How do you size a player to a specific bat size?

[Lunatic Fringe]

Problem: Coaches think my DD swings too big of a bat (33/23 14U)

DD is 5'5" and is a very athletic 130 lbs. She has swung this bat all of last year and hit for good power and has put it over a 200' fence a good number of times. Earlier this week she hit solid 20 of 30 balls pitched at her between 63-65 mph and made decent contact on the rest. I think the problem is that no one else on the team swings a 33/23 and we are new to the team this year.

My thinking is that a girl should swing the heaviest bat she can comfortably handle, especially if she can pound the ball.

Is there a tried and true method to match a player with the proper bat length and weight?

[BetheBest]

Problem: Coaches think my DD swings too big of a bat (33/23 14U)

DD is 5'5" and is a very athletic 130 lbs. She has swung this bat all of last year and hit for good power and has put it over a 200' fence a good number of times. Earlier this week she hit solid 20 of 30 balls pitched at her between 63-65 mph and made decent contact on the rest. I think the problem is that no one else on the team swings a 33/23 and we are new to the team this year.

My thinking is that a girl should swing the heaviest bat she can comfortably handle, especially if she can pound the ball.

Is there a tried and true method to match a player with the proper bat length and weight?

Have her take her top hand and grip the bat at the end of the handle. Hold the bat with the one hand out to her side even with her shoulder. From this point time her holding the bat out. If while holding the bat out the bat begins to waver/wobble before thirty seconds passes the bat is too heavy for her. Go down an ounce until this does not occur.

[Tucson]

It could possibly be an inch too big, but I wouldn't know how much she is choking up.

If she is happy, and it sounds like she is hitting the ball, I wouldn't change anything.

[Sftbll4ever]

My 5'5", 100 something lbs. (she would kill me if I told the real weight!!! ) 14 yr old kid swings a 34/24. She did last year too when she was 13. She handles hers very well too. Every kid is different.

[Nzane]

Sounds like she is swinging it well. If she was having probelms, then it would be different. My DD plays 14u and is 5 foot, 99lbs. She swings a 32-23 Techzilla with no problem.......

[kls_hittingacademy]

If it's not broke don't fix it!!!

[leftyt26]

I believe bat speed is the most important ingredient in this equation.

You can say what you want about Barry Bonds but he uses a 32inch bat(not exactly sure of the weight) so that he can get the bat through the zone quicker. Based on the size of his arms and his obvious strength I am sure that he could handle something bigger with relative ease, however, he is more concerned with bat speed.

I am not saying this is the only variable in the equation but it sure is an important one, as your daughter gets older she will need quicker hands.

BTW, I am curious as to what tournament your daughter saw 63-65 mph pitching as most college pitchers do not pitch that fast. In my research only the top tier DI schools have pitching that fast.

[kls_hittingacademy]

the speed depends on who's holding and reading the gun

[anonlooker]

.

BTW, I am curious as to what tournament your daughter saw 63-65 mph pitching as most college pitchers do not pitch that fast. In my research only the top tier DI schools have pitching that fast.

She was hitting against my 14u DD, just out throwing a bit of BP to LF's kid
I had her throwing 65, he had her at 63. The posted speed was a compromise!

[SSdad]

.

BTW, I am curious as to what tournament your daughter saw 63-65 mph pitching as most college pitchers do not pitch that fast. In my research only the top tier DI schools have pitching that fast.

She was hitting against my 14u DD, just out throwing a bit of BP to LF's kid
I had her throwing 65, he had her at 63. The posted speed was a compromise!

i think your gun was set for kilometers per hour.