My 8 year old son (who turns 9 in May) has started his season of his first year of kid pitch baseball.

He used a 28 inch bat last year in coach pitch and did well with it and I'm unsure if I need to move him up to a 29 inch. It's a Rawlings Machine -10 alloy bat, USA



He's 53 inches tall and 80 lbs, on the thin side not a real big kid unlike his 11 year old brother who is a big boy like me and swings a 30 inch bat.

Everything I'm seeing is saying a 28 or 29 inch bat is fine for his age and size.

What do you all say? Stick with the 28 inch for another season? He was doing workouts for 8 Saturdays at an indoor facility and was getting good hits in the batting cage with the current bat.

Have him try a 29 - someone must have one.
If he can swing it properly, with speed, then consider getting him one.
If not, wait until next year and then go for a bigger bat.

If he's doing well with it , don't spend the money yet. Bats can be horribly expensive and every year a new line comes out and kids think they can't do without it. You'll see.

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
If he's doing well with it , don't spend the money yet. Bats can be horribly expensive and every year a new line comes out and kids think they can't do without it. You'll see.

Oh I know...

Got parents buying little Johnny a $400 Easton Hype Fire bat and he can't hit water if he fell out of a canoe (to paraphrase Tommy Lasorda)

My 11 year old gets up there with his $55 bat and hits those balls pretty well! I refuse to be part of the crowd who is buying $300 gloves for their kids and the beforementioned bats. He does just fine with his $55 bat and his $50 glove.

Baseball parents shouldn't complain until they talk to ice hockey parents.

If you can borrow one, take him to a batting cage with both the 28 and the 29. The weight is a big deal too. Depending on the drop the 28 inch bat has, you may be able to go to a 29 inch bat with the same weight. Theoretically, the 29 inch bat will give him a slightly bigger sweet spot, though it would be marginal, while not slowing his bat speed.

Some batting cages have different size bats you can try. That might be your best bet. Let him try a couple of different bats himself. If he still performs better with the 28, he will see for himself.

If there is a 29" bat with the same weight as his 28", and it is a wash with how he hits it, then he can stay up with his peers and not feel like he is doing without.

.

Bat companies prey on parents who want to spend $600 on a bat for a 10 yo. A $600 bat won't fix a 10 cent swing. Bigger is not always better. Everybody thinks they area hitting instructer.....My advice is, swing what he can handle.

Wish you were closer PA. I just reorganized my shed and I have 4 bats and probably 5 gloves I was going to give to the park district or GoodWill. The kid made the switch to tennis his freshman year and he graduates this spring. If you’re going to be anywhere near Chicago soon, they’re all yours.

Update:

Well it turns out in my collection of bats we do have a 29 inch that my older son had used previously so I'll have him try that and see what he prefers for this season.

I coached that age for years and also played in college. Youth bats are a mess. Companies are looking for lighter and longer to fix bad swinging. I highly suggest staying with a 28 and if you are having success then INCREASING the weight at the same length is better until he gets bigger. The added weight will bring the ball flight/power add that you want.

When I was 6 foot 195 and taking 500 swings a day in baseball camp i maxed out at 33.5 inches. An 8 year old with a 29 is a breath away from a 30inch. It's just not a good way to go.

Also, look for a rawlings OUTLET store near you, great place to shop. Make sure your safety stamps are right USA vs BBCOR etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Timdogg6:
I coached that age for years and also played in college. Youth bats are a mess...

This, all of this.

quote:

Originally posted by Timdogg6:

Youth bats are a mess.

It's a racket for sure. As I had mentioned I'm seeing parents buying $400 bats for their kids who just need to learn how to hit with a basic bat and someone who knows what they are doing.

Don't even get me started on the STUPID sliding mitts which IMO should be illegal at least in youth sports. How is wearing a 8 inch long oven mitt acceptable when sliding into a base?

I watched some of these kids at my son's practice yesterday and some of them are trying to use bats that are WAAAY too big for them, same with gloves. Some of these little boys have almost comically large gloves they can't catch with.

Ain’t marketing Grand!