Need advice: practice bat

[Makakio]

Hi All - would like to buy a practice bat for my daughter. She has a $$$ Prism for game time, but no secondary. Can anyone recommend sub-$100 tough-as-nails bat for her to use in the cage and at practice. Thinking aluminum instead of composite, but open to ideas and input (that isn’t “buy another fragile $250 bat and suck it up”).
Kind thanks,
Maka

 

[BigSkyHi]

Normally check out Play It Again Sports for interesting finds.

 

[texasheat]

Hi All - would like to buy a practice bat for my daughter. She has a $$$ Prism for game time, but no secondary. Can anyone recommend sub-$100 tough-as-nails bat for her to use in the cage and at practice. Thinking aluminum instead of composite, but open to ideas and input (that isn’t “buy another fragile $250 bat and suck it up”).
Kind thanks,
Maka

Ebay is my go to for cage bats. Can pick up an older used model Demarini or Slugger or Easton for $80 or so in decent shape. Note: My DD has taken a liking to a few of them and used them in games and gone yard so don't think just because they are on Ebay they are dead.

 

[Makakio]

Ebay is my go to for cage bats. Can pick up an older used model Demarini or Slugger or Easton for $80 or so in decent shape. Note: My DD has taken a liking to a few of them and used them in games and gone yard so don't think just because they are on Ebay they are dead.

thank you! Do you go same length/drop to keep consistency on those fronts? Or are there other considerations too (ie: how/where it’s weighted...)?

 

[texasheat]

thank you! Do you go same length/drop to keep consistency on those fronts? Or are there other considerations too (ie: how/where it’s weighted...)?

yes same length, weight and balance is best but anything close will do. For instance my DD's game bat is presently a 33 -10 Blue Ghost but uses an older 33 -9 Xeno as her practice bat. Close enough.

What is your DD's game bat?

 

[Long Baller]

I am a HUGE proponent of practicing how you play, so DD swings the same kind of bat in games and practice. Since your DD is swinging a Demarini, I would look for whatever old model Demar swings closest to the Prism and buy a used one. It has been my experience that drop -10 and heavier Demarinis are very durable, so I would not be concerned with three-year-old used bat, for example. Put the same, brand new grip on both bats to make them feel the same.

 

[Makakio]

yes same length, weight and balance is best but anything close will do. For instance my DD's game bat is presently a 33 -10 Blue Ghost but uses an older 33 -9 Xeno as her practice bat. Close enough.

What is your DD's game bat?

Thank you. 33/10 DeMarini Prism is her game bat.

 

[Makakio]

I am a HUGE proponent of practicing how you play, so DD swings the same kind of bat in games and practice. Since your DD is swinging a Demarini, I would look for whatever old model Demar swings closest to the Prism and buy a used one. It has been my experience that drop -10 and heavier Demarinis are very durable, so I would not be concerned with three-year-old used bat, for example. Put the same, brand new grip on both bats to make them feel the same.

Thanks! Good insight there.

 

[wheresmycar]

Don't think of it as a "Practice bat". It's also your cold weather game bat, your back up game bat, incase the Prism breaks during a tournament... your waiting on the warranty replacement game bat.... You DD's primary bat, when she decides the prism is unlucky....

Anyway, I am guessing your DD is young, 8u or 10u? Because if you have been doing this for any length of time, you would a bucket full of old bats in your garage...

My approach for a 8u or 10u would be run with one bat, which likely will not break, until she's ready for a new bat... then the prism becomes the back up/practice bat.

But, if you DO want to buy a back up... What size bat are you looking for? I'll check the bat bucket in my garage....

 

[texasheat]

Anyway, I am guessing your DD is young, 8u or 10u? Because if you have been doing this for any length of time, you would a bucket full of old bats in your garage...

A 8u or 10u player swinging a 33 -10? The Florida and OU coaches should be on speed dial.