The Bat That Won the Season: A Deep Dive into My Son's Bat Journey
Let me take you on a little journey – one that involves a lot of trial swings, a little frustration, and a surprising realization that sometimes, it’s not the stats or the brand but the feel of the bat that makes all the difference.
The Starting Lineup (Bats We Tried)
For this season, my son was locked into using USA-certified bats for little league. That narrowed the field but still left plenty of contenders. Here’s the roster of bats we cycled through:
- Rawlings RX9 USA Youth Bat (-9) – This was the bat that started the journey. It was a solid entry point with good balance, but it definitely had a lot of sting. The real selling point was the sleek blue design, which caught his eye immediately. Despite the sting, the look kept him using it for a while until we found something better.
- Easton Sports A 2022 Speed (-13) 29" – His first fully composite bat. It was light and had a really cool sound, but he just couldn’t generate the distance he wanted. It felt like a bat that might have been perfect a year earlier, but at this point, it didn’t give him the power he needed.
- 2022 DeMarini The Goods (-10) 20 oz 30" (Silver) – A solid bat on paper, but compared to the blue version, it just felt more dead. Same specs, but something about the way the ball came off the barrel didn’t inspire confidence. It quickly got passed over in favor of the 2023 model.
- Marucci CAT Connect 29" (-11) – A great bat with a sharp design, but ultimately nothing stood out to make it special. It became a solid workhorse in the dugout – frequently used but never the most popular. It was the kind of bat that felt like it should’ve had more fans, but for whatever reason, players (my son included) often passed it by.
- Axe Elite One 2020 (-8) – The axe handle was exciting, and the fact that Mookie Betts uses one definitely added to the appeal. But the bat felt end-heavy, and the loud “tink” sound off the barrel was noticeable, even to me. It wasn’t just my son being picky – the sound really stood out. It eventually ended up in my personal pile of bats, where a teammate later picked it up and loved it.
- 2023 Certified DeMarini The Goods (-10) 20 oz 30" (Blue) – This was the bat that finally clicked. Honestly, I thought the 2022 DeMarini The Goods would be the winner. It’s sleek, feels balanced, and everyone raves about it. But no dice. The same bat on paper, right? Same drop weight, same length, same brand. But the second he picked it up, something shifted. He held onto it longer. I saw him practice a few extra swings, and he didn’t hand it back. That bat had a vibe, and that vibe mattered. Despite being essentially the same as the silver 2022 version, the blue one just had more pop. Visually and the ball jumped off the barrel in a way the silver one didn’t, and it quickly became his go-to bat.
Find it on JustBats
Find it on JustBats
Find it on JustBats
Find it on JustBats
Each of these bats had its strengths, but in the end, it came down to feel. If you're just starting your bat search, here’s a guide to picking the right bat size and drop.
Now, after a full season of many, many hits, it’s super scarred up and he loves it even more than he did at the start. It really became his best friend and sidekick. Not to mention, other kids definitely noticed that shiny fancy blue barrel – and more than a few, I’m sure, said, "Oh no, not him again..."
The Secret Sauce: Handle Customization
Here’s where things got interesting. After he settled on the Blue DeMarini, we did a little tweaking.
- Grip aids that fit on your thumb are really great to help reduce the sting. Just get a couple and keep 'em in your bag. They make youth sizes but kid grow out of them quick.
- Bat Wrap – We went with Alien Pros 1.1mm Grip Tape (Link to Amazon). This thicker wrap not only made the handle more comfortable but gave the bat a weightier feel in his hands, boosting his confidence.
- Bat Choke Rings – We added a Tuff Toe Bat Choke Taper (Link to Amazon). This was a game-changer for reducing sting and making the handle thickness just right for his grip. Let me tell you, if your kid has ever come off a swing rubbing his hands, you’ll know exactly why this matters.
- Handle Taper – Under the grip tape, we added a Lizard Skins Bat Taper (Link to Amazon). This extra step gave the bat a natural tapering feel, which not only improved comfort but also helped reduce vibration on contact. I initially thought the blue DeMarini would be his favorite just by looks alone, but I waited a few months until I found a used one at a price low enough to justify trying it out. Turns out, it was the right call.
Once we had the bat, we made some small but impactful tweaks that made all the difference. But first, let’s talk about what makes a bat the right choice in the first place.
Why Feels Beats Data
Now, I could throw stats at you about alloy vs. composite or barrel diameter vs. drop weight, but here’s the thing – none of that mattered. My son swung both DeMarini bats, and the blue one won for one reason: he liked how it felt.
Baseball, especially for kids, is about confidence. When he steps into the batter’s box, that bat becomes an extension of him. If he’s comfortable, he swings harder. If he swings harder, he’s got a better shot at getting on base. And in the end, isn’t that what we’re all after? It’s not about finding the bat with the best specs; it’s about finding the bat that makes them feel unstoppable.
Why Buying Used Was a Win
I’ll admit, buying all these bats new would’ve been a serious hit to the wallet. Luckily, we grabbed most of these used. There’s a whole market of lightly-used bats from kids who barely played a season, and it saved us hundreds. Plus, it let my son try out a bunch of options without pressure. He got to swing them, make his own decision, and in the end, that’s worth more than any bat review I could’ve read.
Lessons from the Bat Box
- Let them choose – Give them options, but let them decide what feels right.
- Customize – A bat wrap, choke ring, or handle taper can transform a bat and make it truly theirs.
- Try used – It’s easier on your wallet and opens the door to experimentation.
Next time you’re looking for a bat, remember this: sometimes, the best bat isn’t the one with the highest rating – it’s the one they don’t want to put down.
It’s all about finding the magic in the mundane. And if nothing else, at least we had fun trying them all out.
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