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coach0512
123 Posts |
 Posted - 08/27/2010 : 19:29:38
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I need help from this very knowledgeable baseball community regarding bat size.
My son swings a large bat. Always has. Every new coach we get wants him to swing a smaller bat. We'll be in the cage, the coach will see the bat and take it away and have him swing something smaller.
My son is 10, weighs 99lbs and is 5'1" tall. He has played ball every fall and spring since the age of 4, been on 4 all-star teams and is starting his 2nd year of travel ball.
I've checked 5 bat sizing charts and all of them say a length of 31" is best.
His bat size is 31/21, a big barrel.
The coaches say he would hit better with a lighter bat.
Now here's my issue:
He has always hit in the number 4 spot and has led every team he has played on in offense. Last season, travel ball, he hit .670 with 4 home runs over 235' and led in every category. Struck out twice in 31 games.
He hits 85+% to left field and left/center.
So how could swinging a lighter bat improve his hitting??
Wouldn't he come around faster on the ball and hit more fouls to 3B side? I know everyone talks about bat head speed so maybe they want him to come around the ball faster thus allowing him to wait longer before pulling the trigger?
Is it more beneficial to swing 5mph faster than it is to swing 2oz heavier? Which gives you more bang for your buck;a 31/21 bat swung at 60mph or a 31/19 bat swung at 65mph???
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SSBuckeye
575 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2010 : 23:02:07
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| I think every kid is different. Based on those stats, I'd be hard pressed to change a thing. That said, 31 inches seems long for that age. My son was the same size at 10. He actually swung a 30/20.5 as a 7-yr old in coach pitch, but he ended up dropping to 29/19 at 9u when he hit kid pitch and he used a 30/20 last year at 10u. But again, your son seems to be doing quite fine, so I would politely nod to the coaches when the topic comes up and go about your business. |
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beanball
222 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2010 : 05:26:19
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| Its 10U baseball, it really doesn't matter. BTW how much lighter bat does the coach want? Good luck finding a -12 bat |
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Alter-Ego
802 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2010 : 13:20:59
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This is an age old debate. I have seen it every year for mamy years. It is typically at the younger ages.
My rule of thumb is:
For weight assessment: stand with your bottom swing hand ( right hand for leftys and left hand for rightys) on the bat and raise it up parallel with the shoulder and hold for 5 seconds. (you should look like an upside-down L)
If you can hold it 5 seconds without the bat dropping, then it is not too heavy. If it drops, it is too heavy. Plain and simple.
For length assessments:
This has to do with the combination of bat length and your proximity to the plate. The closer to the plate, the shorter the bat or otherwise you get jammed a lot.
Have them stand in the batters box with their bat held straight out across the plate. If more than 2" are sticking across the opposite edge of the plate, then it is too long or they are too close, whichever you prefer to address. If the end of the bat does not at least cover the plate, it is either too short or you are too far from the plate.
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itsaboutbb
164 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2010 : 13:38:34
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| Lighter is better. That's why they go to drop 3 in high school. It slows the bat down. |
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baseball1
56 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2010 : 18:53:01
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| coach05 , the bottom line answer is mass (x) energy = force ; take away any of either mass or energy and you lose force / distance - velocity of ball off bat .... my experience is that you are best to trade mass (bat weight )in favor of energy ( bat speed) ; if you cant get enough energy behind the mass you're going nowhere favorable with it - - Pete Rose is the greatest example of many MLB'rs in this regard , he openly boasted about the relative smallness of his bats and with the increased bat speed he managed to come up with 4200 + hits ... so the answer to your question "Is it more beneficial to swing 5mph faster than it is to swing 2oz heavier?" the answer at all levels of play IMO is Yes ... also would say that for every inch you add to the length of the bat it is comparable to adding 2+ ounces to the same bat at an unchanged length per extra energy required to get it completely through the zone.... |
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Alter-Ego
802 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2010 : 21:50:49
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| There is a fine balance between mass and bat speed. You can get the most bat speed with a whiffle ball bat but it lacks the mass to make a basball go anywhere. Therefore lighter is not always better. On the converse side, you can hit a ball with a truck at 10 mph and it won't go anywhere either. You are looking for the Pareto optimal point between mass and speed. |
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bluecup
49 Posts |
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baseball1
56 Posts |
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coach0512
123 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2010 : 00:43:32
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That Kettering article IS a very good read.
After digesting that and using the table at the end it is recommending my son use a bat weight of 24oz! I don't think so.......
I used the 11yr old entry also and IT recommends a bat weight of 21.5oz. Much more realistic.
Turns out to be a moot point anyways because after the second batting session the coach gave him back his 31/21 and said he hits it perfectly fine. He might want to go with a 30/21. He was more concerned with length than weight. So I saved a couple hundred bucks by having him choke up an inch.............. |
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Bat Size
