Using different bats at the same time okay?

[pthawaii]

So my kid uses a cheapy 27/17 bat we got from Target. I've sort of bought into the idea of cheap bats is good for development. Today at practice, one of the coaches let him use a 29/15.5 and he hit a lot better than normal. So the coach said he could use that bat at practice and in games. My son would like to do that as well. I figured he was due for a bigger bat, but I was gonna get him the same cheapy bat, 28/18. He's gonna need a bat to practice when we go out on our own, is it okay for him to use a 28/18 and 29/15.5 during the same season? He's in his last season of coach pitch, so it's not like he's having to hit hard pitches. I just don't want to muck him up. I wasn't really planning to go back to the big drop bats, but he had a lot of fun hitting with it, so I figure just let him use it, since the other coach offered.

Seems like a dumb question, but to me, also seems like a fairly big difference in bat specs.

Thanks for any thoughts, esp if you had a kid that used two different bat sizes before.

[HYP]

So my kid uses a cheapy 27/17 bat we got from Target. I've sort of bought into the idea of cheap bats is good for development. Today at practice, one of the coaches let him use a 29/15.5 and he hit a lot better than normal. So the coach said he could use that bat at practice and in games. My son would like to do that as well. I figured he was due for a bigger bat, but I was gonna get him the same cheapy bat, 28/18. He's gonna need a bat to practice when we go out on our own, is it okay for him to use a 28/18 and 29/15.5 during the same season? He's in his last season of coach pitch, so it's not like he's having to hit hard pitches. I just don't want to muck him up. I wasn't really planning to go back to the big drop bats, but he had a lot of fun hitting with it, so I figure just let him use it, since the other coach offered.

Seems like a dumb question, but to me, also seems like a fairly big difference in bat specs.

Thanks for any thoughts, esp if you had a kid that used two different bat sizes before.

IMO, there is no problem with it. I also believe length is more important then weight.

[heretolearn]

I wonder how much the weight difference matters to the kids or if they really only notice if an adult says something. If you have two bats that are not marked, I bet most people wouldn't be able to tell if there is a ounce or two difference as long as the balance point is the same.

[Roothog66]

IMO, there is no problem with it. I also believe length is more important then weight.

Glad to see someone else say this. A bat is a lever - the longer the better.

[Stampede]

My 9 y.o. takes 2 bats for travel ball. a 30/20 big barrel and a 30/18 2 1/4 barrel that he uses when there is a fast pitcher in the game. There is only a 2 oz. difference but he believes that he can swing the small barrel quicker. I don't know if that is true, but if he believes it I won't tell him any different.

[tg643]

If your son has decent swing mechanics it's not an issue. In LL my son swung a -7 wood in BP at nine and ten, -3 wood in BP at eleven and twelve and a -10 metal in games.

[heretolearn]

If your son has decent swing mechanics it's not an issue. In LL my son swung a -7 wood in BP at nine and ten, -3 wood in BP at eleven and twelve and a -10 metal in games.

When did you start them hitting with wood? I bought each of my boys a wood bat but it's an inch or two shorter than their game bats so I'm hesitant to get them used to it. Plus, I fear it might be a little to heavy and the amount of feedback they get from missing the sweetspot might discourage them as 5 & 7 year olds. Thoughts?

[tg643]

When did you start them hitting with wood? I bought each of my boys a wood bat but it's an inch or two shorter than their game bats so I'm hesitant to get them used to it. Plus, I fear it might be a little to heavy and the amount of feedback they get from missing the sweetspot might discourage them as 5 & 7 year olds. Thoughts?

Hitters don't hit with the end of the bat. They hit off the sweet spot. The length of the bat shouldn't matter. My son started using wood at nine. In 13U fall ball on a 60/90 field, at age twelve he drove the ball with a 30/27 -3 bat despite being 5', 95 pounds.

[pthawaii]

If your son has decent swing mechanics it's not an issue. In LL my son swung a -7 wood in BP at nine and ten, -3 wood in BP at eleven and twelve and a -10 metal in games.

Wow, -3 in practice and -10 in games. I have no experience with it, but I would think the timing would be a little tricky with such a large weight difference (unless the -3 was a lot shorter).

Anyone else using two bats of different weights/lengths at the same time and any input on if that was good or bad? I'm thinking, 28/18 in practice, 29/15.5 in game. Then again, after tg's post, maybe I should just by a cheap 29/19 bat for practice (but boy, that seems like a big diff from practice to game).

[Baseball gLove]

My 12 year old swings a 32-29 in the cage and a 32-27 in the game. He is not allowed to use the -3 in Bronco Division (12U).

[tg643]

Wow, -3 in practice and -10 in games. I have no experience with it, but I would think the timing would be a little tricky with such a large weight difference (unless the -3 was a lot shorter).

Anyone else using two bats of different weights/lengths at the same time and any input on if that was good or bad? I'm thinking, 28/18 in practice, 29/15.5 in game. Then again, after tg's post, maybe I should just by a cheap 29/19 bat for practice (but boy, that seems like a big diff from practice to game).

The wood was 30/27. The metal was 31/21. It's about proper mechanics, not the size of the bat. He needed a light bat for games. The pitching in our LL was travel quality from 46 feet. A lot of kids also pitched in a USSSA Sunday doubleheader league. The all-star team went to states winning a large district and regions both years. At nine and ten the wood was 30/23 and the metal was 29/19. When I played LL all we had was wood with no drop weight.

[Ursa Major]

As Heretolearn notes, I doubt if the kid'll notice much. You could always pick up a Toughsleeve:
tuffsleevecolors.jpg

available here. They're designed primarily to protect bats from BP damage and can be used with a future bat for that purpose. But they also add a little wind resistance, and so might make the bats feel more equal.