Youth Baseball Bat Sizing: Choosing the Right Baseball Bat Size

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Youth Baseball Bat Sizing: Choosing the Right Baseball Bat Size
By guest author: Jim Bain

Youth baseball bat sizing can be confusing if you don't go into a sports store with some simple tips on choosing the right baseball bat size.

Use the tips here to help you find the right bat for your young player.

Barrel size - Simply the diameter of the largest part of the bat, most Little League bats average 2-1/4 inch in barrel size. Senior and high school bats are larger, averaging 2-5/8 inch to 2-3/4 inch. Choosing a larger barrel size means there will a larger "sweet spot," but the trade-off is a larger, heavier bat that may be difficult for younger players to swing quickly.

Bat taper - The diameter of the handle is known as the taper. Normally, this runs 31/31 of an inch. Smaller taper results in a lighter bat, making it easier for players to come around quickly and really snap their wrists when swinging. A thicker taper means less sting when a batter doesn't hit the sweet spot.

Grip - The material wrapped around the handle is known as grip. Grips can come in leather or synthetic leather and over time, these materials will develop a sticky feel, making for a better grip on the bat. Rubber grips also reduce the shock of hitting a ball.

Youth Baseball Bat Sizing

No longer do you see youth baseball players swinging heavy wood bats in practice and games. Now, lighter is better and the use of lighter metal materials in baseball bat production helps kids swing that bat harder and faster. It's also a great way of helping young players learn bat control.

The length (inches) and weight (ounces) of a bat are printed on the bat by the manufacturer. You will also see another measurement, which is the number difference between the length and weight of the bat. For example, a 30 inch bat weighing 20 ounces would include the label "-10."

For youth baseball bats, look for bats marked "-10" or more for the proper size.

Though the right baseball bat size for each child varies, the table below will help you get started in finding the correct one for your son or daughter.

Tee ball: 25 inches - 27 inches, -9 to -13
Age 7 - 8: 26 inches - 27 inches, -10 or lighter
Age 8 - 9: 27 inches to 29 inches, -10 or lighter
Age 9 - 12: 28 inches to 31 inches, -10 or lighter
Age 12 - 15: 29 inches to 33 inches, -9 or lighter

Coach Bain has more tips to help you find the right baseball bat for young players. You can also find fielding drills, a pitching guide, and more help on youth baseball coaching.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Bain

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Pitching at the Next Level - Hard Work Required

Baseball Pitching Tips

By Nate Barnett

I have instructed pitchers for almost 10 years. My best pitching students are those that take the knowledge they learn from every lesson to heart; they go home and repeat movements that improve their mechanics.

They study other successful pitchers, they are eager to learn about every aspect of the game of baseball, not just pitching. They understand that they have to have a depth and breadth of pitching knowledge to succeed. The best students also understand what their true potential can be and are willing to do what it takes to improve everyday. They expect more of themselves than others expect of them. These pitchers are not naïve to think after a few great games, they have it made. They expect greatness and that is what they get half of the time. Yes, half of the time. Hall of fame pitchers win half of the time; it's just part of the game.

The most successful pitchers learn from their mistakes and then get over them quickly. Pitchers who win the most games accept failure as a learning tool and expect to win their next game. They cannot change the past; they only move forward.

Winning pitchers visualize success before it happens. They study hitters; they know each hitter's weaknesses and then they attack those areas they are most vulnerable. Their pitching workouts are very challenging; they are workhorses. Winning pitchers trust their team that they will back them up. They help other teammates succeed. They are leaders!

Winning Pitchers don't stress the small stuff. If they give up a hard hit; they will never allow that hitter to do that again, especially that very day.

If you want to be a winning pitcher, my guess is that you do because you are still reading; you need to be willing to work very hard at your game. You cannot expect greatness if you haven't put in 100% effort!

Nate Barnett is co-owner of The Pitching Academy.

After finishing a professional career in the Seattle Mariners Organization, Nate pursued his coaching and motivational training career. You can find The Pitching Academy's videos, blog, and more articles when you visit the website.

The Pitching Academy's pitching mechanics DVD

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett

One Or Two Piece Baseball Bat?

One Or Two Piece Baseball Bat?

By R. Nelson

It used to be simple; a bat was one piece of wood, aluminum or composite. How things have changed! Two-piece bats are now extremely popular and seem to be the trend for the foreseeable future.

