When your husband is involved in Little League baseball and you are a frugal living blogger, it only makes sense to have a blog post about how to get the best bang for your buck when it comes to baseball bats. Before having kids, I had no idea how expensive sports equipment was. Bats aren’t cheap! Since the hubby has more experience with sporting equipment than I do, I’ve asked him to write a a guest post on how to buy the best bats for Little League.
As a Little League Coach, I am constantly asked, “What are the little league-approved baseball bats?” Little League mandates that all bats should be USA certified with the USA baseball logo or stamp visible on the bat.
Parents then ask, “What is the best USA certified bat for my six, seven, or eight year old?” It can be overwhelming to choose the best youth baseball bat for either a seasoned player or a bat for a player that is a beginner/brand new to the sport. Parents have to weigh their options (proper size, length and drop weight) and don’t necessarily want to “break the bank” for a brand new top of the line youth baseball bat.
How much should you expect to pay for a Little League bat?
In many cases, you get what you pay for. Youth Baseball bats typically range from $125-350. Youth Tee Ball Bats will cost $50-100. However, there are some deals to be had and some budget friendly youth baseball bats out there for purchase.
Best USA Certified Youth Baseball Bats for Little League
Here are a couple of my favorite USA certified bats broken down by age group. Remember, it is important to buy the proper size bat. If you do not know how to check bat sizing for length. Dick’s offers a great explanation here!
Here are the best USA Certified Tee Ball Bats for six year old Little League Players:
My favorite is the Easton ADV (-13). The lighter bat gives the kids more control and confidence!
Here are the best USA Certified Bats for seven year old Little League Players:
- Easton Reflex (-12)
- Easton Speed Composite (-10 or -13)
- Louisville Slugger Solo (-13)
- Easton Maxum (-12)
My favorite (when considering cost) is the Easton Speed Composite because of its large barrel size. The composite material results in a larger sweet spot for a developing youth baseball player. However, if you are willing to spend a little more money, then the Easton Maxum will not disappoint!
Here are the best USA certified bats for eight year old Little League Players:
My favorite of this group is the Louisville Prime. The bat is hot out of the wrapper with a large sweet spot.
How to choose bat drop weight for Little League
The drop size/weight of your youth baseball bat is important to consider. Drop size is the weight in proportion to the bat’s length. Youth baseball bats range from drop ten to drop 13 meaning the bat’s weight is 10 ounces less than the length up to 13 ounces less than then length of the bat.Your son or daughter will become much stronger from age six to eight. By age eight, your child will want to use a heavier bat (-10) rather than (-11) or (-12). The larger drop will help your youth baseball player when they first begin to build proper fundamentals. However, as they become more comfortable, you want him or her to use a heavier bat.
Good luck in your upcoming Little League Season!
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