I like to buy bats in Sept or Oct because they usually come down at that time of the year.

Calsportsmom,

Do an internet search for closeouts on the -3 bats. Last year's models are just as good as this years. Often they only change the paint scheme. Closeouts should come with full warranty. And often they are half the price of new bats.

Easton has great warranty service.

Good -3 bat for a decent price?

Louville Slugger Warrior, available at many online stores for $100.

Louville Slugger Omaha is a bit pricier, but I have seen last year's models going for close to $100. I bought a 2007 for my son on eBay for $70 a few months ago. Current model year (2008) goes for about $189.

Omaha worked for us. Anything better becomes a " team " bat for seniors during practice but you didn't here that from me. Welcome to high school baseball.

Through 4 years of HS, my son pretty much never used his own bat or glove. Not that we did not buy him those things, it just seemed the grass was greener with other kids bats and gloves.

I'm not sure what he will do this coming year, his first at a D1.

my dad is a wholesale bat vender .
we get lots of closeouts. i'm sorry but the spec. is -3 with a bpf rating of under 1.15 and must be besr certified 2 5/8 " barrel . these high end bats can go for as low as 50$-150$that are at max spec . the bat makers want you to think that each yr is a new improvement in performance. but to pass spec they cant .easton,demarini and worth all reached that 14% over wood in 2002 .only longevity and size of sweet spot can be changed . best dollar spent is on balance and comfort . if your boy is a contact hitter he will do far better with out alot of endload . a vexxum is better suited for this . a black voodoo will benifit the power hitter ..13-16 yr. 5'7"-6'1" will do well in the 32" over uner is 33 and 31 " as they reach seniors and college 33-34"

Thanks everyone for your advice. Looks like we will be sticking with Louisville.

JimSmith#15- Can you explain what you were saying about bats in a way that dummies like me could understand, because I was having trouble comprehending what you were saying. It seems interesting. Thanks

Now that the 08's are out the 07's can be purchased for great discounts. I recently purchased an 07 EXO for $220. The 08's are $359. The LS rep told me the only difference between the Omaha and the EXO is durability. The 07 Omaha can be purchased for well under $200.

My advice would be to go to Dick's or wherever and let the young man hold the bat in his hands and swing it a few times before buying it. Even better, since he is just getting used to the -3, start with a used one from Play It Again Sports (making sure it's in good shape) and let him figure out what he likes, then buy him a new one. In the past, I've bought my son the top-of-the-line bats, including the $400 Stealth. He keeps going back to his '06 Warrior. He likes the weight distribution and feels comfortable and confident with it. And that's what it's all about. He doesn't let me buy bats for him any more!

One more point - some of the more expensive composite bats are top-heavy - most of the weight is in the barrel. Young hitters sometimes have trouble getting the bat through the strike zone without dropping the bat head. The bats are really shiny and cool, but I think they're meant for an older, established HS hitter. As a rising high-schooler adjusting to a heavier bat, your son is most likely not going to jack the ball out of the park, anyway. He just needs something that is durable and he feels comfortable with, and with which he can hit solid line drive base hits. The Omaha suggested by TG sounds like a great choice, if you can deal with the orange. The 07 Nike Torque is also a nicely balanced bat that isn't too expensive. Also orange. What's with the orange? Anyway, hope this helps!

quote:

Originally posted by TG:
The LS rep told me the only difference between the Omaha and the EXO is durability.

The only difference is about $150...

Something I should have added in my first post:

A bat is a personal thing. It's hard for one person to go buy a bat for another person. What might feel good in the hands of one hitter may not feel good in the hands of another hitter. Even if it's all in their head, it's about confidence.

My son uses an EXO. The EXO is more balanced. His best friend/teammate uses a Stealth. The Stealth is more end weighted. While both good hitters, they don't like each other's bats. But, given time and forced to use the other's bat I'll bet they would adapt before they failed.

Have your son borrow friend's bats. Have him swing bats in the store. Then go online looking for the best price.

You can get just about any of the 2008 high end -3 bats on ebay for about $260, even the composites. Prices seem to drop this time of year with the closeout of the 2007. Exception may be the Demarini CF3, which is in the $325 range on ebay. Junior tried his friend's CF3 but liked the stealth and EXO better. Said the CF3 was great when he hit it on the sweet spot but it seemed to have a smaller sweet spot.

Jims dad here -----
basic break down is this.for the bat to pass certification for besr school ball
2 5/8 barrel or less
no less than 3 oz under it's length in inches .
cant be higher than a bpf of 1.15
( ball cant come off the bat more than 15% faster than wood test spec. )
these rule have been around for yr's and most of the companies have there high end bats at max spec. now! so a good condition 2002 worth 3dx that tested out at bpf1.14 is no better of a distance bat than a new 345$$$ exo grid bat . longevity and comfort are sellers . most bats have the largest sweet spot available so a big kid should swing a good end loaded bat and a small contact hitter should swing a balanced bat . for speed and control . its no different than the majors now you can get wood bats form barnstable bats in any wood and barrel shape in -5 to +5

Get the Omaha. Also get him a wood bat for BP. Our high school coach will only let the kids swing a wood bat in the fall, (practice and in games.)

quote:

Originally posted by The Beast:
Get the Omaha.

*Saluting* Aye Aye SIR!