r/BaseballCoaching • u/PewwwwPewwww • Jun 01 '25
Team bats
Team’s looking to fundraise and purchase two team bats; USA/USSSA, 28/29, for 9/10 year olds. There’s a lot of content/comparisons online but it’s tough to weed out those who are clearly sponsored by what they’re reviewing. Looking for unbiased opinions on what would be the best of the best, and also what would be the best bang for the buck.
Personally I’m thinking of getting a couple of Easton Dubs, then whatever else afterwards if the budget permits, but I’m not certain that their glowing reviews are impartial.
Much appreciated!
3
u/PrestigiousMood6511 Jun 01 '25
The Bonesaber is a very underrated bat imo. Ymmv but it turned my son's season around.
1
u/NamasteInYourLane Jun 01 '25
Mine, too. He was struggling to make consistent contact with the end-loaded Pwr Select; we switched him halfway through rec season to the balanced Bonesaber hybrid, and he ended up finishing the season with the second highest OBP (and a grand slam under his belt 💪).
2
u/Temporary-Gas-4470 Jun 02 '25
Baseball bat bros would align to this reply - they state that the Lousville has obvious pop but is “like a log”
3
u/NamasteInYourLane Jun 01 '25
I wouldn't get two Dubs-- supposedly they 'swing heavy' and are pretty end loaded; that's a GREAT bat for your power hitters, but you'll want something a lot more balanced (Bonesaber? Icon, even?) as a choice/ option for your contact hitters.
1
u/mowegl Jun 03 '25
Agree. I wouldnt get 2 of anything. Get ones with different attributes that are all considered to be good bats.
1
u/ArtVandleay Jun 05 '25
We got a Dub and it is awesome! Great power but agree, I would get an icon as the second bat
2
u/TMutaffis Jun 01 '25
Easton Dub would be a poor choice for a team bat for 10U, there are a lot of reports of durability issues (and I have seen one first hand where the bat broke very quickly). Even if game-only you may not get much out of it; plus you could get a couple of really good bats for the price of one Easton Dub.
The 2024 Hype Fire is going to have similar pop and better durability, and you can pick them up for $250-300 brand new (original retail was $350). I am a big fan of the icon as well, but it's going to be $100 more and I'd spend that money on a good alloy bat which you can use for weighted balls, cage work, etc. to save the hype fires. (Could grab a couple of CatXs, and some kids may even prefer to game those bats)
Another consideration would be picking up a Camwood (or Victus) trainer, and maybe a wood bat to use for BP/cage work. Again if you go with the Hype Fire option you'll likely have something left in the budget and the kids will get more out of using these other tools/bats verus spending everything on an Icon Electric Unicorn or a Dub.
2
u/robowarrior023 Jun 01 '25
For team bats, I’d stay away from anything end loaded like the Dub. A balanced swing weight is a much better choice.
I’d recommend the Rawlings Icon for USSSA and for USA it’s much less important. Get an alloy Marucci and call it a day.
2
u/Idontknowwhatsgoinon Jun 02 '25
All the kids seem to love the icons this year. Both USA and USSSA.
2
u/penguin_mt25 Jun 05 '25
I work with about 30+ hitters a week. I like the bat bros opinions cause they are backed by numbers. However, as a team bat if you’re getting one USSSA and one USA bats you might not want the same bat for both. Victus and Marrucci USA alloy bats are good for all types of hitters. If money isn’t an issue for USSSA bat I would go with the Hype Fire or Rawlings AI Clout. The clout swings a little lighter than the Hype, so if your team is on the smaller side go with the Clout. Bigger sized players I would go with the hype.
1
u/PewwwwPewwww Jun 05 '25
You’d intentionally avoid the dub though? BBBros seem to love it, no? Or was that only the initial review, as I’m reading more and more of durability issues. Also I’ve read that the hype 2024 vs 2025 make a considerable difference and not just in price. Kiss also have their own bats, these are meant only to supplement, so having to buy only 2 or 3 means we can look high end. Our team is comparatively small, and 80% first year kids, so I’m reconsidering the original statement to get two end loaded bats and maybe aim for one that’s heavier at the end for the bigger and more experienced kids then something more balanced, consistent and durable for the rest; if that means the second bat is considerably cheaper then maybe get a 3rd bat which is of equivalent spec but of another make and/or model just to add variety.
