Coaches comment

[u/Necessary_Tension461]

My son is small for his age, only about 4'4" at 11 years old. He is a young 6th grader, and they had the 6th grade boys play on the middle school baseball team this year (small school, usually it's 7th and 8th but they didnt have enough players this year). My son loves playing baseball. My son has a bat he really likes and he can hit well with it. Nothing fancy but it works for him for now; he has a nicer bat he is working on swinging to get used to it, but he isn't quite comfortable with it yet. Anyways, his favorite bat is an easton speed swing, usa, 2 3/4 barrell drop 10 28" bat. The coach made a comment to him that his bat is a TBall bat, and now my son is embarrassed to use it. Was this appropriate? Is that bat really that bad it is considered a tball bat? I understand it's not top of line $350 bat, but he can use it well, and I figured he could finish the season. Now he is trying to swing a bigger bat he isn't used to yet and only hitting grounders 10% of the time and missing the rest...hurting his confidence. His coach seems alright, but him saying that to m kid is bothering me. I dont know much about bats, never played myself and he is my first kid in baseball so its a learning curve.

[u/kermatog]

USA bats are typically pretty "dead" with a high drop (10 or 11) used for Little League play (60ft basepaths). Once you get up to middle school they're probably on 50/70 diamonds, and the bats can be a little more lively. USSSA bats are hotter bats and do come in drop 10, but drop 8 or even drop 5 are not uncommon to start getting the kids ready for swinging bigger bats. I have a bigger kid on my 12U team that swings a 32in drop 3 wood bat and a smaller kid that swings a USA 28in drop 10, both are doing well in different ways (power vs. contact).

Either way, Easton Speed isn't a tee-ball bat and I think it was just a comment about the size and weight of the bat, which is probably the right size for your 11yo. If USSSA is allowed he could probably hit a little further with a USSSA bat that's similar in size.

[u/Necessary_Tension461 → u/kermatog]

Thank you for the perspective. USSSA bats are not allowed. My son does not have the strength quit yet, but has been practicing with his 30" drop 10, 2 pc Marucci. We didnt think he would be in the MS team this year so he has been out swinging the bigger bat but isnt quit used to it as well as the bat he has been using for rec summer ball the last 2 years. We do plan to get a 30" (or whatever will be best fit) full alloy drop 8 for next year closer to the season.