Looking for recommendations for my 8 year old son. He is 4'5" tall and weighs about 68 lbs. I don't want to spend $249.99 for my 8 year old, but understand a $29.99 bat isn't the way to go either. Suggestions?
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try this $59 easton bat
Get him a wood bat for practice...And he can always use another teammates bat.
Play it again sports or a neighbor with a 12 year ols will set you up nice....
Buy him a decent bat for half that price. Google bat reviews, do your homework, and look for last years discounts or bargains on E-bay.
See bat sizing charts on Easton web-site.
See bat sizing charts on Easton web-site.
have your son taken somewhere where he can learn quality mechanics and the bat really won't matter... the "best" bat on the market is just a scam... buy anything... borrow a teammates... don't spend $250 on any bat... would be like buying $250 shoes... he's gonna grow out of them soon...
diablo, I like your thinking
YBLMPG
Rawlings YBLMPG Plasma Gold Youth Baseball Bat (-13) $139.95
www.betterbaseball.com
This is a great balanced bat for kids. The balance helps kids learn muscle memory and consistency. End loaded bats create more problems for kids learning to hit. Probably the best bat for kids under 13.
Rawlings YBLMPG Plasma Gold Youth Baseball Bat (-13) $139.95
www.betterbaseball.com
This is a great balanced bat for kids. The balance helps kids learn muscle memory and consistency. End loaded bats create more problems for kids learning to hit. Probably the best bat for kids under 13.
He's 8 years old. Go to Walmart and buy any bat he can swing comfortably. In a couple of years if he progresses buy him a better bat.
The biggest mistake with very young players and bats is that the bat is too long. Make sure he can swing the bat without too much effort that messes up his natural swing.
The biggest mistake with very young players and bats is that the bat is too long. Make sure he can swing the bat without too much effort that messes up his natural swing.
Leverage- a "well balanced" bat does not teach a kid muscle memory. Doing something over and over again through repetitions (swimming/riding a bike) teaches muscles memory...
youth bats aren't "well balanced" anyway.. they are end-loaded - the handle end unfortunetly - seeing how wood bats are end loaded...
end loaded bats don't create problems for kids learning to hit... parents/poor instructors creat problems by teaching the wrong mechanics... if a kid is tought how to use his body properly to swing a bat, he will be fine...
youth bats aren't "well balanced" anyway.. they are end-loaded - the handle end unfortunetly - seeing how wood bats are end loaded...
end loaded bats don't create problems for kids learning to hit... parents/poor instructors creat problems by teaching the wrong mechanics... if a kid is tought how to use his body properly to swing a bat, he will be fine...
quote:Originally posted by Diablo con Huevos:
Leverage- a "well balanced" bat does not teach a kid muscle memory. Doing something over and over again through repetitions (swimming/riding a bike) teaches muscles memory...
youth bats aren't "well balanced" anyway.. they are end-loaded - the handle end unfortunetly - seeing how wood bats are end loaded...
end loaded bats don't create problems for kids learning to hit... parents/poor instructors creat problems by teaching the wrong mechanics... if a kid is tought how to use his body properly to swing a bat, he will be fine...
I know that I can always come here for disagreement. If you think end loaded bats are good for really young hitters that is great. I've swung every high and medium level youth bat. Some are more end loaded and cause hands to cast or the hitter to wrap the ball. The balanced bats provide more bat control for young players. I have timed numerous swing speeds and measured tons of balls off the tee for distance comparing these bats. The bat I have posted has produced the best results and best habits for young hitters.
Let me know which bat you think is the best bat for young hitters since I believe that is what this topic is about anyway.