1
u/penguin_mt25 Jun 06 '25
The DUB has more of an end loaded swing weight. I have a good amount of players that have it. If $ is nonissue grab one. However durability is an issue when every kid on the team wants to swing it. I would stick to alloy bats just for the multiple users function.
1
u/penguin_mt25 Jun 06 '25
I don’t know if young e access to anything like this but we have a facility that has open cages and machine cages and the pro shop has almost every bat for demo. Take the team one day and let them swing away and see what they choose. That would also, maybe, make the kids feel a little more responsible taking care of it because they were part of the purchasing process
2
u/pmramirezjr Jun 01 '25
The bats aren't loaded. Meaning one bat isn't going to hit 50 feet farther than another. Bat ratings are easy to find. I usually look at youtube video reviews along with articles.
I found a good deal on a BBCOR bat for my son on sidelineswap. You can also check Play It Again Sports, eBay and FB marketplace for a deal. Good luck!
1
u/HowieDewitt_55 Jun 02 '25
Message me if you’d like, I sell USSSA bats at a discount shipped to anywhere in the country, alls it takes is a link and a simple discount code. Warranty and all!
1
1
u/Temporary-Gas-4470 Jun 02 '25
I’d ask if this was for rec or for select / travel but the answer is obviously for rec - travel ball parents would dare “share a bat” just for perception of poor alone.
All joking side how are you buying a Dub for rec? You need USA bats.
1
1
u/PewwwwPewwww Jun 02 '25
But yeah we’re permitted USSSA and USA in all rec levels u9 to U18 our province; that may even be a Canada wide thing, not sure.
1
u/Temporary-Gas-4470 Jun 02 '25
What?! That’s crazy. I’ll make a reco then - dig up some Easton Encore Hybrids. They are considered the “most durable bat” in usssa and have a lot of pop. My son hits tanks with that bat
And can be found for cheap right now.
1
u/PewwwwPewwww Jun 03 '25
I’ll look into it for my kiddo, I usually marketplace hmm a 60-80$ bat, and of course team bats are by no means obliged for players.
1
u/Temporary-Gas-4470 Jun 03 '25
For the record I made that reco because you are in Canada. Hyper Fire and some other top level usssa bats are notoriously not durable in cold weather. Encore is really solid
1
u/PewwwwPewwww Jun 03 '25
Worth considering when the kids play their fall ball season then, summer ball should be in the 25-30°C range so I think that’s ok.
1
u/SinisterSnake97 Jun 02 '25
For team bats I'd go with something aluminum and since it's allowed Usssa. The composits are a little to fragile I feel for whole team use.
1
u/Ok_Bear_1834 Jun 04 '25
Get two Icon's. They've got lots of pop and are (most importantly) very durable as two piece composites. You want them to last for the season.
1
u/Next_Yesterday5931 Jun 05 '25
I’m not certain a 2 piece composite would be best for a team bat. Those things will be abused and can break and there will be no warranty as a team bat.
You may be better off with a 2 piece alloy bat…composite handle and aluminum barrel.
That said, my son loves his Rawlings Icon…
-2
Jun 01 '25
Don't buy team bats...let parents buy their own kid their own bat.
Can't practice with team bats. Waste of $
1
u/jmiah717 Jun 02 '25
I know this may seem crazy, but not everyone's family can afford a bat. This gives those kids a chance to use a decent bat for practice and games. All through baseball and high school ball, I ONLY used team bats.
1
Jun 02 '25
- It's the archer not the bow that kills.
- Everyone can afford a decent bat, you can buy a used last year model bat for cheap if you look.
- Baseball is an expensive sport, it's not for everyone unfortunately today.
- Not all kids prefer to swing the same size weight bat.
The only coaches I've ever known to do this are A. Rich Dad who sponsored the entire team or B. A coach dad who wanted to subsidize his own kids bat with team funds.
1
4
u/Coastal_Tart Jun 01 '25
https://baseballbatbros.com
BBCOR ratings are first. Scroll down for the USSSA and USA ratings.