There are a huge number of bat choices for Little League players. All of the major manufacturers provide models suitable for youth leagues. The Little League organization has requirements for all equipment. Bats are no exception. Wood bats are acceptable but aren’t used much in youth leagues. The length of the bat can be no more than 33 inches and the diameter of the bat’s barrel at its widest spot must be no more than 2 ¼ inches. The vast majority of bats used for youth baseball teams are made of aluminum or aluminum alloys because these bats are lighter and therefore are easier to swing with power. This is important, especially with young players. They need to be able to generate speed in their swing in order to hit the ball with authority.
Finding the right bat for each player is important. The length and the weight of the bat are the most important. You will be able to find a number of charts on the internet or in youth baseball books which give some guidelines as a starting point for the player’s bat choice. Batter age and length of the bat charts are less helpful than ones which address the height of player and weight of the bat or the height and weight of the player and the length of the bat. Age/bat length guidelines are pretty general and don’t take into consideration anything more than an average sized child for each age group. For example, an eight or nine year old should use a bat that is 28 to 30 inches long based on this type of chart. But if you have a very short, very tall, weak or very strong player, this guideline will not be a lot of help.
Charts that use the height of a player and bat weight, weight of player and bat weight or height and weight of a player with bat lengths are more helpful. An example of the height of a child and recommended bat weight is: 52 inches high, 17 oz. bat. An example of the weight of a child and recommended bat weight is: 80 pounds, 19 oz. bat. A more detailed chart will compare the height and weight of the player and provide a bat length based on both factors. Some examples of this type of chart and its recommendations are: A player weighing less than 60 pounds who is 36 to 40 inches tall should use a 26 inch bat. A player weighing 91 to 100 pounds who is 41 to 44 inches tall should use a 28 inch bat. At 141 to 150 pounds and 45 to 48 inches tall, a 30 inch bat would be appropriate. For this type of chart, adding 4 inches to each height changes the bat length by 1 inch. For example, a player weighing 141 pounds who is 53 inches tall should use a 31 inch bat. All of these examples, as well as any charts with this information are guidelines. They are not an exact science and other factors need to be taken into consideration. In other words, if you have a player who has trouble “catching up” with the ball (swings late) you may want to have him or her try a lighter bat which would increase the speed of their swing. This will aid the player in connecting with the ball. Trying out different bats will be helpful for the player and his parent or coach. It’s important to remember that a longer bat can be “choked-up” so if you find a bat that’s a little long but is nearly a good fit, choking-up on the grip may be all that’s necessary. (But if the player needs to choke up more than an inch, go down to the next size.)
A low tech/no chart way to assess whether a certain bat is right for a Little League player is to ask them to hold the bat out to their side at shoulder level. Make sure the player uses the top hand. For right-handed batters, this would be their right hand. If the child cannot hold the bat straight out for around 20 seconds, or if they hold it out that long but their arm shakes and the bat drops down, then the bat is probably too heavy.
Remember, children want to fit in. You may find a player using a bat that his older/ taller/stronger teammate is using, simply because they think bigger is better. You, as parent or coach, need to make sure that this doesn’t happen. The results of the right (probably lighter) bat being used will eventually convince a player who thinks that the big bat is a good choice.
There are an incredible number of choices for youth baseball bats. Most major manufacturers offer many models that conform to Little League rules. It’s helpful to know what all of the numbers on the bat mean as well as the type of materials used. The weight information is necessary to make a good decision, and the information about the material used could aid your decision if you are buying a bat or bats for a youth baseball team.
If the baseball bat’s weight is not listed in ounces, then you will find it expressed with a negative number, such as: -10. This number is calculated by taking the length of the bat and subtracting its weight. For example, a 30 inch bat weighing 19 ounces would be a -11. Different leagues and/or different levels of play, use these numbers for requirements. Little League does not have a rule about the difference between the length and the weight of the bat. Their only requirement is that the bat is 33 inches or shorter in length and barrel of the bat is 2 ¼ inches in diameter. But when choosing a bat for older players, this number is significant. For instance, high school and collegiate baseball teams must now use nothing with a higher number than -3.
Aircraft aluminum is the material used for most non-wood bats. The aluminum is combined with other material, including zinc, copper, and magnesium in variations which make it stronger. These combinations are called aluminum alloys. 7046 is the standard aluminum alloy. It’s used in most bats. CU31 (a brand name of the 7050 alloy) is stronger, more durable. C405, C405 Plus, C405 Ultra (7055) are even stronger and more durable. Other alloys, including C500, C555 and SC777 have scandium in them, making them the strongest of the alloys mentioned above. There are also graphite/titanium lined bats. These materials are added to bats with thinner aluminum walls so that they are lighter but stronger. To put the strength factor to use, a general guide would be to buy bats with a -10 made of CU31 or 7050. C405 or better for -11 and get at least C500 for -12 bats. With bats heavier than -9, the alloy strength is less important because the wall of the bat is thicker.
It is a mistake to think that a particular bat will make the player a better hitter. The key to good batting INCLUDES the right bat choice. Bat choice is extremely important, but the latest hi-tech, super-expensive bat will not make the player a better hitter. Technique--good hitting mechanics--is what will make the difference, along with a bat of the right length and weight. Bigger, stronger players may benefit from a slightly heavier bat because of their swinging power. Smaller players having less strength will benefit from using a lighter bat so that they can swing faster and generate more power. Younger players may also benefit from a lighter bat because they will have better control.
More in-depth information about choosing the right bats for youth Little League teams can be found on websites and in books or other baseball literature. If you’re new to baseball or coaching, the advice or opinion of an experienced coach would be valuable in choosing bats. The more information you have about baseball bats and what is right for each player, the better those choices will be.