Lev- end-loaded bats don't cause hands to cast, poor mechanics do. Just like fast cars don't cause wrecks, poor drivers do...
casting hands can are the outcome of poor (or no) instruction... same as "wrapping" to the ball....
a balanced bat does provide more control for players - but it hampers them as well... just like all the youth handle-loaded bats give more control, but it is masking the problem... poor mechanics..
i will take any youth bat.... you take a youth player with poor mechanics and your bat and i will take a youth with good mechanics and any bat...
what are you ttrying to get for the palyer with your well balanced bat? greater ball exit speed??
momentum = mass x velocity...
the kids i work with that are younger than high school age use drop 3 bats after two weeks ....
casting hands can are the outcome of poor (or no) instruction... same as "wrapping" to the ball....
a balanced bat does provide more control for players - but it hampers them as well... just like all the youth handle-loaded bats give more control, but it is masking the problem... poor mechanics..
i will take any youth bat.... you take a youth player with poor mechanics and your bat and i will take a youth with good mechanics and any bat...
what are you ttrying to get for the palyer with your well balanced bat? greater ball exit speed??
momentum = mass x velocity...
the kids i work with that are younger than high school age use drop 3 bats after two weeks ....
-13 bats are good for nobody, any age.
The best hitters I've seen swing balanced bats. It is easier to stay inside the ball and hit it up the middle and easier to work on hitting opposite field gaps. Hitters can also wait a little longer with a balanced bat before committing to swing. Additionally, the metal at the end of a balanced bat is thinner than an end loaded bat. The ball carries further as it is easier to get more backspin on the ball and there is a little more trampoline effect.
As a hitter gets older around 13 or 14 the rebound effect starts to work against them as the harder metal of something like an exogrid provides a harder hitting surface and the softer end of a balanced bat absorbs too much of the ball.
Hits are crisper with a balanced bat as contact is more consistent. If a young hitter commits with a balanced bat they have a better chance of holding their swing than with early commitment of an end loaded bat.
Eventually, hitters have to go to more end loaded bats in their early teens but young players hit well and develop better habits with balanced bats. Batspeed is a little better with a balanced bat as well as it is easier to initiate early batspeed.
I have run plenty of tests using swing speed radars and measuring distance and balanced bats are superior for young players.
Major league hitters cork bats to get better balance and control on their bats. Bat control is very important and easier with a balanced bat.
As a hitter gets older around 13 or 14 the rebound effect starts to work against them as the harder metal of something like an exogrid provides a harder hitting surface and the softer end of a balanced bat absorbs too much of the ball.
Hits are crisper with a balanced bat as contact is more consistent. If a young hitter commits with a balanced bat they have a better chance of holding their swing than with early commitment of an end loaded bat.
Eventually, hitters have to go to more end loaded bats in their early teens but young players hit well and develop better habits with balanced bats. Batspeed is a little better with a balanced bat as well as it is easier to initiate early batspeed.
I have run plenty of tests using swing speed radars and measuring distance and balanced bats are superior for young players.
Major league hitters cork bats to get better balance and control on their bats. Bat control is very important and easier with a balanced bat.
The other way to develop bat control is to develop strong forearms and wrists.
Lev- the best hitters I have seen, swing wood bats, not balanced bats...
its not easier to stay inside the ball with a certain bat.. but it is with certain mechanics - if taught properly.. it is NOT easier to hit up the middle with a balanced bat.. there is a correlation between where the pitch location is relative to where ball is hit to on field.. not on if bat is balanced or not, that is silly... u r telling me that a pitch on outside corner would be more effortlessly hit up the middle because of bat balance? that ball should be hit to opposite field no matter the bat.... batters can wait longer, if taught how to get into launch position correctly and taught how to generate (with body) batspeed with correct mechanics.. wait and see is an eye/brain thing, not a bat thing..... physilogy 101
backspin is dictated by where ball is struck with bat, not on thickness of barrell... backspin is not the root to all distance/power in a hitter.. hitting the ball solid is - back half middle. the ball is gonna have backspin or topspin on it every time.. well, 99.9999% of time hardly ever going to knuckle...
crisper hits/consistent hits are the effect of better eye/hand coordination, not a certain bat...
PARENTS- Don't drink the Kool-Aid!!!
Lev- besides all my young hitters (pre-high school) I have over 50 players I have worked with (since pre-high school) playing in college, including a rescent Big XII Player of the Year, 13 in minor leagues and five currently on big league rosters... non are where they are because of a youth bat being more forgiving... they have quality mechanics....
