I posted on the equipment page that DDs bat cracked and we sent it in to be replaced under warranty. It will take a while to get it back, which is fine-ish for now, but I hate to have this happen during tournament season. She has her old bat but it is pretty small for her, and even if it isn't really too small for her, it sure feels it to her compared to what she typically swings. It seems like a good time to add another bat so she can break it in now and have it in her bag for choice at the plate or in the event that one cracks again.
Here is where the question comes in, the history of recommendations for her. I have really no idea what is best for her. I bring her, I cheer for her, I follow directions...I haven't played since I was in 10th grade, I don't feel like I can even tell what advice is bad advice!
A year ago we were told to get her a -9 or even a -8. Given that I couldn't even find one for her to demo, I was leery of the recommendation. I posted about it here, and was pretty much told I was right to question it. She went with a longer bat with the same drop. So here is what I can tell you about her, and I am hoping you all can suggest what might be appropriate to demo as a second bat, hopefully a little different so that she has choice at the plate base don pitching:
Old bat: Demarini CFX 31 -10
Current bat: Easton Ghost Advanced 33 -10 [I realize that demarini -> easton is more than 2 oz change here]
She is turning 14 in April, 5'6", 165 lbs, lefty. She is strong, I hear it from her coaches (at her old club and her new club) and get comments from parents/observers. I know she is strong, I see it in softball, tumbling, random life. But I have no reason to believe she is herculean, and I read online that a bigger bat than what she has with her Ghost would be pretty unusual. She seems to handle her current bat well. She was hitting really, really well for the COVID-shortened last season. That was 12U, she is now 14U and only played in a couple of tournaments in the fall. She was still hitting really well, but she hasn't seen that much 14U pitching to know for sure how it goes (I wouldn't think?). She tends to hit center to left when she hits long balls, although line drives or ground balls are more variable, perhaps even favoring the right side of the field (reminder: lefty).
She can run in the same place for a long time, so slapping or anything else that relies on speed probably isn't a great option.
Do I just have her demo more 33 -10s and pick any other bat that feels good to her? It seems like Coach Google thinks 34" is too long, -9 is too heavy...where does that leave her to have two bats that are a little different that she can go to? Should we be looking smaller, even?
Sorry so long, I am feeling a little lost!
Here is where the question comes in, the history of recommendations for her. I have really no idea what is best for her. I bring her, I cheer for her, I follow directions...I haven't played since I was in 10th grade, I don't feel like I can even tell what advice is bad advice!
A year ago we were told to get her a -9 or even a -8. Given that I couldn't even find one for her to demo, I was leery of the recommendation. I posted about it here, and was pretty much told I was right to question it. She went with a longer bat with the same drop. So here is what I can tell you about her, and I am hoping you all can suggest what might be appropriate to demo as a second bat, hopefully a little different so that she has choice at the plate base don pitching:
Old bat: Demarini CFX 31 -10
Current bat: Easton Ghost Advanced 33 -10 [I realize that demarini -> easton is more than 2 oz change here]
She is turning 14 in April, 5'6", 165 lbs, lefty. She is strong, I hear it from her coaches (at her old club and her new club) and get comments from parents/observers. I know she is strong, I see it in softball, tumbling, random life. But I have no reason to believe she is herculean, and I read online that a bigger bat than what she has with her Ghost would be pretty unusual. She seems to handle her current bat well. She was hitting really, really well for the COVID-shortened last season. That was 12U, she is now 14U and only played in a couple of tournaments in the fall. She was still hitting really well, but she hasn't seen that much 14U pitching to know for sure how it goes (I wouldn't think?). She tends to hit center to left when she hits long balls, although line drives or ground balls are more variable, perhaps even favoring the right side of the field (reminder: lefty).
She can run in the same place for a long time, so slapping or anything else that relies on speed probably isn't a great option.
Do I just have her demo more 33 -10s and pick any other bat that feels good to her? It seems like Coach Google thinks 34" is too long, -9 is too heavy...where does that leave her to have two bats that are a little different that she can go to? Should we be looking smaller, even?
Sorry so long, I am feeling a little lost!