Easton, Demarini and Nike have long championed the two-piece design. Demarini and Nike have held fast to this philosophy while Easton has branched out to make bats in almost all designs in an effort to appeal to everyone. They say the major benefit of a two piece bat is that it gives more flex to the barrel at the point of contact and, therefore, increases the trampoline effect. This should not be confused with handle flex (or whip action). Handle flex or whip action is supposed to take place before the point of contact with the ball, and the trampoline effect at the point of contact.

The one-piece bat argument long championed by Louisville and recently COMbat. Louisville claims their Triton and H2 are "bonded" together to act more like a true one-piece bat. They say the two-piece design results in weakness at the joint of the handle and barrel thereby reducing the trampoline effect or spring back. They're essentially saying that it provides very little resistance and therefore will not spring back as quick and hard as a one-piece design.

Before we go any farther, let's understand what trample effect actual means in the scientific world. The trampoline effect refers to pronounced elasticity in the impacting object (baseball bat, tennis racquet, golf club, etc.) such that it acts like a trampoline. It is also referred to as the spring-like effect because of the degree to which the object depresses, then springs back into shape when striking a ball. Here are the scientific specifics for a baseball bat:


The trampoline effect in baseball refers to the elasticity of a bat upon impact with a baseball.
When a ball hits a wood bat, it compresses to nearly half its original diameter, losing up to 75% of its initial energy to internal friction forces.
However, in a hollow bat such as an aluminum or composite bat, the bat barrel compresses somewhat like a spring. This means that the ball is not compressed as much and loses less energy to internal friction forces.
Furthermore, most of the energy temporarily stored in the bat is returned to the ball in an aluminum or composite bat. The energy which is lost in the bat compression is much smaller than that lost without compression.
So there is absolutely no doubt that the barrel flexes during contact and does create a trampoline effect. The real question is does a two-piece bat create more, less or the same barrel flex/trampoline effect than a one-piece bat made from the same material? And if so, does this increase batted-ball speed?

This is where the science gets murky because there doesn't seem to be any scientific data supporting or debunking claims that a two-piece bat produces more trampoline effect than a one-piece bat (or vice versa). Will someone please call Mythbusters!

So what I've done is try to look at this logically. My conclusion is that a two-piece bat probably increases the trampoline effect due to its hinge at the connection point. But, the increase is probably negligible and therefore won't make much of a difference. I've also look at what the top players are using to see if there is a preference. Most players on college baseball teams swinging Easton bats overwhelmingly choose the two-piece bats to their one-piece siblings. They'll usually choose the Stealth Speed over the Synergy Speed and the SV12 over the V12. They also tend to choose the stiff handle design of those bats. In the end, you're fine with either a one or two-piece bat as I believe they are extremely close in performance.

First decide what you want to spend, the material that's best for you, whether you prefer an end-loaded or balanced bat, a one or two-piece model and then the handle design.

To see reviews for all baseball bats visit Baseball Bat Reviews Blog.

http://baseballbatreviewsblog.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R._Nelson

One Or Two Piece Baseball Bat?

HandsBackHitter.com
=================
Article Title: One Or Two Piece Baseball Bat?
By R. Nelson

It used to be simple; a bat was one piece of wood, aluminum or composite. How things have changed! Two-piece bats are now extremely popular and seem to be the trend for the foreseeable future.

Easton, Demarini and Nike have long championed the two-piece design. Demarini and Nike have held fast to this philosophy while Easton has branched out to make bats in almost all designs in an effort to appeal to everyone. They say the major benefit of a two piece bat is that it gives more flex to the barrel at the point of contact and, therefore, increases the trampoline effect. This should not be confused with handle flex (or whip action). Handle flex or whip action is supposed to take place before the point of contact with the ball, and the trampoline effect at the point of contact.

The one-piece bat argument long championed by Louisville and recently COMbat. Louisville claims their Triton and H2 are "bonded" together to act more like a true one-piece bat. They say the two-piece design results in weakness at the joint of the handle and barrel thereby reducing the trampoline effect or spring back. They're essentially saying that it provides very little resistance and therefore will not spring back as quick and hard as a one-piece design.

