Senior League bat selection

[slugger3]

I am new to posting, so I was not sure the best place to look for some info on selecting a bat for my 12 (will be 13 in June) year old son. I did put some info in the "Baseball 101" section, but thought this section may be a better fit.
My son is moving on to Babe Ruth, but still is playing for a U12 AAU team. The Babe Ruth and AAU teams have no restrictions for bats, but I have just found out that the summer baseball program ('Lou Tomkins") has a restriction to -3 2-5/8" bats (the same as our high school). My son in 5"3", and 105#, and used an Easton Stealth 31", -10, 2-5/8" bat last year for AAU, and a Anderson Techzilla for Little League (-9). The AAU team does batting practices in cages in the winter with wood to give the kids a workout. Based on some input, I should probably have my son go to a -5, so the transition to the summer league will not be as drastic. Going to a -3 for his first year in Babe Ruth seems to be a big change.

I was looking at composite bats, and I came down to the Combat and Miken bats. I liked the Combat bats, but they only have a -10 and -8. Miken has just come out with a new 09 bat called the "Heat" that you can get in a -5, and you can get a -5 in the previous model (the "burn").

I would appreciate any info about selecting a bat for my son, as well as thoughs on the composite bats.

[Jake Patterson]

I moved your post to Baseball 101.. Most here are coaches and all our bat manufacturers post here.

As far as your post is concerned. I think your overall direction is fine. I would not however spend too much on a bat at this age. Moving him to a -3 asap is a solid plan if he plans on playing school ball.

[freddy]

I moved your post to Baseball 101.. Most here are coaches and all our bat manufacturers post here.

As far as your post is concerned. I think your overall direction is fine. I would not however spend too much on a bat at this age. Moving him to a -3 asap is a solid plan if he plans on playing school ball.

Just for the record I got a call from one of our hottest players, he uses a 33.5 30.5 bat, I made him an order and some how one of the bats ended up -4 so I send it to him anyways with a mark indicating it to him, would you believe he used it in BP loved it, then used it in a game and launched the ball onto the highway(apx 450ft he thinks), he called me at 9:30pm to tell me. He just placed an order for a dozen of them
MLB allows -4's so -3 should nessesary be the norm, to each his own I guess.

[Jake Patterson]

Just for the record I got a call from one of our hottest players, he uses a 33.5 30.5 bat, I made him an order and some how one of the bats ended up -4 so I send it to him anyways with a mark indicating it to him, would you believe he used it in BP loved it, then used it in a game and launched the ball onto the highway(apx 450ft he thinks), he called me at 9:30pm to tell me. He just placed an order for a dozen of them
MLB allows -4's so -3 should nessesary be the norm, to each his own I guess.

Do you have any -4 31" laying around?????

[freddy]

Do you have any -4 31" laying around?????

I'll PM you.:cap:

[AmPed]

In my experience composite bats don't last as long as a normal aluminum alloy bat. I have had 2 stealth composites and both lost all pop within about a month. I dont know what kind of bats there are for -5 out there, but I would avoid full composite bats. They take a set time to break in, and have good pop, but they arent as durable.

I would look for a -5 EXO. I am using it right now in high school ball and it is amazing. The pop on it is very good, but it's all gonna depend on how much you want to spend, and you get what you pay for.

[glovemedic]

"composite bats don't last as long"

We're talking about the durability of composite vs. alum.

1. If durability means how many hits until you discard it because its cracked or dented, then the aluminum bat is usually more durable.

This is how I measure durability as I am not the one hitting with my kid's bat, and it is hard to assess pop from the bucket or bleacher on the sideline. Something he is in a better position to do, but being 11yrs his standard answer is "I guess so".

