BATS!! WHAT SIZE DO I NEED??

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Bats!! What Size Do I Need?

NEW!!!

Little League International Issues Update Regarding Composite Bats: Moratorium Imposed Immediately
 

Little League International has released the approved bat list as well as rule changes for the 2012 season. Many parents purchase bats for the Holiday season or birthdays well before the season starts. Please make sure the bat you purchase or your child uses is on the lists below. If not they will not be allowed to use them.

To view the rule changes and an overview of bat legal bat specifications and the penalties which apply for non compliance please click on this link:

http://www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/2011/Sep-Dec/LLAnnouncesBatRuleChangesfor2012Season.htm

To view a PDF of approved 2 1/4" composite barreled bats for major division and below please click on this link:

http://www.littleleague.org/learn/equipment/approvedcompbatssmall.htm

To view the complete list of approved 2 1/4" bats of all materials please click on this link:

http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/2011ApprovedNonWoodBatList.pdf

Bats not appearing on this list or meeting the design criteria will not be permitted and penalty for use will be as stated in the first link above.

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Advances in bat technology have driven up the price.  Special alloys, flexible handles and air chambers can result in greater bat speed and a trampoline affect upon impact.  End loaded bats can give the feeling of being heavier because the weight is further from the hands.  Balanced bats have the weight equally spread across the bat and can feel lighter.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Industry standard tests that measure the performance of a bat, called BPF (bat performance factor), make sure that bats remain safe and don't result in an unfair advantage.  Although the costlier bats can out perform less expensive bats in terms of durability and distance and can result in greater bat speed, remember the old adage..."It's the Indian, not the Arrow". If your child is headed for the baseball hall of fame, they'll be able to hit with a broom stick.  Here's the minimum to know when you select a bat.

Tips on how to select the right bat

http://www.hittingworld.com/How_to_Select_a_Proper_Youth_Baseball_Bat_p/art30.htm

Determining The Right Bat Weight

Most bats are weighted in ounces

• Manufacturers have done a great job in balancing the bat's weight to its length
• Many bats have a weight-to-length ratio, often shown as -4, -6, etc.
• This basically means a 34-inch bat with a -6 ratio weighs 28 ounces
• Selecting weight really depends on two critical factors - your strength and your hitting style
• It also depends a lot on your personal preference in weight and length, so the following are simply guidelines to follow: 
  • Bigger, stronger players generally prefer a heavier bat since they get the benefits of both the heft and swing power
  • Smaller players with less strength should consider a lighter bat to generate a quicker swing
  • Younger players (under 12), should consider that a lighter bat increases control - great for singles hitters, while also reducing the risk of injury.
   

Interested in the Physics of the Baseball to Bat Impact?

http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/bats.html

Little League Bat Rules

TBALL AND MINOR B  (5-8 yrs old)

• 2-1/4" barrel diameter

• Beginning with the 2009 season, non-wood bats used in divisions of play Little League (Majors) and below must be printed with a BPF (bat performance factor) rating of 1.15 or less.

This is the level when many players begin buying expensive bats. Prices can hit nearly $250 for the best bats.

• 2-1/4" barrel diameter

• Beginning with the 2009 season, non-wood bats used in divisions of play Little League (Majors) and below must be printed with a BPF (bat performance factor) rating of 1.15 or less.

1.10 - The bat must be a baseball bat which meets Little League specifications and standards as noted in this rule. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to Little League standards.

Little League (Majors) and below

In all divisions, wood bats may be taped or fitted with a sleeve for a distance not exceeding sixteen (16) inches (18 inches for Junior/Senior/Big League baseball) from the small end. A non-wood bat must have a grip of cork, tape or composition material, and must extend a minimum of 10 inches from the small end. Slippery tape or similar material is prohibited. An illegal bat must be removed. Any bat that has been altered shall be removed from play.

NOTE 1: Junior/Senior/Big League:

NOTE 2:

NOTE 3:

NOTE 4: Non-wood bats may develop dents from time to time. Bats that cannot pass through the approved Little League bat ring for the appropriate division must be removed from play. The 2¼ inch bat ring must be used for bats in the Tee Ball, Minor League and Little League Baseball divisions. The 2 5/8 inch bat ring must be used for bats in the Junior, Senior and Big League divisions of baseball