Advice for baseball bat size

[Anonymous]

I have an 11 year old currently swinging a 30-22. He's 5'3" which I believe might be on the cusp of sizing up in length to a 31" but I find the whole thing confusing. I know they said typically you add weight before length, but when does it become apparent that a longer bat is needed?

[Anonymous]

I have not bought bats in several years, but if you google this there are a lot of web sites that give you guidance. Also, usually at a Dicks Sporting Goods, there is a chart that offers some guidance. I have a vague recollection that if you have the child stand next to the bat, the knob of the bat should reach his hip bone. But the drop and weight of the bat is dependent on what your league allows and what he is comfortable with. I would recommend that you go swing some bats in person to see whether he is comfortable with a larger bat, rather than ordering them online because you will invariably end up with bats he does not like. Kids develop a preference for brands and weights.

[Anonymous]

So- it would be good for you to talk to their coach at the first practice or get a private hitting lesson. They can see how you kid swims, if they are too fast or too slow and give you some pointers.

[Anonymous]

What is his weight? My 5’3” son swings a 30-22 - and it is plenty- but he only weighs 90lbs. Would be very different if he was a strong/stockier build type of kid.

I’d actually hold off and let him get in a few practices with it, then ask the coach what he thinks.

Also I’d consider the level of competition- I assume this is little league/spring rec ball? If he is playing Majors the pitching can be quite speedy with big 12 year olds throwing from 46ft - he may do better to stick with the bat he has for now.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Thanks for the responses. I should’ve noted this is for 12u travel; he plays Majors Little League but given this is his last season of LL, I’m not looking to move from his 30-20 USA bat.

He is 115 lbs so not a thin kid. I’m happy with the drop 8 weight and also not looking to move to -5 yet, but understand that a 31-23 bat will be heavier than a 30-22 bat because of that extra inch. Those size guides have had him in a 31” for earlier than he was ready.

[Anonymous]

I think the biggest mistake you can make is going to big and too heavy. The important thing at that age is developing a good swing and making good contact. Both of which go out the window with a too-big bat. My 6’ 170 pound varsity player often has the shortest bat on his team, and the other kids end up borrowing it all the time. As he moves through the required heavier bats over the next couple of years, you may consider shortening the length more than you anticipate. the jump from little league to -8 to -5 to -3 happens in just two years, so depending on puberty keeping the same length during that transition could be really challenging. I echo the other posters’ recommendations to let your player try out some different bats to see what he likes. Two piece, one piece, center weighted, big or small sweet spot, etc. Hitting facilities often have several bats to try out. And if you ask around, the other players should give him some BP swings to try out their bat brand/size.

But in short: don’t go too heavy!

[Anonymous]

How is he hitting with the 30 drop 8 right now? At 11, if he is hitting well I’m not sure I’d change it?

Do you have a local baseball buy/sell group? (in our area there is a FB page) We have 2 boys who play (13U, 11U) and we have both bought/sold gently used bats as needed. As another poster said, over the next couple of years there will be a lot of bat transitions.

[Anonymous]

12U? pick up a cheap (maybe used) 30-25 and see how he does with it. Keep the 30-22 in case he needs it. I don’t see any point to going to a 31 right now TBH. At this age, they grow so quickly/unpredictably as puberty hits (and bat needs change so quickly) who knows what he will need next year? Sometimes as bats get heavier, kids sit at the same bat length for awhile.