Hitting and Hitters Discussion BAT WEIGHT

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Trying to get some opinions on the weight of a bat that a fairly strong 16 year old girl should use. DD is using a 33" but is it better to use a -12 drop to get the bat around quicker or a -10 drop? What are some advantages to a heavier bat? Thanks!

 

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If you take her to the batting cages, can she get the bat around and hit a 60 mph ball consistantly?

With live pitching can she still get the bat around.

IMO the biggest factor is how quick her swing is with the bat. Have her try them both out and see. If she is strong, I would think -10 should be the lightest bat and she may want to look at -9 or -8.

 

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Try not to look at total weight but rather weight distribution. The best type is a slightly end loaded bat. These come in many total weights, -11 to -9. But your follow through will be more powerful with this end loaded bat compared to a evenly distributed bat of the same weight. Let your DD decide how much weight she wants on the end but swinging a few different weights of end loaded bats. They do have a different feel.

 

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The "best type" is the one she can hit with! ?That's not always an easy thing to figure out and unfortunately you usually don't get to try out a bat before you buy it. ?

My opinions....

Longer bat generates more centrifugal force, but loses bat speed and control. ?Swing easier, good distance...if you hit it on the "sweet spot".

Shorter bat generates more bat speed, better contol (to a point...). ?With today's composites and high tech materials, most bats will generate a great deal of force if hit squarely.

Lighter bat should allow more bat speed (to a point...), shorter distance hit IF swung at the same bat speed as a bat with the same length but heavier weight. ?Bat speed is the key there...

Heavier bat...ONLY if you don't lose bat speed.

End loaded bats....I personally think these bats help correct a lot of kids' problems like "casting" because the weight distribution forces a better hand position. ?However they are also harder for physically weaker players to swing.

In general, bat speed is THE factor to be most concerned with. ?I would never sacrifice bat speed for anything.

So...you can kind of go from there. ?If your daugther hits the ball a long way, but doesn't make much contact, maybe going to a shorter bat would be the thing. ?If she is a great contact hitter, but never hits it past an outfielder, maybe a longer bat would help, or an end loaded bat of the same weight.

 

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Could someone post some of the end loaded bats. I know of the Rocket Tech but not any others.

 

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To take advantage of the laws of physics, use the heaviest bat you can swing without losing bat speed.

 

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I checked some of my catalogs and it looks like Worth has some end loaded bats. They say the bats have a perimeter weighted plug, I guess that translates to end loaded.

 

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At a racers clinic with Crystal Bustos, she told us to have the girls take different weight bats, grab the handle and extend your arm out from your side with the bat also straight out.
If they can hold it out there for a count of 10, then they are strong enough for that weight. Of course the bat speed still has to be there so you can adjust a little plus or minus. We went to a heavier bat with dd and she launched some bombs.

 

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Thanks! I knew I would get some informative answers here.

bcatfan: that is kind of the philosophy I was leaning towards - thanks

Is that what the "perimeter weighted plug" means - end loaded?? Because I was checking out the Worth bats and noticed that was noted in the bat descriptions.

 

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The new "red" Easton Synergy CNT is a -9 and is slightly end loaded. ?The "blue" Easton Synergy CNT is a -10 and is not ended loaded. ?My daughter (13U) has had great success with her "blue" Synergy 33/23, but she is not a fan of end loaded bats.

 

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Where can I find heavier bats?

26 to 30 OZ ?

bat speed is not a problem

bat rep at world series told us colleges use heavier bats.

 

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What color of orange would you call it? Sorry for any confusion the -9 Easton Synergy is a "reddish orange" color. And yes I would agree that it is a very nice bat!!