yet another question on bat size

HS will require using a -3. Get it today & get lots of cuts in. Make sure the bat is stamped "BESR Certified for High School Play".

okey doke, that's what I needed to hear. Thanks, Texan. Will hit the sports store as soon as he's out of school. I'm so excited! I LOVE shopping for baseball stuff!

I've been reading things on the Internet and scaring myself as usual. Some horrible stories out there about infielders getting hurt by balls hit off the aluminum bats. So is this -3 rule in effect for ALL high schools across the country? I read all about why they came up with the ruling, but not if it's mandatory. I heard some guys talking at this conditioning thing my son goes to and they were saying how Iowa just instituted the -3 rule and they were complaining about it( we're in Nebraska). I'm confused!

Thanks brn2hit. Good thing you guys are here. I would've sent my kid in there with a -7 and he wouldn't have any idea what the heck they were talking about if they mentioned the -3. I can't believe I wasn't aware of this!

quote:

Originally posted by lsj18:
I've been reading things on the Internet and scaring myself as usual. Some horrible stories out there about infielders getting hurt by balls hit off the aluminum bats. So is this -3 rule in effect for ALL high schools across the country?

-3 (which is referred to as the "drop") is the rule for most High Schools.

Don't ignore the BESR rating either (BESR = Bat Exit Speed Ratio which means how fast the ball will come off the bat). Not every -3 is the same; some are more lively than others.

Some HS leagues (or states) may have BESR limits. I know that my adult slow pitch softball league does, which is why Miken bats are not allowed.

Oh boy, this is getting more complicated. So these BESR limits that some places may have means that certain bat types may not be allowed even though they have the appropriate drop? I guess the only way to find out for sure is to ask the coach. I was all excited to pick my son up in a few minutes and go bat shopping immediately! Typical woman, any excuse to go shopping makes my day! The more lively bats that you mentioned,painguy, is that with all brands or is it safe to buy a Louisville? I was planning on looking for either the Dynasty or Omaha. It's tempting to get the Exo, but at $350.00.... I don't know. I love to spend money(even when I don't have it!), but it seems a bit much for a freshman and as brn2hit stated above, it's probably not necessary.

Chris, are you saying that there are different BESR ratings???

lsj, if the -3 bat says "BESR certified", you are okay. The vast majority of the -3's are BESR certified.

I wouldn't recommend spending big bucks on the top of the line bats. Because of the BESR limit, there is little difference from one bat to the next in terms of "pop".

You MUST get a heavier bat. High school requires a -3. If he has been swinging a 32in 25oz, I would suggest a 31in 28oz since 4 oz can make all the difference in his swing. I'm not too much bigger than he is, 5'8" 128lbs. I use a 32in 29oz wood bat and a 31in 28oz metal bat.

quote:

Originally posted by Texan:
Chris, are you saying that there are different BESR ratings???

Theoretically, Yes.

But it looks like the way the concept is being applied is a simple over and under. If you're under the number, then you're certified. If you're over, then you're not.

Of course, this also means that there's probably not going to be a significant performance difference between two BESR-rated bats (which means it's probably not worth spending the extra bucks).

As with golf clubs, a certified bat can only hit the ball so hard.

quote:

Originally posted by thepainguy:
But it looks like the way the concept is being applied is a simple over and under. If you're under the number, then you're certified. If you're over, then you're not.

Of course, this also means that there's probably not going to be a significant performance difference between two BESR-rated bats (which means it's probably not worth spending the extra bucks).

That much is correct.

Thanks a lot for the input guys. Just back from the store. We went with the Dynasty, 32' 29. This store by us has a cage where customers can test the bats. It was pretty cool. I get what you guys mean about performance in regards to different bat types. Besides, a good hitter is going to hit the ball solidly no matter what bat he's using. I sprang for the Dynasty because I want him to have a well made bat that might actually last more than a year.

Great Choice! Good luck with the new club!

lsj, the bat will be dead within six months if your son takes very many cuts. After six months, it will have dents. Probably not visible, but you will be able to feel them. When that happens, send it back for warranty replacement.

You do not want to use the same aluminum bat you use in the cage in games--they have a life of about a year depending the amound of use


Also you want to bat to feel good in the players hands, not what others tell you he should have--I used to sleep with my bat under the bed

If you only have one -3 bat you may need to use it all the time. Get a cheap wood bat for batting practice and cage work.

Great tips, thanks everyone. He's got a couple of wood bats he uses for practice and a collection of old aluminum ones. I was not aware of the warranty on these bats. That's great! I also got him one of those Tuff Sleeves. Do those things really protect the bat?

I told him to try out whatever bats he wanted at the store, even the exo, and he thought the dynasty felt like the best fit for him. Once a kid starts using a -3, should they pretty much stick to a bat that weighs around the same when they practice? Using a lighter bat at bp would probably be a bad idea, I'm guessing.

quote:

Originally posted by lsj18:
Using a lighter bat at bp would probably be a bad idea, I'm guessing.

Actually, there is some evidence that it's better to use a lighter bat than a heavier bat when practicing.

Ok, painguy, I'll have to check into that. I assumed the heavier the better since you have to be pretty **** quick to get that bat around in time. I did read something about not using bat weights, though, because swinging a lighter bat at game time could screw you up. Then I see the pros using them on deck so who knows what the hell to believe. I'm still learning about all the intricacies in this game. It's fascinating. Next time I hear someone say baseball is boring I'm gonna smack em upside the head.