Best Youth USA Baseball Bats
Want your son to be the next Shohei Ohtani but confused about what type of bat to get your son for his Little League? So was I, until I did a lot of random bat buying and research and trial and error. Here’s a breakdown of what I’ve learned and what I recommend to someone looking for a bat.
Age 4, 5 or 6
If your son or child is just starting out in T-Ball or is very early on in Little League with coach pitching then I suggest you buy the cheapest bat that’s appropriate for their size. This is usually around ages 4-6. At this age, your child is so young and just learning to develop swing mechanics that it really doesn’t matter what type of bat they buy as long as it’s good enough for them to learn proper swing mechanics. I’d recommend something around 24-26” in length. Just don’t get anything too heavy, even an extra ounce can make a big difference to a small kid who’s just learning!
Here’s a cheap one you can buy
Age 6-12
When your kid moves up to kid pitching, it’s time to upgrade their bat. They will have outgrown their T-ball bat and as kids start pitching faster, what type of bat they buy can actually make a big difference in their performance on the field. Here are some of the features of bats you see in product listings.
Barrel Size
This is the circumference of the baseball bat. Should you get a 2-1/4” or a 2-5/8” bat? A bigger barrel might seem like it’s better, but in reality a 2-1/4” barrel and a 2-5/8” barrel perform about the same. In fact, if your child hits the ball well in the sweet spot of the bat, a 2-1/4” barrel bat will be better because the bat will be slightly more dense and give the ball a little bit more pop. Overall, the barrel size though shouldn’t play much into your decision on what bat to choose. It’s more of a marketing gimmick.
As you can see in this image, the sweet spot for a bat is almost exactly the same regardless of barrel size.
Length
Use this chart to find the appropriate sized bat for your child. Don’t be tempted to save money and buy a bat that’s too big! You might think that an extra inch or two isn’t going to hurt their swing, but for a child, that extra inch is a lot! Also, don’t let your child use a bat that’s too short, this again will only hurt them when they’re at the plate.
Drop/Weight
Drop is just the number you subtract from the length to get the weight.
Weight is the most important factor in choosing a bat outside of length. In general, you will want to choose the lightest bat possible with the appropriate length. Why? That’s because with lighter weight, your child will be able to develop correct swing mechanics and subsequently swing speed. When balls are hit well, they are hit with a lot of power and speed. Also, when they face pitchers who can pitch fast, they need the bat speed to even catch up to the opponent’s fast ball.
But doesn’t more weight = more power?
It does, but weight doesn’t matter as much as speed. To geek out, the formula for Kinetic energy is as follows:
Kinetic Energy = 0.5 x mass x velocity(squared)
From this equation, you see that velocity is squared! So while mass (weight) does matter, the bigger contribution to the equation is velocity. This is why I recommend getting the lightest bat possible at the appropriate length to maximize your child’s swing speed.
When should you move up in bat weight?
When your child’s swinging as fast as possible with their current bat. Then they should move up in weight as that will also help with having more pop in their swing.
Cost
Does the price of the bat matter? Unfortunately, yes. While USA bats are all very similar in that they are designed to behave like a wooden bat, the best bats for the most part cost more. The better bats are usually lighter, made from better materials, and have different feels and sweet spots.
Now that you know what to look for in a baseball bat, here are some popular choices/best bats around. Note, all links go to our Amazon affiliate link.
Under $100
1. Rawlings 5150
Recommended by a lot of parents, this alloy bat comes has a 2-5/8” barrel and comes in a drop 11 or drop 10 weight.
Buy from Amazon.
2. Easton Speed Baseball bat
The Easton Speed Bat is one of the most affordable bats with good performance and pop. You’ll see lots of other kids with this bat as this is one of the best value bats. This bat has a 2-5/8” barrel, comes in a drop 10 weight and is an aluminum alloy bat.
Buy on Amazon
Just over $100
1. Louisville Slugger Solo SPD
The Louisville Slugger Solo is a great bat with good pop. The SPD version has a drop weight of 13! Making it one of the lightest bats around at any given length. This one is great for generating bat speed and hitting. My son personally own this one!
Buy on Amazon
2. Marucci CAT Connect -11
Another popular bat amongst Little Leaguers. You’ve probably seen someone on your team with a Marucci CAT bat in some variation. This is a 2-5/8” aluminum alloy bat with a drop weight of 11.
Buy on Amazon
The Best Money Can Buy
1. Easton ADV360 - Composite, 2-Piece
This is the bat that you may have seen on TV when the Little League World Series is on. This is the official sponsor bat of the series and as you can see from how the kids hit, it is a premier bat.
Buy on Amazon
2. Rawlings Icon
Another 2-5/8” composite bat with drop weights of 12, 10 or 8. This is an expensive bat, so you won’t see many kids with it, but those who do say its a great bat.
Buy on Amazon
3. Louisville Slugger Select PWR
A 2 piece composite bat with drop weights of 10, 8 and 5. Another great bat that’s well known amongst hard core Little League baseball guru’s. You can't go wrong with this bat if your child can handle the weight.
Buy on Amazon
