Choosing a baseball bat can be quite a difficult task with all the options out there. I have been a baseball coach for many years and in recent years I have noticed that the “golfer” syndrome has been present in baseball.

Many golfers don’t work on their game as much as they would like, so they believe that by purchasing the best golf club technology, their game will automatically improve. There are the super fiber shafts or the oversized heads that cost hundreds per stick.

Unfortunately, young baseball players have become aware of this syndrome. Technology can definitely help, but it’s not the answer. Players have gotten too used to relying on technology and it gives them an excuse to get lazy and forget about the real way: practice, practice, practice! In the early 90’s there were several studies saying that baseball bats are lighter. After these studies, it has been impossible to find a bat with a differential less than -8 when purchasing youth bats.

These studies have completely ignored the kinesiology of the body. They just focused on the bat and ball. I read a great example that discusses how it’s not a linear relationship. If a hitter uses a 20 oz baseball bat, then they switch to a 19 oz bat, it doesn’t mean they’ll hit 5% faster! The hitter is also losing 5% in batter and won’t be able to hit hard enough to make up for the loss.

In all my years as a coach, I rarely notice a difference in bats used. There maybe 5% difference between old and new bats. The difference between bats that are 1 or 2 years apart is a small fraction of a difference.

After reviewing my hitters for many years, I suggest you buy the heaviest bat your son can use, while still hitting fast. Make sure the size of the bat fits the little league rules of 2 1/4 inches in diameter. A good estimate for a 10 year old is 29 to 32 and -7 to -10 oz of the selected length. A typical 12 year old will probably fit around 32/25.

Using certain bats can also hurt your kids again later, when they are getting ready for the college dance. Each bat must have a BESR rating to determine the speed of the ball after it is hit. This helps protect pitchers. With that being said, almost all BESR bats are created equal.

In conclusion, we know that there are a lot of bats out there. It’s better to spend the money on hitting lessons, rather than an advanced bat. If your child knows how to hit the ball, the bat won’t matter as much as its shape.