Bats: Use one suitable for you

Get the right sized bat for YOU

We supply each team with an assortment of bats in an effort to have at least one suitable for each player. If the supplied equipment isn't suitable, then one of the coaching staff should contact the league convenor to get a replacement. Some players use their own bats, which is fine but they must be prepared to share with other players - i.e. players from BOTH teams. If not prepared to share, then personal bats should not be brought to the game/practice. Note: No one is asked to share personally owned equipment such as helmets or gloves.

Note re: BLASTBALL: No personal bats are allowed to be used in our Blastball league, i.e. ALL players must use one of the foam bats we provide. (It's a "one-size for all".)

Bat Sizes

Length and Weight: Baseball bats and softball bats come in different lengths and weights. The weight drop is a figure you will often see given to describe a bat. It refers to the difference between the length of the bat (in inches) and the weight of the bat (in ounces). It is always shown as a minus number and the higher the weight drop, the lighter the bat. For example, a baseball bat with a -10 weight drop would be lighter than a bat with a -3 weight drop.

**Determine Your Bat Length by Weight and Height**
	Your height (inches)
Your weight (pounds)	36-40	41-44	45-48	49-52	53-56	57-60	61-64	65-68	69-72	73+
Your weight (pounds)	Bat length
less than 60	26"	27"	28"	29"	29"
61-70	27"	27"	28"	29"	30"	30"
71-80		28"	28"	29"	30"	30"	31"
81-90		28"	29"	29"	30"	30"	31"	32"
91-100		28"	29"	30"	30"	31"	31"	32"
101-110		29"	29"	30"	30"	31"	31"	32"
111-120		29"	29"	30"	30"	31"	31"	32"
121-130		29"	29"	30"	30"	31"	32"	33"	33"
131-140		29"	30"	30"	31"	31"	32"	33"	33"
141-150			30"	30"	31"	31"	32"	33"	33"
151-160			30"	31"	31"	32"	32"	33"	33"	33"
161-170				31"	31"	32"	32"	33"	33"	34"
171-180						32"	33"	33"	34"	34"
180+							33"	33"	34"	34"

Note: In general, bigger, stronger players usually prefer a heavier bat since they reap benefits from both the heft and swing power. Smaller and younger players should use a lighter bat to generate a quicker swing and provide better control.

Barrel Size: The bat's barrel size is the diameter of the larger part of the bat. The larger and longer the barrel, generally, the larger the sweet spot of hitting the ball. Smaller barrel sizes are lighter and allow for more bat speed. The full-size barrels (2 3/4") usually have a difference of 5 between their length and weight (conforming to rules set by many leagues and states regarding high school-aged players). Smaller bats should be selected with a difference of 8 or more between length and weight. For many young players, a 21 ounce bat that is 30 inches long is ideal. Below is a rough guide for bat selection. It is simply a place to start and depends not only on the size of the player but the level of competition. Generally, it is better to err on the light side rather than the heavy side. Note: many professional players are using lighter bats than were used in the past.

Age	Weight Minimum	Weight Maximum	Length Minimum	Length Maximum	Barrel Size
6-7	17 Ounces	19 Ounces	24 Inches	28 Inches	2 ¼
8	19 Ounces	21 Ounces	27 Inches	30 Inches	2 ¼
9	20 Ounces	23 Ounces	28 Inches	30 Inches	2 ¼
10	20 Ounces	23 Ounces	28 Inches	31 Inches	2 ¼
11	21 Ounces	24 Ounces	29 Inches	31 Inches	2 ¼ to 2 ⁵/₈
12	23 Ounces	25 Ounces	30 Inches	33 Inches	2 ¼ to 2 ¾
13-14	23 Ounces	28 Ounces	30 Inches	33 Inches	2 ¼ to 2 ¾
15 +	24 Ounces	30 Ounces	30 Inches	34 Inches	2 ¾

Bat Taper: The bat's taper is the diameter of the bat's handle. A bigger bat taper can reduce the sting that occurs when the ball isn't hit on the sweet spot but it also increases the overall weight of the bat. Standard bats are tapered 31/32 of a inch.

While a properly sized bat is important, learning how to hold the bat, get ready and swing properly are all priorities and should be practised --- otherwise the bat only "looks good".