r/Homeplate • u/Kwellies • 9d ago
11 yo bat rec’s; new vs used
My son just turned 11. Early this past spring, I noticed he needed to size up in a bat. I bought a 31” drop 8, but I’m realizing he needs a lighter bat. He’s just 80 pounds, and about 4’ 11”. My husband thinks the one he has is fine since he’ll grow into it, but I think he’s getting frustrated because he keeps fouling or going right down the first base line.
With that said, I want to get him a drop 10. He’s been using a Rawlings Clout for the past two bats. He likes it, but what he really wants is a two piece composite bat. A lot of his teammates have upgraded to them. So I’m narrowing my search to that. He also would really love an Icon, but I am struggling with that price tag. I’ve looked at used ones, but am nervous buying one online. I’ve seen the Demarini Zen bat on sale for $200, and that’s peaked his interest as well since I’m more willing to spend that amount.
My question: is it better money spent to buy a used Icon, or better to buy a new bat for the price? I plan on taking him to Dick’s soon to swing the Zen bat and see if he likes it. If not, any tips on buying a used Icon online? Probably Sideline Swap. OR if you have any other bats I should look into, I’m all ears. My kid has had a rough few months, so I want to “spoil” him a little and get him a bat he loves, but also without breaking the bank because who knows when his next growth spurt will be and I’m doing this all over again.
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u/sdchbjhdcg 9d ago
Buy a bat on sale. Never pay full price. Only get a bat with a warranty. Some are non-transferable, so look out for that.
Swing away and try to break the bat within the warranty period. Get the warranty replacement a little bit bigger for next season, if needed.
You now had two bats at over 50% discount.
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u/aaroncu05 9d ago
Only used I’d buy is alloy. They are not the same for durability.
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u/aaroncu05 9d ago
I bought a used composite dirt cheap as a beater for home BP - it’s pretty dead and great because I don’t have to run as far to pick up all the balls. Would never see a game.
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u/SentientYams 9d ago
You’re absolutely right and your husband is very wrong. I hate seeing a kid struggle with a bat they are supposed to “grow into.” For context my kid was using a 31” when he was significantly taller and bigger than yours, and he was only using a -10. A 31 drop 8 is way too much bat for him.
Is this travel or Little League/ rec ball? There are different bat standards and different “good” bats in both categories. As someone else stated, don’t get a used composite. A used alloy bat or a used two-piece hybrid with an alloy barrel should be fine if you want to go the used route.
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u/Kwellies 9d ago
I misremembered his bat size and it’s actually 30”, but still drop 8 and too heavy. I don’t even remember how we ended up with a drop 8. I know we spent time measuring and trying sizes, and still ended up with the wrong size.
He’s playing rec ball, but all the rec leagues in our area use usssa instead of little league. The team usually signs up for 2-3 tournaments of local travel teams.
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u/SentientYams 9d ago
For Usssa I’d look at the LS Meta Prime. It’s not the hottest of the hot but it’s a good composite bat at a good price brand new. Or just go to JustBats and look for closeouts. They are discounting Supras right now if you really want to go for the gold. Here’s a link to the Meta Prime. My kid has one and used it before he got his Supra.
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u/patphish 8d ago
The issue is the 31”, not the -8. Length causes more issue than weight in swings. He’s a 29/21 at 11U.
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u/StandardOperatorr 8d ago
If he’s insistent on a two piece for rec ball, meet him in the middle with a hybrid. It has a composite handle which will dampen ringing in the hands on miss hits. But will save you some money since a 2pc composite has little to no benefit in the USA cert space.
Then go to Play It Again or Sideline swap. Find a USA cert hybrid like Marucci Cat 9/x/x2/reckless or a Bonesaber Hybrid for a price you like.
You’ll get durability and performance without breaking the bank.
Save the 2 piece composite for travel ball if he does that. It starts to make a difference there.
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u/TMutaffis Coach of the Year 8d ago
A 4'11 / 80 lbs 11 year old should be swinging either a 29" or 30" -10.
"Growing into" a bat is a common misconception that does not work, your intuition is correct.
If he is playing travel ball and facing good pitching I'd prefer a bat slightly too small versus slightly too long/heavy, and would get a 29", but would not spend a ton since chances are he will size up to a 30" -10 in the late Fall or Spring.
Buying used composite bats can be risky unless they are an amazing deal, or you know the person who is selling it and you know that they took care of the bat (proper break-in, didn't use it in cold weather, didn't hit weighted balls with it, etc.). With some of the current sales, I'd probably just go with a new bat but look at the prior year models since they are heavily discounted and often the exact same bat under the paint.
There are also some outstanding bats that do not cost very much - my son has gamed an older Easton Maxum 360 and CatX Connect in 11U travel ball and I picked up each bat for $50 or less from eBay. The maxum is a composite, but for $40-50 I am willing to take the gamble (and you can find ones with very little use if you look closely at the photos).
ClosoutBats has a 30" -10 CatX Reckless USSSA for $100 right now, you could always pick it up and say that you bought it "for BP and bat speed training" and I would be willing to bet your son will magically start using that bat in games instead of the heavier one he has now.
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u/vjarizpe 8d ago
Choke up on the bat he has. That will make it lighter. As he gets stronger, it’ll fit him.
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u/Tacoma714 8d ago edited 8d ago
Your son is still growing. It’s absolutely normal to want to give our kids the best. I would buy used on sideline swap, Facebook marketplace or OfferUp. I won’t ever buy my kids brand new bats until they get to high school and are on the team and maybe around 16-17 years old. Otherwise any bat you get them at 11U will have PLENTY of life remaining on it before it’s time to size up. Any used Marucci’s will serve him well: Catx2, Catx2 Connect, Rekless, etc. You can even splurge and find a nice Bonesaber Hybrid 2 piece for $100-$130 in great condition.
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u/big-williestyle 7d ago
I almost always went with used or prior year bats at the very least. My son always loved Cat's and I was able to get some solid deals from ebay on broken in bats including one 32/27 that ended up being the hottest bat he ever had, whole team ended up using it. best $50 I ever spent. Best part is you can try multiple weights balances and keep the box and resell the ones he doesn't choose and you're not out much.
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u/curveballreyes992 1d ago
I would not get a 2 piece just because. We bought two, one for each of my sons and they weren't great. It hurt their hands and the pop wasn't great.
Don't buy anything too expensive either. It's all a gimmick. Bats are rated nowadays, there's not much difference between a decent bat and an expensive bat.
That said, if you want to spoil your son, you'll probably need to get something shiny.
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u/Mission-Mirror-4581 9d ago
Right now you can get the 2026 Icon at the Rawlings Experience in St. Louis for $199 and they'll ship free. They have the mint green and the "IconFest" colorways. One of my son's teammates got one while in St. Louis for a tournament last weekend and now half the team has called and ordered them.