re: Is it possible to have a non-sh!t show conversation about youth baseball bats here?

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Sounds like you did your research.

I'm not arguing. I'm just stating that I don't see any 12U kids where we play using a -5 bat most are either -10 or -8. Also, just stating that when I see kids using heavier bats at such a young age, it's normally driven by the parents thinking they are better than they actually are.

You don't have to agree.

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like i mentioned earlier, depends on the level you are playing at. are you talking AA, AAA or majors?

in majors almost everyone i see swings drop 8 or drop 5. only the smaller kids swing drop 8.

AAA/Majors exclusively PG in the Houston area.

My son is on the small side and swings an -8 (Hype Fire...hope we aren't next...). Here 13U is minimum -8. 14U minimum -5. Obviously, high school is -3 BBCOR.

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AAA/Majors exclusively PG in the Houston area.

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wait and most are not swinging drop 5 in 12u? every big pg tourney in houston we have been to most of the 12u kids we have seen are swinging drop 5

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Here 13U is minimum -8. 14U minimum -5. Obviously, high school is -3 BBCOR.

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pg is drop 3 bbcor at 14u in open or majors, drop 5 in aaa

13u is drop 5 in majors, drop 8 in aaa


in LA we play lots of 2d cause we play select series and its straight up drop 3 bbcor in 14u.

so progression is usually drop 8 at 11u, drop 5 at 12u or atleast back half and then drop 5 all of 13u.




oh and dont worry the drop 8 hype fire is not the same as the drop 5. they are only investigating the drop 5 and its only suspended not banned. they will do testing and determine from there. but drop 8 hype fire aint even the hottest drop 8 bat and take long time to break in.

The girth of the barrel seems enormous

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you suggested a $200 bat for your highschool daughter? jesus, father of the year material right here.

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Right? It was like I abused her and neglected her for suggesting such a lousy bat!

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It was like I abused her and neglected her for suggesting such a lousy bat!

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i'm pretty sure they are window shopping for a stepdaddy as you type still dumbfounded.

At 12u he should be swinging a -5. My son Is a junior in high school but when he played PG majors, even 13u was -3 BBCOR on 60/90 fields. All PG 13u majors were on 60/90. This was in Florida and Georgia.

Absolutely no weighted balls.

Cage for soft toss and tee work only. Pitching machine and composite bats are a bad idea.

Also, age of kid and size of bat will also come into play.

BBCORs are more durable than drop-10s.

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Honest question; at 11 are the kids really swinging hard enough that the bats make that huge of a difference?

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I see no one has answered you yet. So I will.

Yes, 100%, a top-tier bat will transfer more power even for an average sized 11U player. They have a bigger sweet spot and a better trampoline effect.

There is a reason the bat market is so saturated right now with high-end bats. Parents are shelling out money hand over fist because those bats take a lazy fly ball and turns them into extra-bases and home runs.

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Absolutely no weighted balls.

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again...driveline plyo weighted balls are fine and are designed to be able to be used with composites. trust me if this was an issue our whole team would need new bats

the thick heavy 16oz balls that are blue or yellow...yea no go