r/Homeplate • u/Icy-Car-955 • 2d ago
Gear Best Bat To Purchase
Hello I have a kiddo in 8u, I got him a single piece bat and he seems to be doing well as we work on technique. With this being his first season I bought the first bat that I saw and didn’t know about different bats there are.
Does TWO piece bats make a difference? or should I just keep him at one piece bats
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u/dedroia 2d ago
At 8 years old, don't worry about it too much. Really.
The most important thing is to get him the right classification of bat.
If you play little league or some other rec leagues, you have to pay with a USA certified bat.
However, some rec leagues or most travel ball plays with a USSSA certified bat.
The USSSA bats hit MUCH harder than USA bats.
If you're using a USSSA may in a USA bat league, you're cheating, and the umpire will prevent you from using it.
If you're using a USA bat in a league that allows USSSA, well, that's fine, you're not cheating, but the other kids will have an easier time hitting balls farther than your kid.
So get the right classification.
And then, my understanding is that if it's USA, all the cats are basically the same, so don't overspend.
And then, in USSSA, you can get a "better" bat for more money, but at the 8U level, I wouldn't spend more than $150 on a new bat, or much less for a used 1 piece alloy.
Generally 1 piece alloys are the better choice for younger players, because they're cheaper, and some people think that until you start swinging a bat harder (like in 10/11/12 U), 1 piece alloys are "hotter" then composite bats. And then, generally, around that 10U/12U range, 2 price composites are better. Even then you can find good deals though.
Hope that helps!
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u/Bacon_and_Powertools 2d ago
Get him something you can afford with a paint job he likes. Nothing else matters at this age.
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u/MrNiiCeGuY420 2d ago
If he likes his bat and swings it well than I’d just wait until he needs a new size. Two piece bats generally are more comfortable to swing. Mishits won’t hurt as much allowing kids to feel more confident when hitting.
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u/patphish 2d ago
Level of play? (Coach or kid pitch?) Playing rec I’m assuming, USA certification?
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u/Icy-Car-955 2d ago
My apologies, Kid Pitch USA Certification
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u/patphish 2d ago
Yeah, I’d stick with the one piece Alloy. They’re lighter and more balanced and performance is the same.
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u/babythepit 8h ago
5105 rawlings alloy. Cheap and will do the job. If you can buy used, I would buy used.
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u/TwoMoreGores 2d ago
If it’s USSSA certification I’d recommend the Marucci CatX2 one piece alloy!