Selecting the right size baseball bat can be quite a challenge for kids. Bats come in a wide variety of sizes and lengths but finding one that fits your size, strength and swing takes time and understanding of the different options you have.
Bat Weight
According to Dr. Daniel Russell of Kettering University, a heavier bat produces a faster batted ball than a lighter bat with all other things held constant. This assumes that the player will be able to swing the heavier bat as fast as the lighter one and often this is not the case. In fact, Russell says that faster bat speed or swing speed makes the exit speed or batted speed faster. The idea is to mix the two by finding the heaviest bat that you can comfortably swing quickly and control.
Bat Lengths And Ratios
Bat lengths largely depend on the weight of the bat since many bats have a weight to length ratio according to Dick's Sporting Goods. Dick's says that bat manufacturers have done a great job balancing the weight and length ratios of bats. Baseball bats at the high school and college levels use a minus 3 ratio, which means the weight is three oz. less than the length of the bat. Some bats for younger kids younger than the age of 12 have ratios that range all the way to minus 12.
Barrel Size And Grip
Dick's Sporting Goods says that the longer the barrel on the bat, the bigger the sweet spot is. Sweet spots are areas on the bat that are ideal to hit the ball on to make it travel farther. According to Dick's, the standard barrel diameter size is 2 1/2 inches, and Dick's notes that a smaller barrel makes the bat lighter and can help you to increase bat speed. High school and college bats by rule can be no more than 2 5/8 inches and almost all barrels are this diameter at the high school and college level. Grip refers to the size of the bat by the handle where you grip or hold the bat. According to Dick's, the standard grip or taper is 31/32 of an inch. Dick's notes that the smaller grips are better for lighter weight and wrist rotation, while heavier grips work best for reducing sting in your hands after contact.
Size Recommendations
The Bat Chooser is a machine developed by Terry Bahill that measured swing speed and matched that to your variables like weight and height to give you a bat size recommendation. According to the Bat Chooser, junior players from ages 13 to 17 should choose a bat weight that is equal to their height in inches divided by 3 and then add 1 to the result. Bat Chooser says that 11- and 12-year-olds should look for a bat weight that is equal to their weight divided by 18 plus 16. Bahill recommends that 9- and 10-year-old players select a weight that is equal to their height in inches divided by 4 plus 3.
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