Bat Selection

The most common mistake that youth players make is to choose a bat that is too heavy for them! They must constantly be reminded that power comes from bat speed, not the weight of the bat. There is a big range in the size of bats that a 15 yr old can handle. I will only allow a player to use a bat if he can pick it up with his weak arm (left for a right hander) hand at the butt end. Hold his arm and bat extended perfectly straight out at shoulder height (elbow locked), and can then has the strengh to lift the bat in an arch-like movement throughout the full extension of the wrist, up and down. If he can't do this the bat is too heavy and is a waste of money. While on the subject, I am the equipment manager in my league and have found bats with CU31 aluminum to be the best buy for the money. C405 is the best but most expensive, EA70 is in the middle. 7046 is at the bottom end. The most important thing about aluminum is compare price to quality of aluminum, don't pay for a pretty paint job or pay much for a 7046.