Before we go any farther, let's understand what trample effect actual means in the scientific world. The trampoline effect refers to pronounced elasticity in the impacting object (baseball bat, tennis racquet, golf club, etc.) such that it acts like a trampoline. It is also referred to as the spring-like effect because of the degree to which the object depresses, then springs back into shape when striking a ball. Here are the scientific specifics for a baseball bat:


The trampoline effect in baseball refers to the elasticity of a bat upon impact with a baseball.
When a ball hits a wood bat, it compresses to nearly half its original diameter, losing up to 75% of its initial energy to internal friction forces.
However, in a hollow bat such as an aluminum or composite bat, the bat barrel compresses somewhat like a spring. This means that the ball is not compressed as much and loses less energy to internal friction forces.
Furthermore, most of the energy temporarily stored in the bat is returned to the ball in an aluminum or composite bat. The energy which is lost in the bat compression is much smaller than that lost without compression.
So there is absolutely no doubt that the barrel flexes during contact and does create a trampoline effect. The real question is does a two-piece bat create more, less or the same barrel flex/trampoline effect than a one-piece bat made from the same material? And if so, does this increase batted-ball speed?

This is where the science gets murky because there doesn't seem to be any scientific data supporting or debunking claims that a two-piece bat produces more trampoline effect than a one-piece bat (or vice versa). Will someone please call Mythbusters!

So what I've done is try to look at this logically. My conclusion is that a two-piece bat probably increases the trampoline effect due to its hinge at the connection point. But, the increase is probably negligible and therefore won't make much of a difference. I've also look at what the top players are using to see if there is a preference. Most players on college baseball teams swinging Easton bats overwhelmingly choose the two-piece bats to their one-piece siblings. They'll usually choose the Stealth Speed over the Synergy Speed and the SV12 over the V12. They also tend to choose the stiff handle design of those bats. In the end, you're fine with either a one or two-piece bat as I believe they are extremely close in performance.

First decide what you want to spend, the material that's best for you, whether you prefer an end-loaded or balanced bat, a one or two-piece model and then the handle design.

To see reviews for all baseball bats visit Baseball Bat Reviews Blog.

http://baseballbatreviewsblog.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R._Nelson

=============
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2010 DeMarini Baseball Bat Lineup - It Cant Get Any Better Than This!

Baseball Batting Trainer by SKLZ - Derek Jeter Series

By Jeff Heitz

2010 Vexxum
It's back. The original DeMarini Bat that Bends. Hitters get to enjoy the longest barrel in baseball as The Vexxum is made of the SC4 Aluminum, giving it the Long Barrel technology that hitters love! The N2M End-Cap and C6 Composite handle are scientifically designed to maximize handle performance with optimal flex, making contact even more punishing.

2010 Voodoo Black
It's Back and More wicked Than Ever!
The Voodoo Black has some big time new features this year. That's right. Featuring a Pitch Black Plus Composite Handle that features Silver Trace Technology. This new technology adds strength and improves power transfer to the barrel of the bat. Combined with a thickness tuned SC4 Alloy Aluminum barrel, the Voodoo is redefined and ready to continue the onslaught.

2010 Vendetta
Step up to the plate and settle the score with this bad boy!

Four years of hard work and development has produced a work of art. We've brought out the reinforcements in our two-piece handle system, featuring a sick vibration-killing core complemented by our exclusive Rails technology. The Vendetta has a 12% stronger SC4 Alloy barrel. This can only mean a huge sweet spot game after game, putting you the best of both worlds - big time power and a super comfortable feel!

2010 Vendetta C6
Killer Composite Bat!

That's right,the all new Vendetta C6. The barrel is made of C6 composite with a wider and stronger weave providing one powerful single wall composite bat. Oh yeah, and it still has the Rails Hybrid Handle with a vibration dampening inner core and a Rails reinforced outer frame.

2010 M2M
So you like heavy metal?
Introducing the all new revolutionary M2M. DeMarini's first ever 2-piece aluminum baseball bat providing both the stiffest and most responsive barrel. Constructed of a SC4 Aluminum barrel and M2M handle, the M2M will deliver power swing after power swing.

2010 CF4
Wicked Power with a big time barrel!
The all new CF4 Black is here with a vengeance. With an 11% longer and stronger double composite barrel, the CF4 Black is our most technologically advanced bat. The redesigned end cap known as The Hub, adds the power, better feel, and provides a sweet sounding bat. When you add all the totals up on this one, you get one rump stompin bat.

2010 CF3
Bad Man Strong!
Pretty darn hard to believe that it could get any better, but it did. A Pitch Black Double Wall Composite barrel featuring two independent Pitch Black composite walls with the thinnest layer and tightest weave possible creates an even more dynamic springboard hitting surface. Pitch Black Handle with an exclusive composite material and weave creates the strongest handle with optimum flex. So what does all that mean? Bombs away baby! Big bombs away!

For a complete listing of all the awesome 2010 DeMarini bats visit http://youthbaseballbats.ws

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Heitz


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