The Tomcat Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 My son is turning 11 next week and wants a new baseball bat for the coming season...any recommendations on bats or websights.... Theres a Dicks Sporting Goods 45 min away which I wouldn't mind driving to because Gander Mountain is next door! My son is pretty big...110 lbs...pretty solid and strong.........any ideas on weights or length would be appreciated also... Thank you almighty wall...... I will leave in peace....
stevestojan Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 My son is turning 11 next week and wants a new baseball bat for the coming season...any recommendations on bats or websights.... Theres a Dicks Sporting Goods 45 min away which I wouldn't mind driving to because Gander Mountain is next door! My son is pretty big...110 lbs...pretty solid and strong.........any ideas on weights or length would be appreciated also... Thank you almighty wall...... I will leave in peace.... 233131[/snapback] as far as weight, he should be able to comfortably hold the bat straight out with his arm extended in front of him (bat and arm parrallel to ground). He should be able to hold it like that for several seconds, or it might be too heavy.
OnTheRocks Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 if you want to spend on a kid that you think has potential for a major league career. Cooperstown Bat Co. I do not believe it is tied with the HOF. A friend of mine is a graphic designer there. They have a number of current MLB players as customers.
buzzbait1965 Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 If he is pretty tall go with around a 30" bat weighing around 24oz. Look for a minus number on the bats. This number is equal to the length minus the weight. The above example would have a minus 6 drop. If he is shorter decrease length and weight. It's crazy trying to figure out all the combinations of length/weight ratios, and don't even get me started on what you can spend on a bat for Little League. Weight is the most important for kids as their bat speed is more important than plate coverage from a longer bat. If they cant swing it fast enough to get through the strike zone then it wont matter if they can reach the outside of the zone anyway.
stevestojan Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 if you want to spend on a kid that you think has potential for a major league career.Cooperstown Bat Co. I do not believe it is tied with the HOF. A friend of mine is a graphic designer there. They have a number of current MLB players as customers. 233158[/snapback] I have 8 bats from CoBatCo... AWESOME.
The Tomcat Posted February 9, 2005 Author Posted February 9, 2005 Thanks for the help...I was wondering about those ratios...
gmac17 Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 If I may say so myself, I am sort of an expert in the baseball bat field.... are you looking for wood or aluminum? what level is he playing and what is the allowable ratio?
gmac17 Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 how tall is he? if he is 110 lbs, you are probably looking at a 20.5 ounce bat or so.
FTW_BillsFan Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 My son is turning 11 next week and wants a new baseball bat for the coming season...any recommendations on bats or websights.... Theres a Dicks Sporting Goods 45 min away which I wouldn't mind driving to because Gander Mountain is next door! My son is pretty big...110 lbs...pretty solid and strong.........any ideas on weights or length would be appreciated also... Thank you almighty wall...... I will leave in peace.... 233131[/snapback] Personally, I would say bite the bullet, drive the 45 minutes and let your son test out some bats. Let him swing them and see what he feels is the right weight for him. I do that with all the bats that I buy. It's more a feel than anything.
The Tomcat Posted February 9, 2005 Author Posted February 9, 2005 If I may say so myself, I am sort of an expert in the baseball bat field.... are you looking for wood or aluminum? what level is he playing and what is the allowable ratio? 233309[/snapback] He's moving up to the 11-12 yr old division..he's almost 5 feet...maybe 4'10''.....definately aluminum...he's been playing for 4 years now...but theres a big jump up from 9-10... Should I be looking at a particular brand (demoreini (sp), Rahlings etx) or is the ratio the key? I'd also like to be able to keep the bat a few years if possible.
buzzbait1965 Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 I'd take him to the store and swing a few like FTW said. It really comes down to a feel thing for your son. Some leagues due limit the minus number or weights. It's pretty tough to get a bat that will last for more than a couple years due to the growth of the kids. As far as make, pick one that you can afford. Remember your kid is going to out grow it and it's only little league ball. Hell he may even take it out and ping a few rocks with it when your not around. I've seen 8-9 yr.olds with a bat bag filled with 2 or 3 bats that may cost $75-$100 each. That is just plain stupid. I think the parents buy them to impress the other parents, especially when your talking about traveling tournament teams. If they can afford a more expensive bat fine, but a kid doesn't need more than one. If a kid is a good ball player the bat isn't going to make a difference and vice versa if he's not.
gmac17 Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 I agree with Buzz, people get way caught up in expensive bats when teaching the proper swing for 20 minutes will do far more than any bat will ever do. Buy a decent bat, but don't spend $175 on an 11 year old. having said that, bat technology these days is pretty insanse, you can spend $300+ on a softball bat, and there is a cottage industry of guys who will take a banned softball bat and convert it so that it appears to be a legit bat.
buzzbait1965 Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 gmac, it is nuts in a slow pitch league anymore. I hadn't played in probably 10 yrs and got back into it the last couple. The typical score between top teams is like 45-40. I have never hit a home run in my life nor have I ever really tried, but these scrawny little guys are pounding them over the fence like crazy. So I take one of the composite bats and give it a try. First at bat I hit the ball and know immediately that this is gone. It cleared a 275' fence by probably 50 feet. And there are guys who are 6'4" 260 swing these things . Somebody is going to get seriously hurt or killed(if they haven't already). The ball just explodes off these bats. It turns it into a home run derby with no fielding at all. On the rare occasion that some hits a grounder you better get the hell out of the way. No reaction time what so ever. Our league has no banned bats and friggin soft balls that are anything but limited flight.
gmac17 Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 no banned bats? ugh. that's dumb and crazy! someone is going to die soon. I'm surprised it hasn't happened in high school or college yet. I would love to see Bonds take batting practice with a composite bat. He'd hit the ball 600 feet.
The Tomcat Posted February 9, 2005 Author Posted February 9, 2005 I been a slow pitch pitcher for the last 10 years.....I've almost been killed a few times...and I'm not kidding........they finaly banned few last year....That does help but its still scary.....
buzzbait1965 Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 Tom your nuts. They couldn't pay me to pitch. I play second and that's to close anymore. I've seen guys go to catch a line drive that's head high and by the time their gloves get up the ball is past them. Pitch and duck real fast or back up towards second.
The Tomcat Posted February 9, 2005 Author Posted February 9, 2005 Thats exactly what I do...I throw the ball, take 2-3 steps back and get ready to defend against a ball coming directly at my face....anything else I do after that is bonus...I've got to protect my head....I've had one bounce up into my chin a few years back.....that hurt...not as bad as the one that hit me directly on the inside of my ankle......it hurt so bad it burned..... I had a buddy get his face smashed pitching....it was just a matter of time until someone got seriously hurt so they banned some Miken bats and some others I think....
buzzbait1965 Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 At least you guys were smart enough to ban Mikens, we still allow anything. I'm shocked they even continue to make the Miken bats, almost every other league on earth has banned them. They did change some things with last years model to get them under the ratings though they still hammer the ball.
FTW_BillsFan Posted February 9, 2005 Posted February 9, 2005 Speaking of those $300 bats. I just bought the Easton Synergy+ bat. Man, it looks impressive. I'm waiting for it to warm up to give it a try. In softball, it's all about the bat. In baseball, it helps alot to have a 'live' bat to swing.
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