Best Baseball Bats for Kids

By | Baseball

So, you or your kid has decided they want to play baseball. Most often, kids are more attracted to batting than pitching or fielding. While shopping for a baseball glove is fairly easy and simple, shopping for baseball bats is a little more complex.

This is why we have done the research for you and come up with our list of the best baseball bats for kids, so you won’t have to worry too much about the various options. We will also discuss a few key things to consider when buying a baseball bat for kids to help you better understand how to make the right buying decision.

Best Baseball Bats for Kids

Here is our list of the best baseball bats for kids, according to their league and age group. All of these bats come highly rated and recommended.

Toddlers – Ages 3-4

Tee Ball – Ages 4-7

Minor League – Ages 5-11

Major Division – Ages 9-12

Intermediate (50/70) – Ages 11-13

Junior League – Ages 12-14

Senior League – Ages 13-16

Important Note: Some of the mentioned baseball bats appear more than once due to the range of sizes they are available in. This makes them the best option for multiple little leagues and age groups, and we have divided them according to the respective sizes ideal for each group.

Things to Consider

The mentioned baseball bats are undoubtedly the best options in the market right now. However, when searching for the best baseball bats for kids, there are a few things to consider.

Type/Material

There are two main categories of bats, one-piece and two-piece bats. One-piece bats are widely considered to bounce back due to the trampoline effect upon contact, whereas two-piece bats tend to offer more flex for added speed.

The material of the bat also matters.

  • Wood Bats: These are the traditional baseball bats made from woods like ash, bamboo, maple, etc., or a combination of woods and composite materials. They come in a wide range of options and offer various benefits depending on the materials used.
  • Alloy Bats: Typically the least expensive, these bats are often made with aluminum metal to keep the weight light without compromising on strength. They are a great option for youth players, especially because they are quite forgiving to a lack of strength and accuracy.
  • Composite Bats: These are typically the most expensive option, usually made from a composite of fiberglass-type They perform better with use,and you have to break them in. Composite bats are banned by regulation unless they are BBCOR certified.
  • Hybrid Bats: These have a mixture of several materials,such as carbon or alloy, to offer the best of composite and aluminum bats while reducing their downsides.
  • Half-and-Half Bats: These bats typically have an alloy, aluminum, or hybrid barrel with a composite handle. They offer benefits similar to those of hybrid bats.

Length

The length of the baseball bat is a crucial aspect to consider, depending on the child’s age. Here are the recommended lengths according to age.

  • 24-26-inches for 5-7-year olds
  • 26-28-inches for 8-9-year olds
  • 28-29-inches for 10-year olds
  • 30-31-inches for 11-12-year olds
  • 31-32-inches for 13-14-year olds
  • 32-33-inches for 15-16-year olds
  • 33-34-inches for 17-years or older

If your kid is bigger for their age, you can buy one size up. Similarly, if you want your kid to use the baseball bat for longer, you can buy a size up but not more. For example, if your child is 12-years old, you can opt for a 32-inch baseball bat rather than a 31-inch one, which lasts them more than a year.

Longer bats provide more reach but at the cost of added weight. For the ideal baseball bat, you also have to consider the weight.

Weight/ Drop Weight

Heavier bats mean more power, but they can sometimes be tricky to control. Lighter bats mean more control but less power. You want the ideal balance between these two when considering a baseball bat for your kids.

Another thing to consider is the “drop weight,” which is the difference between the length and the weight of the bat. Beginners should start with bats that have a drop weight of around -10. However, high school baseball regulations limit drop weight to be -3 or less.

An easy test is to have your kid hold the bat up in front of them using their dominant hand. They should hold just above the grip and maintain the elevation for at least 15 seconds. If they can hold it up for 20 seconds without shaking or dropping, the bat is not too heavy for them.

You can also opt for baseball or softball swing analyzers, like the ones below, to get even deeper analytics on your kid’s swing, track progress, and also which bat or drop weight brings out their ideal batting performance.

Barrel Size

PS: YOU MIGHT LIKE THESE ARTICLES TOO
«
»

College and high school regulations restrict the maximum barrel size, or diameter, to 2 5/8-inches. However, 2 1/4-inches is the recommended ideal barrel size for kids aged 12-years or less, and it is also the standard for Youth and Little League Baseball.

Our Final Thoughts

While choosing the right bat for your kid can get tricky, it often boils down to what your kid is comfortable with and which bat brings out the best in their performance. We recommend you try a few different options like types, sizes, and weights of bats before choosing the ideal one.

The mentioned best baseball bats for kids are the first ones you should experiment with, as they are currently the best available options in the market. Moreover, you should always consider the mentioned things, and invest in a swing tracker, if possible, to understand the best bats for your kids and track their progress as well.

To learn more about the best baseball bats for kids, other top baseball products, trivia, or the best baseball guides, visit our website today.

More Articles You Might Like...

Scroll to Top