Does This Sound Familiar?

Here’s the pitch; a swing and a miss. OK, buddy you’ll get the next one …pop-up foul; alright, good, we made contact on that one.  Pitch number three: weak ground ball to the first baseman …out again.

What is responsible for looping swings, pop-ups and weak ground balls to the opposite side of the infield?  There are mechanical reasons, but a major factor for many youth baseball and softball players, is they use a bat that is too long.

Why Length Is an Important Consideration?

When the discussion of bat size comes up, the common question is weight; length is not given much thought.  Regardless of weight, the longer the lever (bat), the more difficult it is to control.  A longer lever puts more stress (the feeling of weight) on the muscles in the wrists and arms. A longer bat feels heavier.

Why do kids want to swing a longer bat? Three reasons I hear from parents and players:

1. Older kids use a longer bat. It is natural for younger kids to want to be like the big kids (or older brother/sister). It doesn’t occur to them their differences in strength.

2. A longer bat is needed reach the outside part of the plate.  When a batter stands about 12” from the plate, their bat extends about 6” beyond the outer edge of the plate.   The ‘Sweet Spot’ of the bat is about 6” from the end of the bat.  A batter, in a good position at contact, elbow bent and fairly close to the body, can cover the entire plate and hit the bat with on the Sweet Spot.

3. Bigger (longer) is better.  If the bat is bigger and longer it must provide better results, right? Perhaps …if the batter is consistently making good contact.

The first step to improving kids’ success at the plate is to get a shorter bat in their hands.  In my experience working exclusively with the 12u age group, for the past 15 years, I estimate that a majority of kids swing a bat that is two inches longer than what would work best for them

What Bat Length Is Best for Your Child?

Ignore those bat size charts you see in the sporting goods store.  I would not be surprised if those were put together by a summer intern who last played baseball when they were ten years old.  Based on my observations of thousands of kids swinging the bat, this is a solid bat size chart:

Bat Length         Age

28”-29”                11-12^

27”                         9-10

26”                         8-9

24”-25”                 5-7

^ a kid that is 5’10” or taller; maybe a 30” bat

These numbers are a general guide.  Of course, kids vary a great deal in size and strength at all ages.

Proper Use of the Legs Eliminates Bat Weight as a Factor

Regarding the issue of weight, most (if not all) bats on the market are too light.  If a youth batter is using their legs properly, you will be hard pressed to find a new bat that is too heavy. Bats on the market today are produced to serve the lowest common denominator: kids who do not utilize the strength of their legs.  Most kids are not aware that the legs play an important role in the batting swing.  Not to fault bat manufacturers for producing such light bats.  When competing for their share of sales, they need to supply a product that best serves the broadest aspect of the market.   

Which Bat is Best?

The most important factor in determining which bat is best for your child is to find one the feels good to them.  This means taking them to the store and having them hold and swing as many bats as possible until they find one that feels right. (A reasonable store manager understands that a player needs to try out a few bats before making a purchase.)  

The length of the barrel, width of the handle and distribution of weight along the length of a bat varies from model to model. Each bat model has a unique feel.  Most kids do not have the experience of a college star or a pro to fully understand the right feel, however they will get to the point of, “I like this one best”.

Where to Find a Heavier Bat

If finding a heavier bat is of interest, the place to shop is a second-hand store or a sporting goods store that specializes in used equipment.  These are places where bats manufactured years, or decades, ago when bats were made heavier.  The benefit of those bats with a little extra heft, is the batter has a better ‘feel’ for the barrel/sweet spot of the bat.  Also, a heavier bat will hit the ball further …what is every kid’s goal when batting?

The kid of a good friend, who I followed throughout his playing career, age 8-18, was about 5’ 6”, 110lbs, at age 12.  He swung an old 28” - 22 oz bat that I bought for $5 from Goodwill. My guess is, the thing was 20 years old.  Had had a great year; most coaches credited him with having the best swing in the league …using a shorter, heavier bat.

I am not suggesting you head to Goodwill tomorrow looking for a bat.  This is an illustration that a player doesn’t need a fancy bat to be successful.  Using a bat that was a few ounces heavier gave him a better ‘feel’ for the barrel.  Using a shorter bat increased his bat control.  The combination of those two factors, I believe, contributed a great deal to his success.  

Note: those old bats were manufactured long before the bat rating system was enacted.   In many cases, especially at the 11-12 year old level and All-Stars play, they probably would not be allowed for use, though they more than likely provide lesser ‘performance’ than today’s bats.  I’m suggesting to invest five bucks on an old bat, then see if the umpire will allow its use.  In a local league, where folks are familiar with each other, such a bat may be allowed in the Spring, Summer or Fall seasons.

Consider the Bat Length Used by the All-Time Greats

Here I am suggesting you ditch your kid’s bat and get them a shorter one.  Let’s consider that the most common bat length used in the Major Leagues is approximately 34” (32oz). Most players swing a bat that is between 34” and 34 ½”.  

Consider the size, weight and strength of these elite athletes who are grown men (the average size of a MLB player is bit over 6’1” and just over 200lbs).  Consider the size of your child relative to these players.  Then the length of their bat relative to these players. 

Let’s extend the conversation to a three of the most accomplished hitters in Major League History…

Tony Gwynn, one of the greatest batters in MLB history, and a grown man who weighed well over 200lbs most of his career, used a 32 ½ inch bat for much of his playing days.        (“…first 12 years of his career, he used a 32½-inch bat…”)

Barry Bonds used a 34” bat most of his career.  There are reports that early in his career, he used a 33 ½” bat.  More significantly he always choked up an inch to an inch and a half, putting the length of his bat, based on his grip position, around 33”.

Babe Ruth Preferred a Shorter Bat “…I should have known all along, that I could do better with a shorter bat. ...going to the shorter bat was one of my best moves, and I have wondered many times since why any player would bother with swinging a stick an inch or two longer than was absolutely necessary.

How Much to Spend on a Bat?

Unless you are sure you have a child that is going to be a core member of the 11 or 12-year-old All-Star team, there is little reason to spend more than $90 on a bat. There are many quality, name brand bats on the market for $60.

Many bats available today are well into the three-digit range. While these may have the technology for better performance, a batter must square up the ball to take advantage of any high-tech attributes.  Possibly a bat that is an inch or two shorter will improve the Return on Investment?  

However, when you get right down to it, the player swinging the bat contributes the lion’s share to success in batting.  Perhaps a shorter bat could help increase a batter’s chances of squaring up the ball more often?