I hate to sound like Ted Williams, but it ain't the arrow, it's the indian.... keep pushing your b.s. though... hopefully your making your $$ somehow in all this garbage...
its not easier to stay inside the ball with a certain bat.. but it is with certain mechanics - if taught properly.. it is NOT easier to hit up the middle with a balanced bat.. there is a correlation between where the pitch location is relative to where ball is hit to on field.. not on if bat is balanced or not, that is silly... u r telling me that a pitch on outside corner would be more effortlessly hit up the middle because of bat balance? that ball should be hit to opposite field no matter the bat.... batters can wait longer, if taught how to get into launch position correctly and taught how to generate (with body) batspeed with correct mechanics.. wait and see is an eye/brain thing, not a bat thing..... physilogy 101
backspin is dictated by where ball is struck with bat, not on thickness of barrell... backspin is not the root to all distance/power in a hitter.. hitting the ball solid is - back half middle. the ball is gonna have backspin or topspin on it every time.. well, 99.9999% of time hardly ever going to knuckle...
crisper hits/consistent hits are the effect of better eye/hand coordination, not a certain bat...
PARENTS- Don't drink the Kool-Aid!!!
Lev- besides all my young hitters (pre-high school) I have over 50 players I have worked with (since pre-high school) playing in college, including a rescent Big XII Player of the Year, 13 in minor leagues and five currently on big league rosters... non are where they are because of a youth bat being more forgiving... they have quality mechanics....
I hate to sound like Ted Williams, but it ain't the arrow, it's the indian.... keep pushing your b.s. though... hopefully your making your $$ somehow in all this garbage...
quote:Originally posted by Diablo con Huevos:
Lev- the best hitters I have seen, swing wood bats, not balanced bats...
its not easier to stay inside the ball with a certain bat.. but it is with certain mechanics - if taught properly.. it is NOT easier to hit up the middle with a balanced bat.. there is a correlation between where the pitch location is relative to where ball is hit to on field.. not on if bat is balanced or not, that is silly... u r telling me that a pitch on outside corner would be more effortlessly hit up the middle because of bat balance? that ball should be hit to opposite field no matter the bat.... batters can wait longer, if taught how to get into launch position correctly and taught how to generate (with body) batspeed with correct mechanics.. wait and see is an eye/brain thing, not a bat thing..... physilogy 101
backspin is dictated by where ball is struck with bat, not on thickness of barrell... backspin is not the root to all distance/power in a hitter.. hitting the ball solid is - back half middle. the ball is gonna have backspin or topspin on it every time.. well, 99.9999% of time hardly ever going to knuckle...
crisper hits/consistent hits are the effect of better eye/hand coordination, not a certain bat...
PARENTS- Don't drink the Kool-Aid!!!
Lev- besides all my young hitters (pre-high school) I have over 50 players I have worked with (since pre-high school) playing in college, including a rescent Big XII Player of the Year, 13 in minor leagues and five currently on big league rosters... non are where they are because of a youth bat being more forgiving... they have quality mechanics....
I hate to sound like Ted Williams, but it ain't the arrow, it's the indian.... keep pushing your b.s. though... hopefully your making your $$ somehow in all this garbage...
I've never seen so little thought compressed into so many words. You still have not gotten on topic and stated the best youth bat.
quote:
the kids i work with that are younger than high school age use drop 3 bats after two weeks ....
So you have 8 year old kids swinging 31 inch/28 ounce bats? You've got to be kidding me. I don't believe that at all.
quote:i will take any youth bat....
quote:the "best" bat on the market is just a scam... buy anything... borrow a teammates...
this is one of two times i said which bat to choose...
i don't have any 8 year olds now... but have in past and 9n yr olds, etc... and if we cant find a bat that is drop three they swing (during lessons/practice) wood which is equivalent to drop three or drop zero...
they can do it, don't set there limits for them...
how'd you like it if your son went to school and teacher told them they weren't going to teach them this or that because they prob couldnt do it anyways....
"more players don't reach their potential due to lack of proper instruction rather than lack of ability." _ Rod Dedeaux, Legendary Coach of USC
they can do it, don't set there limits for them...
how'd you like it if your son went to school and teacher told them they weren't going to teach them this or that because they prob couldnt do it anyways....
"more players don't reach their potential due to lack of proper instruction rather than lack of ability." _ Rod Dedeaux, Legendary Coach of USC
