What size bat does my son need?

Use his height and weight for the length, his age for the drop weight, and his league for the certification stamp. Most youth players land between 27 and 33 inches. The calculator above gives you all three, but here is what the numbers actually mean.

What does bat drop mean?

Drop is the bat's length in inches minus its weight in ounces. A 30 inch bat that weighs 20 ounces is a drop 10, written as -10.

The bigger the drop number, the lighter the bat. A -12 is lighter than a -5 at the same length. Younger players swing higher drops because they need bat speed more than mass. As players get older and stronger the drop comes down, until high school where every bat is a -3.

What is the difference between USSSA, USA Baseball, and BBCOR?

These are certification standards, and they control how much the barrel is allowed to flex. Buying the wrong one is the most expensive mistake in youth baseball, because the bat gets rejected at the plate and there is nothing you can do about it that day.

• USSSA (BPF 1.15). Used by most travel and club leagues, including ours. Hotter barrel, more pop. Look for the BPF 1.15 mark on the taper.
• USA Baseball (USABat). Required by Little League and most rec leagues. Designed to perform closer to a wood bat. A USSSA bat is not legal here.
• BBCOR (.50). Required for high school and college, and for a growing number of 14U events. Always drop 3.

If your player plays travel ball and rec ball in the same year, he may genuinely need two bats. Check with each league before you buy, not after.

What size bat for a 12 year old?

Most 12 year olds swing a 30 to 32 inch bat in a -8 to -10 drop, but height and build matter more than the birthday. A tall 12 year old and a small one should not be swinging the same bat.

The same holds at every age. Use the calculator for a starting point, then let him actually swing it.

Is it better to go heavier or lighter?

Lighter, almost always. Bat speed produces more hard contact than bat weight does at youth ages, and a bat a player can control is a bat he can be on time with.

The mistake I see constantly is a parent buying a bat their son will grow into. That costs him a full season of bat speed while he fights something too long and too heavy. If he is between two sizes, take the smaller one and let him earn the bigger bat with his swing.

How do I know if the bat is too heavy?

Have him hold it straight out to the side with one arm, gripping the knob. If he can hold it steady for 20 to 30 seconds, the weight is workable. If the barrel starts dropping, it is too heavy for him right now.

Then watch him swing. If the swing gets long, late, or loopy, the bat is winning. That shows up in a game before it shows up in a cage.

Common mistakes

• Buying for next season. Kids grow fast. Buy for the swing he has now.
• Matching a teammate. Two players the same age can need very different bats.
• Ignoring the stamp. Confirm certification before you spend the money.
• Chasing the most expensive bat. A well fitted mid range bat outperforms a poorly fitted premium one every time.