Your beginning baseball player should have the right bat for him; otherwise, he might lose confidence or learn to dislike the game. Bats come in a variety of sizes and types, and picking the right bat depends on more than just your child's height and weight. You need to consider those factors, but you also need to consider the material the bat is made of, its taper or handle diameter, and its barrel -- the sweet spot where the bat connects with the ball.
Leagues
Whether your child is going to play 6U baseball close to home or join a traveling team that features interstate tournaments, you should check with the coach and the league to see if there are any restrictions on bat size or composition. There are three types of pitching for 6U teams: tee-ball, coach pitch and machine pitch.
Tee-Ball
Kid ages 5 through 7 play tee-ball, in which they hit the ball off a tee. Bats are typically labeled as "Tee-Ball" and are 24 to 28 inches long with 2-¼-inch barrel diameters, according to Bat Corner. Generally, a 24-inch bat is sufficient if your child has a below-average build for her age, and a 25-inch bat is sufficient for kids with an average to above-average build.
Coach and Machine Pitch
According to the website Bat Fanatic, children playing both coach- and machine-pitch ball should use a coach-pitch bat. Coach-pitch bats are lightweight and have a bigger barrel that can give your child about 30 percent more distance than standard tee-ball bats. A first-year coach-pitch player should select a 25- or 26-inch bat length for average to below-average builds, while a 27-inch bat is best for above-average builds. With a year of experience, 27- and 28-inch coach-pitch bats are sufficient for your child, according to Bat Fanatic.
Length and Weight
You usually can find the length and weight of the bat printed on the bat's barrel or handle. Weight is listed either in ounces or in "weight drop," which is the length of the bat in inches minus its weight in ounces. For instance, a 24-inch bat that weighs 16 ounces has a drop of -8. The higher the weight drop, the lighter the bat. According to Bat Corner, a bat with a drop of -10 or more is generally best for kids. Choose the longest bat your child can swing comfortably, effectively and under control.
Weight Considerations
Don't choose a baseball bat with the idea that your child will grow into it; your child could develop bad habits trying to swing a bat that's too heavy for him. When in doubt, opt for a lighter bat, according to Bat Corner. Lighter bats are easier to control. Your child can actually hit harder and farther with a lighter bat because his swing is faster. Wood bats are much heavier than aluminum bats. Most modern bats are made of aircraft-grade aluminum, according to Bat Corner. There are a wide variety of aluminum alloys used to make bats lighter.
Barrel
Tee-ball bats are 2-1/4 inches in diameter; coach- and machine-pitch bats are thicker. Generally, the longer and larger a bat's barrel, the larger the sweet spot for hitting the ball. Still, some players prefer bats with smaller barrels and a lighter weight because they have more bat speed. It's best to choose a bat your child can handle easily, according to Bat Fanatic. Your child may be bigger or stronger than others, or perhaps he has already developed good technique.
Taper
Standard baseball bats are tapered 31/32 of an inch at the diameter of a bat's handle, but the taper can be slightly larger or smaller. Some players are more comfortable with a narrower taper so they can rotate their wrists faster when hitting. Other players prefer a bigger bat taper, which can reduce the sting when the batter misses the sweet spot.
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