Youth baseball leagues are an opportunity to learn the basic principles of the game while participating in a fun recreational activity. With players ranging in ages from 7 through 12, the bats and other equipment must match the player's strength and ability levels. Along with the size of the bat, choosing a proper bat for a youth baseball player requires considering the materials, features and specific league regulations.
Materials
Youth baseball bats can be made from aluminum alloys or composite materials such as titanium, carbon and graphite. Aluminum bats are the most common as it combines strength and durability to resist cracking or breaking with a lightweight design for youth athletes. The aluminum bats also increase the size of the "sweet spot" on the barrel for improved hitting performance.
Features
The two most important features for a youth baseball bat are the size of the barrel and type of grip. Youth baseball bats with a large barrel diameter increase the size of the sweet spot along with increasing the size of the contact area while swinging. Most youth bats have a barrel diameter measuring 2-1/2 or 2-3/4 inches. The grip on youth baseball bats can be made from a rubber compound or synthetic leather that improves grip along with absorbing the shock felt during contact.
Size
Choosing the proper bat size for youth baseball players requires choosing a size and weight that the player can swing comfortably. This increases their performance while reducing their risk of injury. As a general rule, players between the ages of 8- and 9-years old use a bat measuring 26 to 28 inches and 10-year old players use a bat measuring 28 to 29 inches. To test the size and weight of a bat against the player's strength, have the player hold the bat parallel to the ground. If he can hold the bat for at least 15 seconds, he has adequate strength levels to swing the bat.
Regulations
Youth and Little League rules typically regulate the type and size of the baseball bats. Some leagues are regulating the use of composite or two-piece bats permitting only aluminum bats to control the overall performance of the bat. Youth leagues also regulate the weight-to-length of the bats referring to the difference in the length in inches and weight in ounces. The weight-to-length ratio is commonly -6 to -10 depending on the age and division. For example, a 30-inch bat weighing 24 oz. has a weight-to-length ration of -6.
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