High School Baseball Bat Changes

[Jeffreauxdawg]

2 things just happened in the past few days. USA baseball is taking over the BBCOR certification standard/testing. And the NFHS has adopted a rule allowing drop 4, 5, and 6 USA bats to be used in high school baseball.


I have seen a few articles and heard from people stating that this is going to be dangerous. Bullshìt. Maybe folks don't understand the difference between USA and USSSA... but USA bats have restrictor rings inside and zero trampoline. I was ironically in the cages yesterday with my kids and goofing on the hittrax. I hit a BBCOR 33 -3 Icon 5-7 mph harder consistently than I could a 32" -5 USA bat. The bigger stronger high school players will not drop down to USA bats. But the smaller freshman and even some sophomores who haven't hit there growth spurt yet will benefit.

I like the rule. There's no reason a high school freshman should be forced to swing the same weight bat as a high school senior. Some of these boys have barely hit puberty and I guarantee you the -3 bat requirement plays a part in so many kids "reclassing" as 8th graders.

For the record, I swung a 33 -5 my junior and senior year. Just like all the college guys. Those bats were dangerous because of the trampoline effect. A -5 USA bat is a different animal.


Will from bat bros compared -5 USA, -5 USSSA, and BBCOR (-3) a few years ago. He got zero improvement from the USA -5. The USSSA bats are a problem though.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Is your kid a freshman?

 

[MagnoliaHunter]

2 things just happened in the past few days. USA baseball is taking over the BBCOR certification standard/testing. And the NFHS has adopted a rule allowing drop 4, 5, and 6 USA bats to be used in high school baseball.


I have seen a few articles and heard from people stating that this is going to be dangerous. Bullshìt. Maybe folks don't understand the difference between USA and USSSA... but USA bats have restrictor rings inside and zero trampoline. I was ironically in the cages yesterday with my kids and goofing on the hittrax. I hit a BBCOR 33 -3 Icon 5-7 mph harder consistently than I could a 32" -5 USA bat. The bigger stronger high school players will not drop down to USA bats. But the smaller freshman and even some sophomores who haven't hit there growth spurt yet will benefit.

I like the rule. There's no reason a high school freshman should be forced to swing the same weight bat as a high school senior. Some of these boys have barely hit puberty and I guarantee you the -3 bat requirement plays a part in so many kids "reclassing" as 8th graders.

For the record, I swung a 33 -5 my junior and senior year. Just like all the college guys. Those bats were dangerous because of the trampoline effect. A -5 USA bat is a different animal.


Will from bat bros compared -5 USA, -5 USSSA, and BBCOR (-3) a few years ago. He got zero improvement from the USA -5. The USSSA bats are a problem though.

View attachment 1356644

They'll never do it but everyone should go back to wooden bats. The original premise for going to aluminum bats was that it was cheaper because they would last for years. Now you have $600 bats that don't last a year.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Not yet. But I have been coaching 14-15 year olds for a few years. Watching some 14 year olds try to swing a bat that's way too heavy is sad. It's not their fault they haven't physically matured yet.

One kid I have coached is an absolute dynamite ball player, but he probably 5'-2" weighs 85 lbs going into high school. He's not going to benefit in any way by swinging a drop 3 until he hits a growth spurt.

I just think the whole single weight bat standard is goofy.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

They'll never do it but everyone should go back to wooden bats. The original premise for going to aluminum bats was that it was cheaper because they would last for years. Now you have $600 bats that don't last a year.

I think these new wood composite bats might solve that issue.

My boys are playing ball up in Montana this summer and all the games and tournaments are USA or wood bats. My kids are playing with wood bats and it's making them better. They are learning to find that sweet spot or pay the consequences.

 

[MagnoliaHunter]

I think these new wood composite bats might solve that issue.

My boys are playing ball up in Montana this summer and all the games and tournaments are USA or wood bats. My kids are playing with wood bats and it's making them better. They are learning to find that sweet spot or pay the consequences.

How much are the wood composite bats?

Nevermind, I googled them. They are up to and over $300. Wow.

 

[aTotal360]

They'll never do it but everyone should go back to wooden bats. The original premise for going to aluminum bats was that it was cheaper because they would last for years. Now you have $600 bats that don't last a year.

