Good Bat

Tiger-You have a PM

Tigerscoach-you have a PM.

 

The major manufacturers all produce some very good bats (which cost more) as well as not so good bats (for less money). If you have travel ball girls in your program, let them be a guide as to brand. Often, there will be two or three brands and models they prefer over others. Picking bats for the team, especially middle school, that aren't accepted by your better players will probably mean the bats won't be accepted well by your other players either, even if they are perfectly good bats.

Most middle school age players will be successful with a 32/22 oz. bat. You will probably have some 8th graders who have grown enough for a 33/23. But stay away from those with 9 oz. drop. It takes high school age and conditioned strength to generate good bat speed with a 9 oz. drop, especially if its end loaded.

Only the smallest middle schoolers need a 31" bat. One thing that is common is the middle school player who insists on swinging her favorite 29", 30" or 31" bat that she's had since she was ten. Adequate plate coverage becomes a serious issue with 30" or smaller bats. 31's are marginal. Having good, properly sized team bats available for use gives the coach a tool to help convince such a player its time to give up that undersized favorite bat.

I don't recommend ultra light bats (11 & 12 oz. drop). They are fine for younger age groups, but thirteen and fourteen year olds don't need them. They lack the mass to deliver swing energy through the ball, especially as older pitchers with faster pitch speeds are encountered.

 

yes and no

....no I disagree with a MS age kid swinging a 22 or 23. These kids are still growing and they need to hit with a bat that will allow them to "perform a swing" with a bat that they can naturally swing.
Yes, I agree with you about the "negative" of having a lighter bat not being capable of withstanding the impact of a pitch.

Look folks, its all about developing a proper swing. How on earth can that be acheived while using equipment that doesn't fit the player?

If the ball knocks the bat slam out of the hands of a kid trying to bunt, its not the bat.

Give the kids a bat and a glove that fit, and then teach how to use them.

PS: Back in the day, we had wood bats, and if you could not hit the ball on the NOSE, your hands would let you know it quick!

Been there, Fishman

 

sorry

Play it again sports usually has some decent used bats.