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stevebrewster
26 Posts |
 Posted - 12/20/2010 : 17:12:34
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My son needs a new bat. What is the best one for an 8 year old?
Last year he had the Easton Stealth Coach Pitch bat until they outlawed it during Dizzy Dean All-Stars.
I like Easton bats. I noticed there is an composite Easton Omen and an aluminum Easton Stealth Speed.
Which is better- aluminum or composite?
Any ideas are appreciated!
Thanks! |
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excoach12
159 Posts |
Posted - 12/20/2010 : 19:10:02
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Personal preference. Whichever one he says feels the best to him.
I spent over $300 on a Stealth composite because it was supposed to be the next, best bat and every kid would hit a mile with it. Mine didn't.
He tried several different types and when we got to the Combat B-1 he said it felt like it was part of his arm. That he didn't have to swing it that hard and the ball went far. Thats how I knew which one to get him. He has since, at age 10, hit 6 home runs with it over 240' with one of those a grandslam.
Try several and let him tell you which one feels the best to him. |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 12/20/2010 : 20:13:41
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At 8 and 9, my son found the Easton composite to be too end loaded with weight. I also didn't like the V shaped taper, smaller sweet spot.
We moved to the Combat composites, and the Worth metals,and both performed better than the Stealth. The metal bats recoil more, so smaller boys might find it harder to finish the swing.
Buy the drop 10 unless your son is particularly strong.
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baseballnutz
427 Posts |
Posted - 12/20/2010 : 20:17:26
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| I don't think for his age he'll like the composite non-coach pitch bats - I still think at 8U the best bat is the Worth Prodigy and one of our sponsers (Elite Sports) has the 2010 white one for $140 if you mention this site. Or the Easton Rival if you need something more durable would be comparable. Hope this helps. |
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Gwinnett
791 Posts |
Posted - 12/20/2010 : 20:54:58
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| S, the Combat B1, great POP, great price, great bat at any age!!!! |
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whit417
132 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 07:18:32
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| I'd like to second the recommendation on the Worth Prodigy. Great bat for an 8 year old, and cheap too, as far as bats go. Not very durable after about 10 years old however. |
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Shut Out
512 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 09:05:17
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| what is the difference in the Combat B1 & B2? |
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wareagle
324 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 09:18:56
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| Worth Prodigy all the way!! My son has a Combat and a Voodoo he uses now but still uses his dented Prodigy for BP and practices. Get a used Blue one in good shape if you can. Composite bats must get enough "bounce" to be effective. At 8 and 9 ,Most pitchers are not throwing hard enough and batters are not hitting hard enough to get the "bounce". Of course there are exceptions, but in most cases at this age they hit further with aluminum, and they sure sound better coming off the bat. |
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SSBuckeye
575 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 10:13:55
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| I have been told by a sales guy at Better Baseball that the real difference between the B1 & B2 is the money. Not much else. |
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baserunner
115 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 10:20:38
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| I agree with much of what has been said regarding the Worth Prodigy. My son has had two of them when he was younger (9U - 10U) he's 13U now. You do get a lot of pop out of them and you'll never forget the sound it makes when you rip one. That being said there is a downside. These bats will dent! I'm not sure if the newer models are like this so please do your research. I still recommed them as long if you're willing to replace it in a year or so. Just my 2 cents. |
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metsFan
63 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 11:35:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Shut Out
what is the difference in the Combat B1 & B2?
About $60 
I understand that the B2 are supposed to be more durable that the B1 and looks to have a longer barrel (less taper). The B2 are supposed to take longer breaking in than the B1. Personal experience with the B1 is that it is pretty hot out of the wrapper.
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Gwinnett
791 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 11:49:11
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Shutout, the price is the biggest difference. I think Combat tried to inprove its bat but according to my son and some of his teammates they like the B1. They say it POPS better.
I think another question for choosing is if your son is a power hitter. Meaning fast, hard, powerful swing. My son has been hitting them out since 8 and I can tell you the B1 will hold up. We have not broke one yet (knock on wood).
