Low-sting bat for a 9-year old

I have a little 9-year old who needs a bat this year. Her sister's 30/19 CF-6 is patiently waiting for her, but she's just too small for it at this point.

She is swinging crappy old bat (alloy?) that was left behind by an former player. I'm not concerned about performance at her age so I thought it would be fine. But it keeps stinging her hands, to the point that she is actually becoming afraid of hitting the ball! To be fair, she is a *very* sensitive kid, so maybe it is not the bat, but regardless, I am in the market for a 28" drop 11 or drop 12 that will really minimize sting and maximize that good feeling when you pop a ball!

Thinking composite with big sweet spot would be the way to go. But trying not to spend a fortune since it is a one-year investment and no siblings to pass it down to at this point. Happy to sacrifice performance for low-sting, though I suspect they go hand in hand.

Would appreciate any suggestions!

Miken halo if you can find one. Good entry composite

It is a head issue. Stop it, not equipment it's the player.

Batting gloves are a lot cheaper than a bat.

IF you can find a Combat Portent (they were discontinued) on ebay, they have pop and don't sting all that much. More importantly, they are cheap. They don't last all that long but they will get you through this year.

It was a while ago, but I started my kids out with this: Louisville Slugger TPS Jessica Mendoza FP86M

This is a 31 inch but I've owned 28 and 29 inch ones...

Louisville Slugger TPS Jessica Mendoza Fastpitch Softball Bat 31" 20oz -11 FP86M 44277825423 | eBay

In my experience a one piece composite bat like the ones mentioned above will have more sting than an alloy or two piece composite bat. High drop aluminum bats can also vibrate. The Easton FS400 is a good drop 12 bat with a nice sweet spot. You can get them off eBay for much less than you can from retail stores. Louisville Quest is another -12 option. Avoid the -13 bats. I definitely wouldn't spend big money on a two piece composite bat until you get this sensitivity issue solved. Even my 8 year old DD slugger will tell you that all bats can sting... Including her LXT...When you miss the sweet spot.

tortuga said:

I have a little 9-year old who needs a bat this year. Her sister's 30/19 CF-6 is patiently waiting for her, but she's just too small for it at this point.

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I really think she would do fine with this bat... I might even go as far as to suggest getting a 30 inch wood bat and starting every practice with it.

Grip the bat tighter.

Another one of those "baseball sayings" has always been "don't grip it too tight".

I'm convinced following this particular advice derailed my chances of playing baseball in HS. Growing up in NJ, tryouts were end of February, IIRC, and the sting always seemed to be worsened by the cold. Trying to avoid it, I kept holding the bat looser and looser, resulting in lots of weak, opposite field hits - never a good way to impress the coaches.

I now intentionally grip it tight (for myself, the cue would be "squeeze, not strangle"). They didn't have 2-piece bats in HS, so I don't know how much the material affects it. I now use a Demarini 34/29 (and also don't play outside in February anymore!), and the few stingers have been off the handle. I played a wood bat tournament last year, and after hitting it off the end of the bat, it was probably the worse sting I ever felt - there was still discomfort several innings later.

So what I'm trying to suggest is:
1. Gripping tighter has helped, but hasn't made it go away completely
2. Clean the barrel of the bat best you can, then after the next BP, see where she's making contact with most of the pitches. Particularly with machine-pitch balls, it should be fairly easy to see the marks, and you may realize she's jamming herself more than expected.

Please let us know what does (and doesn't) end up working for your daughter. My own is just starting to use the non-softee version of the balls, so it will likely soon be an issue for me again as well.

Gags said:

Grip the bat tighter.

Another one of those "baseball sayings" has always been "don't grip it too tight".

I'm convinced following this particular advice derailed my chances of playing baseball in HS. Growing up in NJ, tryouts were end of February, IIRC, and the sting always seemed to be worsened by the cold. Trying to avoid it, I kept holding the bat looser and looser, resulting in lots of weak, opposite field hits - never a good way to impress the coaches.

I now intentionally grip it tight (for myself, the cue would be "squeeze, not strangle"). They didn't have 2-piece bats in HS, so I don't know how much the material affects it. I now use a Demarini 34/29 (and also don't play outside in February anymore!), and the few stingers have been off the handle. I played a wood bat tournament last year, and after hitting it off the end of the bat, it was probably the worse sting I ever felt - there was still discomfort several innings later.

So what I'm trying to suggest is:
1. Gripping tighter has helped, but hasn't made it go away completely
2. Clean the barrel of the bat best you can, then after the next BP, see where she's making contact with most of the pitches. Particularly with machine-pitch balls, it should be fairly easy to see the marks, and you may realize she's jamming herself more than expected.

Please let us know what does (and doesn't) end up working for your daughter. My own is just starting to use the non-softee version of the balls, so it will likely soon be an issue for me again as well.

Click to expand...

Your grip wasn't/isn't the problem. Bats vibrate because of mis-hits (i.e., not hitting the ball on the sweet spot or other vibrational/acoustical nodes), not because of grip strength. The loose grip advice is solid - whether it be for baseball, slow pitch or fast pitch softball, golf, tennis etc. A tight grip saps bat/club/raquet speed, which translates to slower ball exit speed and shorter distance. Don't take my word for it, search DFP or youtube for Todd Frazier's no-handed HR or review Dr. Kettering's or Dr. Nathan's (aka pobguy on DFP) physics evaluations!

IMO, best advice for a young one worried about bat sting is to grip loose and swing HARD. Maybe wear a batting glove and practice, practice, practice.