Most of the "wood bats" you see in amateur leagues (like Cape Cod) aren't actually wood. They are using expensive composite bats that supposedly have the same pop as wood bats.

https://baumbat.com/platinum-edition-aaa-pro-stock/

https://www.demarini.com/en-us/product/velvet-thunder-d54-wbd2724?srsltid=AfmBOop_VWpJc7ypIghT-nn5K5j6xGIyq6OjOELQlJHDKsO6ca0qU7jZ

 

[Wesson Bulldog]

Nothing beats this old heavy boy

 

[HRMSU]

Nothing beats this old heavy boy
View attachment 1356744

Remember this one?

 

[Wesson Bulldog]

Remember this one?
View attachment 1357760

Yes we had one of those in the back bag also

 

[Msuirondawgs]

Just let them all use Black Magics again LOL

 

[Bowdawg]

Not yet. But I have been coaching 14-15 year olds for a few years. Watching some 14 year olds try to swing a bat that's way too heavy is sad. It's not their fault they haven't physically matured yet.

One kid I have coached is an absolute dynamite ball player, but he probably 5'-2" weighs 85 lbs going into high school. He's not going to benefit in any way by swinging a drop 3 until he hits a growth spurt.

I just think the whole single weight bat standard is goofy.

Man that’s a small Freshman! My kid is going to 4th grade and turned 9 just 3 weeks ago. He is 5’ and 115lbs.

 

[Bowdawg]

They'll never do it but everyone should go back to wooden bats. The original premise for going to aluminum bats was that it was cheaper because they would last for years. Now you have $600 bats that don't last a year.

Agreed. Louisville just granted a warranty for my 8u kids Supra that cracked 4 months in. $400 bats shouldn’t have the barrel cracking from an 8yr old swinging it. I have this in the garage I thought about giving him.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Man that’s a small Freshman! My kid is going to 4th grade and turned 9 just 3 weeks ago. He is 5’ and 115lbs.

He turned 14 a couple of weeks ago and maybe he weighs 90-95 lbs. But he's skinnier and just barely taller than my 5' - 95 lbs 12 year old. The freshman is small for sure.. but he's not a freak. Like the 10th percentile according to the internets..

115 lbs at 9 years and 1 month???? WTF man. Let's not normalize that size. I hope you are like 6-6 350. Otherwise get some glands checked. Is he extra hairy? You might have a sasquatch switched at birth situation.*** My youngest will turn 9 in October and he's a tank at 70lbs compared to most kids his age.


My kids are wrestlers. So you kinda get knowledgeable about weights of kids... 115 lbs is a middle of the pack to slightly above average weight for a 14u wrestler.

 

[Bowdawg]

He turned 14 a couple of weeks ago and maybe he weighs 90-95 lbs. But he's skinnier and just barely taller than my 5' - 95 lbs 12 year old. The freshman is small for sure.. but he's not a freak. Like the 10th percentile according to the internets..

115 lbs at 9 years and 1 month???? WTF man. Let's not normalize that size. I hope you are like 6-6 350. Otherwise get some glands checked. Is he extra hairy? You might have a sasquatch switched at birth situation.*** My youngest will turn 9 in October and he's a tank at 70lbs compared to most kids his age.


My kids are wrestlers. So you kinda get knowledgeable about weights of kids... 115 lbs is a middle of the pack to slightly above average weight for a 14u wrestler.

Ha ha yea I’m 5’10” so everyone asks me about it. My father-in-law is 6’6” and some of my dads uncles are 6’7”. I think it must be a perfect combo. We will see how he turns out but he is def large.

The pictures I attached are two diff 8u travel teams he played with this year.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Ha ha yea I’m 5’10” so everyone asks me about it. My father-in-law is 6’6” and some of my dads uncles are 6’7”. I think it must be a perfect combo. We will see how he turns out but he is def large.

The pictures I attached are two diff 8u travel teams he played with this year.
View attachment 1358998
View attachment 1358999

Would you like to bring him out to a Tournament in Montana next summer... I figure we can find him a spot in the lineup for a tournament lol..

 

[Bowdawg]

Would you like to bring him out to a Tournament in Montana next summer... I figure we can find him a spot in the lineup for a tournament lol..

Have bat and glove will travel ha ha