Right before my son turned 10 we added a nike two piece alloy bat to his arsonal and wow it has alot of POP to. This bat requires alot more power in your swing but when you hit the ball it explodes off the bat. |
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Macedonia01
5 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 14:14:33
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| My 8 yr old son used the Worth prodigy for most of his 7U spring year, went through 2 though because of denting, moved on to the Easton Rival and so far this bat has outperformed the Prodigy. The Rival is a bit more barrel heavy, but overall great bat and pop for the money. |
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stevebrewster
26 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 15:55:46
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I just bought the 28 inch Worth Litium Prodigy from one of the website sponsors- Elite Sports.
Thanks! |
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excoach12
159 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 16:14:59
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| Every Prodigy I have seen has dented and its the top complaint I have heard from others. I was told it is because the Prodigy is made in China and they have lower standards in regards to the aluminum they use. The Combat is a North American product and they use better quality materials. Someone please verify........... |
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baseballnutz
427 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 18:59:20
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| Congrats Steve! Your son is going to love his new bat. My son has had 3 and loved them all, the 1st one the blue and white one dented quickly and was replaced without question in one week. The last two last over a year before breaking down. Gl |
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metsFan
63 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 19:49:17
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quote:
Originally posted by excoach12
Every Prodigy I have seen has dented and its the top complaint I have heard from others. I was told it is because the Prodigy is made in China and they have lower standards in regards to the aluminum they use. The Combat is a North American product and they use better quality materials. Someone please verify...........
The Combats are a Canadian product. I don't believe the Prodigy dents because they are made in China. They dent because of the build standards set forth by Worth. Thinner walls make for a lighter bat and better rebound. The down side to this is the lack of durability as the pitches get faster and the kid swinging the bat gets stronger. |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 21:59:58
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My son used his Worth Prodigy at 11U, the Blue and White one, and no dents to report, but he's only 90 pounds, and we don't let the bigger boys use it. I cant see a 8U or 9U player denting that bat 10u or 11u sure, but not 8 or 9. The ping sound is cool too.
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SSBuckeye
575 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2010 : 23:18:39
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| We were denting Prodigy bats at 6u. The newer versions are less likely to dent but also have less pop. The light blue versions we had on the 8u KP team last year were universally trashed by mid season, though the kids kept using them. Just know that you'll need to send it back at some point and they are great about getting you a new one. |
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BROOKSTEAM
145 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2010 : 18:12:29
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The composite bats have been tested and shown to out perform (you can look at the Kettering University results) at higher velocity swings. Simply put the power hitters tend to do better with composite bats and contact hitters or even younger power hitters do better with alloy heads. That is one of the main reasons the composites are being banned and changed at the higher levels.
**Please also consider the Easton Omen in this discussion, they are awesome bats at the -10 level**
Steve did buy one of the Prodigy bats from me and I have them at $140. We also have the other bats mentioned in this post that we can offer special pricing on for NWBA website bloggers. Discounts that amount to $25/Rival, $55/B2, $30/B1
Please call me 678-903-0024 or email me ronald@elitesportseastcobb.com if you want to confirm stock, pricing or have me order anything for you.
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Steel-Will
278 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2010 : 22:09:11
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| Anybody have any thoughts as to whether or not the Omen pops better than the Combats (B1, B2, B3, or GEAR)? |
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stevebrewster
26 Posts |
Posted - 12/22/2010 : 22:36:55
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| Is there an accurate way to test your swing velocity? |
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Alter-Ego
802 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2010 : 13:02:31
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There is now are swing speed monitors that you can use. There are a couple different models. Rawlings makes one that clicks into the end cap of their current models. You swing and it tells you the swing speed. I have seen a couple others.
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2010 : 15:21:06
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| Warrior was timing our boys swings this time last year, but I dont know what he was using. Maybe he'll chime in. |
Edited by - bmoser on 12/23/2010 15:23:34 |
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Jacked-up
59 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2010 : 17:03:37
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| why can't a radar gun be used? |
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Alter-Ego
802 Posts |
Posted - 12/24/2010 : 00:41:01
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Jacked-up,
You can use a radar gun if you have one. |
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Topic |
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Best performing big barrell bat for kids?
