Wood Bat

Looking for advice or guidance on purchasing a wood bat. 14yr old son wants to start hitting some with the wood. Anything specific I need to look for or avoid? Not looking for a top of the line bat or bottom end, something in the middle just so he can get the feel of it while working out this off season, getting ready for the spring, thanks for the help.

 

wood

From my experiences with my son, we found the easiest thing was to go to the local sporting goods store and swing each til he gets one that feels right. Just starting out don't go for the top of the line models because there will be a lot of broken bats til he "gets the feel" for where to hit the ball with wood.

 

A couple of years ago I purchased a Brett (model-110) wood bat for my son. I did some research on which bats were known to last & have some durability. I didn't want to constantly be buying wood bats due to breakage. After 2 years the bat is still going strong. It's heavier than most wood bats but I think it forced my son to swing thru & drive the ball after contact: something you don't have to do with aluminum & composite bats. I saw one player on the Wilson Bulldogs break 2 wood bats in the same game during a showcase at N.C. State. Ouch! We tried to console his dad in the stands, but his wallet took a painful hit that day! Oh, the agony of being a baseball dad!

 

if it's just for practice, don't spend the big bucks. Wrap some tape at the sweet spot as a training aid and then let him beat the thing to splinters!

I always heard that you need to look for a bat with wider grains, they would be more durable...

Of course, I grew up in the age where, if a bat broke, you could fix it with a couple of nails or screws and some electrical tape!

 

Nails & electric tape:

I remember those days. Those were some good bats!

 

Yep, a few small tack nails and some black tape and we were ready to get back at it.

 

I went through the same thing with my son last year. They are fascinated with hitting like the big leaguers. We went to local big name retailer. He swung a few and settled on the "cool" all black one. I think it was about $25. In the cage he would hit a bucket with his normal bat and a bucket with his wood bat. I think what he liked most was when the little kids gathered around the cage to watch the big kid with the wood bat. It does make a sweet sound when hit on the sweet spot.

 

I am not a coach, but...

Louisville Slugger Pro Stock Lite, it's the closest thing to the feel of a metal / composite bat and you can usually pick one up for about $35 to $50. Tee work and soft toss until you start seeing mostly line drives and then change to a heavier bat and start over. Much more pop from the heavier bats and from our experience, they do not break as easily. When the day comes that your son swings wood well, he won't want to swing anything else.

 

Leave metal bat under bed this Winter. Buy wood one inch longer than what he likes to swing metal and train. He needs to focus on ball to barrel/sweet spot on wood bat. Wood bat gives instant feedback in the handle (or instant breakage) and sound for miss hit balls. Feb rolls around and he carries that discipline to the trampoline bat, he'll be stronger and better disciplined in his swing and should be squaring everything up.

Depending on his strength, price doesn't matter ($25 bat aka "autograph" bat). Bigger, stronger more developed swing will require a lil more research for durability and feel. As he gets stronger, he'll probably make a lot of firewood looking for one that works well for him.

But, as always, it's the indian and not the arrow.

Luigi