Little League baseball bats come in small and big barrel sizes. Small barrel bats are 2 1/4 inches in diameter, and big barrel bats are 2 5/8 and 2 3/4 inches in diameter. Big barrel bats are primarily manufactured for teens, but are modified for Little League players, too. Various companies make big barrel bats, and they are available in a variety of prices.
Considerations
Big barrel baseball bats for young players present some problems, because they don't reinforce good hitting fundamentals. A big barrel bat can produce decent hits that aren't struck with the sweet spot on the bat, but rather above or below the optimal area of the bat's barrel. A small barrel bat requires more precision and better mechanics. However, because most senior league players use big barrel bats, some coaches and parents may support the use of big barrel bats in Little League for players who can swing them successfully.
Easton Omen
This senior league big barrel bat comes in 31- and 32-inch varieties, and is lightweight enough to be used by Little League players. It features an extra-thin handle and cushioned grip to give players a better hold on the bat. The composite bat sells for about $300 as of early 2011, and promises solid durability. The Omen replaces a former and similar Easton model, the Stealth.
COMbat BAM BAM
Designed for coach-pitch baseball, but available to Little League players, too, the BAM BAM has a huge sweet spot and a hollow core to make it more lightweight. A lighter bat is easier to swing, which means faster bat speed and more power with every hit. COMbat makes an interesting sales pitch, noting that with a bat that produces more hits because of the size of the barrel and the larger sweet spot, kids might develop a faster love of the game because they're getting more immediate results with the Bam Bam. The bats retail for about $140 as of early 2011.
Warnings
The best big barrel bats for Little League are ones that players can't swing as hard so there is less chance of an injury when a ball comes blasting off the new state-of-the-art materials used in composite and aluminum bats. If a younger player can't swing the bat quickly, he's not likely to do any damage.
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