Anyway, he recently took a couple swings with a "new" -9 TPX (green Omaha XS) and the thing is dented already. His blue Dynasty from last fall is likewise dented after use in a couple tournaments. The original Dynatsy from a couple years back has a flat side like a cricket bat and is a significant factor in his 450+ BA last year. I raise the durability question because the blue/gray -8.5Omaha XS from when he played 8U is still in good shape despite serious use as a gamer and BP bat. My guess is the extra -.5 came from shaving the walls of the bat. Ok, maybe its axiomatic that that's where the extra weight savings would come from, but it just dawned on me from a careful empirical analysis of the facts: many swings over several years and still going strong vs. a couple swings (strong hits) in a game/practice situation. Just another indication that durability is in the eyes of the beholder. Given the 1 or 2 seasons max use life in a bat, do you put $300+ into it, or go reasonable (~$150) and spend your money on a good glove, 3-4 dz baseballs, catch net and a T? Just a thought!

[TL_Dad]

In my experience composite bats don't last as long as a normal aluminum alloy bat. I have had 2 stealth composites and both lost all pop within about a month. I dont know what kind of bats there are for -5 out there, but I would avoid full composite bats. They take a set time to break in, and have good pop, but they arent as durable.

I would look for a -5 EXO. I am using it right now in high school ball and it is amazing. The pop on it is very good, but it's all gonna depend on how much you want to spend, and you get what you pay for.

-5 is that allowed? We have to use -3 starting in 7th grade that is by rule not choice.

[slugger3]

-5 is that allowed? We have to use -3 starting in 7th grade that is by rule not choice.

In the Boston Area, the Babe Ruth League (13-15 years old) has no restrictions, but the summer league (Lou Tompkins) has a -3 restriction. The AAU leagues (up to 14U) have no restrictions. The High Schools have a -3 restriction.

[LAball]

"
To put it another way, comp. softball bats don't lose their pop until they are unusable due to breakage. I don't know why comp. baseball bats would be any different. If they are, I'd be genuinely interested to find that out.

I hope your right. I just got the -8 Omaha composite bat. I don't see them in stores, only on line. I wonder if they came out later. $200 for a composite was the deal for me.

[hawkiirock]

i have had the opposite experience with composites. they have been very durable and get more pop the more they are used

In my experience composite bats don't last as long as a normal aluminum alloy bat. I have had 2 stealth composites and both lost all pop within about a month. I dont know what kind of bats there are for -5 out there, but I would avoid full composite bats. They take a set time to break in, and have good pop, but they arent as durable.

I would look for a -5 EXO. I am using it right now in high school ball and it is amazing. The pop on it is very good, but it's all gonna depend on how much you want to spend, and you get what you pay for.

[hawkiirock]

this is 100% fact for softball bats. I dont see why baseball would be any different. If they are i too would like to know why and how

"composite bats don't last as long"

We're talking about the durability of composite vs. alum.

1. If durability means how many hits until you discard it because its cracked or dented, then the aluminum bat is usually more durable.

2. If durability means how many hits before it loses its "pop": I don't know about comp. baseball bats, but with comp. softball bats they get hotter and hotter until the day they crack or break. When they start rattling--because pcs. of stuff have broken off inside and are bouncing around--that's when you know the bat is really starting to perform.

To put it another way, comp. softball bats don't lose their pop until they are unusable due to breakage. I don't know why comp. baseball bats would be any different. If they are, I'd be genuinely interested to find that out.

[LAball]

So there is a break in phase to composit bats.

[hawkiirock]

yes there is. I have used several miken freaks and they all get better with the more swings.
This is for mens slow pitch. Guys were spending 1000 bucks on USED miken freaks. Once they start rattling inside they are super hot and not really far from breaking. they get better and better until they bust.

Our team used the same TPX catalyst composite last year. It lasted all year and appears to still have good pop with our first outdoor practice tuesday.

So there is a break in phase to composit bats.

[LAball]

I just got my -8 Omaha composite this morning. I hope its a good bat. I feel sorta bad getting it for my son, I dont think anyone in the league has a composite. It was $200 and really more then I should spend for a 9 yr old.

Are you really serious $One thousand dollars for a bat?