Anonymous wrote:We'll stick to wood since my nephew was medivaced from a little league field where he was an 11 yo pitcher in the LL major leagues. He took a ball hit off of a metal bat to the eye. The ball crushed bones all around his eye socket, he nearly lost is eye, landed him with a major concussion and he was sidelined for 18 months (and my sister is thankful it wasn't worse). It's never a big deal until it hits close to home. Yeah, I know, accidents happen.

sorry to hear about your nephew. perhaps LL will use a softer ball soon?

We'll stick to wood since my nephew was medivaced from a little league field where he was an 11 yo pitcher in the LL major leagues. He took a ball hit off of a metal bat to the eye. The ball crushed bones all around his eye socket, he nearly lost is eye, landed him with a major concussion and he was sidelined for 18 months (and my sister is thankful it wasn't worse). It's never a big deal until it hits close to home. Yeah, I know, accidents happen.

Metal. Wood bats are much too heavy.

Yep, they use metal bats in Little League.

Most important is that you get him the right size. A few ounces one way or the other makes a difference - there is a big difference between a 16 oz bat and a 20 oz bat.

I'm not sure how your DS is going to hit himself with a bat. I'd be more worried about him hitting another kid or vice versa. I have 2 Little Leaguers, and fortunately no one has ever been hit with a bat. We have very strict rules at our house about the use of baseball bats, and there are rules at games & practices about where the kids can and can't swing a bat.

If my boys are playing at home in the yard with friends, which they do often, they use a plastic wiffle bat and a plastic ball - that way no one gets hurt and I don't have to replace any of my neighbors' windows.

OP here - tks PPs for the suggestions.

Though i'm surprised by the overwhelmingly agreement on metal. what happened to good old wood bats? is it really that much important to hit the ball a few inches farther? this is little league and should be about having fun!

http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/2011ApprovedNonWoodBatList.pdf

There are very specific requirements for which metal bats can be used for both younger and older players. Many of the bats that were used previously are not legal anymore which is why borrowing one will be problematic unless you are sure that it meets the requirements.

Umpires look at everyone's bats prior to play and will throw out any bat they deem to be illegal.

If your league rules matter to you, check their website for rules pertaining to composite bats. There have been stories of pitchers and infielders suffering severe injury/death due balls hit from these bats -- thus the league's safety review.

Metal bats are lighter so will be easier for an 8 year old to swing and stay in proper form.

Agreed, metal bats are what the kids at this age use on their teams, so I'd go with a metal bat.

check on the bat requirements of his league if he is in one.

Generally metal bats hit further (why they aren't allowed in the majors).

The metal ones are not solid metal. and they are the preferred ones for young kids in baseball. I don't know why that is, but I have 2 bats in my basement from when DS was younger and DH got what the coaches told him to get for his age group.

thinking of getting DS a baseball bat for his 8-yo bday. is one better than the other? i know it sounds silly but if DS were to whack himself by the bat i'd rather it be wood than metal...