Shelby Youth Baseball Softball

When choosing a baseball or softball bat, there are a number of factors that must be taken into consideration, including level of play, size of the batter, cost and comfort.

Baseball & Softball Bats
Aluminum / composite baseball bats are generally preferred to wooden bats due to their light weight and high strength (note: pro players are allowed to use wood bats only). Lighter bats are generally preferable to heavier bats as they allow the hitter to generate enough speed to put some "oomph" into it (although there are restrictions about bat weights at most levels). Additionally, aluminum bats can provide more "pop" of the baseball off the bat, and are much more durable (therefore cost effective) than wooden bats. Bats today are becoming increasingly high tech and expensive - with youth bats reaching $200+ price levels.

The comfort of the baseball bat to the hitter is the most important factor in choosing a bat. As with any piece of sports equipment, be it your baseball glove or hockey skates - the more comfortable you are the better. Take a few swings with the bat and try to picture yourself in a game. Better yet, borrow a bat from one of your teammates and see how it feels - a swing in the store doesn't always feel like a swing at the plate! When choosing a bat for younger players, make sure they can swing the bat without struggling - we've all seen the young players struggling to swing bats that are far too big for them.

Level of Play & Regulations

The level of play should always be a consideration in choosing a baseball bat, as every level from little league through major league has different regulations regarding what bat sizes and materials are allowed.

Baseball bats are measured using their length to weight ratio, a negative number that represents how many ounces a bat weighs compared to it's length in inches. For example, a 32 inch bat that weighs 28 ounces is a - 4. The largest ratio is in the range of -12 (for little league bats), while college and high school bats are restricted to a - 3. These restrictions are for safety reasons - a college or high school player swinging a very light bat (- 4 +) would simply have too much power and could pose a danger to other players on the field. Make sure to check the regulations of your league before buying a baseball bat!

League Rules for SYB Baseball players:
10U & 12U - 2 1/4" barrel maximum (no weight/length differential limits) - some tournaments may need Little League approval sticker also.

14B & 14C - any size barrel with "-8" weight/length differential limit.
14A & SYB recommendation for all 14yr-olds playing in High school next year – any size barrel with "-5" weight/length differential maximum.

WIAA High School Baseball rule:
Any size barrel with "-3" weight/length differential maximum and must have a BESR certified stamp/sticker on it.

League Rules for SYB Softball players:
Any age - 2 1/4" barrel maximum (no weight/length differential limits). An ASA stamp is required.

WIAA High School Softball rule:
2 1/4" barrel maximum (no weight/length differential limits). An ASA stamp is required.