Approved Bat Listing
USSSA
ASA / Pony
NSA
The below pertains primarily to baseball, but can be used as a rough guide.
There are some standard rules of thumb in selecting the appropriate bat length. The charts below offer some guidelines based on age and weight and height.
Age
- Using your age as a guide, use the chart below to determine the bat length that fits your body
Determine Your Bat Length by Age
| Age | Bat length |
| 5-7 years old | 24"-26" |
| 8-9 years old | 26"-28" |
| 10 years old | 28"-29" |
| 11-12 years old | 30"-31" |
| 13-14 years old | 31"-32" |
| 15-16 years old | 32"-33" |
| 17+ years old | 34" |
Height and weight
- These are usually better ways to determine what bat length may work best for you
Determine Your Bat Length by Weight and Height
| | Your height (inches) |
| Your weight (pounds) | 36-40 | 41-44 | 45-48 | 49-52 | 53-56 | 57-60 | 61-64 | 65-68 | 69-72 | 73+ |
| Bat length |
| less than 60 | 26" | 27" | 28" | 29" | 29" | | | | | |
| 61-70 | 27" | 27" | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | | | | |
| 71-80 | | 28" | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | | | |
| 81-90 | | 28" | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 32" | | |
| 91-100 | | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | | |
| 101-110 | | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | | |
| 111-120 | | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | | |
| 121-130 | | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | |
| 131-140 | | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | |
| 141-150 | | | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | |
| 151-160 | | | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 32" | 33" | 33" | 33" |
| 161-170 | | | | 31" | 31" | 32" | 32" | 33" | 33" | 34" |
| 171-180 | | | | | | 32" | 33" | 33" | 34" | 34" |
| 180+ | | | | | | | 33" | 33" | 34" | 34" |
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Determining the Right Bat Weight
- Most bats are also weighted in ounces
- Manufacturers have done a great job in balancing the bat's weight to its length
- Many bats have a weight-to-length ratio, often shown as -4, -6, etc.
- This basically means a 34-inch bat with a -6 ratio weighs 28 ounces
- Selecting weight really depends on two critical factors--your strength and your hitting style
- It also depends a lot on your personal preference in weight and length, so the following are simply guidelines
to follow:
- Bigger, stronger players generally prefer a heavier bat since they get the benefits of both the heft and swing
power
- Smaller players with less strength should consider a lighter bat to generate a quicker swing
- Younger players, too, should consider that a lighter bat increases control--great for singles hitters, while
also reducing the risk of injury
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Understanding Bat Technology
Bat technology may seem a little confusing but it's not rocket-science. There are three essential elements to a
bat: barrel size, bat taper and grip.
Barrel size
- This includes both the length of the barrel--top part of the bat--and its
diameter
- The longer the barrel, generally, the larger the sweet spot for hitting the ball
- As for diameter, the standard is 2 1/2, inches but many players prefer a smaller barrel that lightens weight
and provides more swing speed
Taper
- This is the diameter of the bat's handle
- Standard bats are tapered 31/32 of an inch but can be slightly larger or smaller depending on whether you want
a lighter or heavier bat
- You may prefer the feel of a bigger bat taper, which can also reduce the sting when a ball isn't struck on the
sweet spot
- Some players like a narrower taper for the lighter weight and to rotate their wrists faster when hitting.
Grip
- The grip is simply the covering that bat manufacturers use on the handle of aluminum bats
- Rubber grips absorb more of the shock
- Leather or synthetic leather gives a tackier feel for a surer grip
- Some bats come with a cushioned grip to decrease the shock even more
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Bat Specifications
- Effective January 1, 2001, all High School baseball bats will be limited to a 2 5/8" maximum barrel diameter and
a -3 oz weight to length ratio
- These are the same specifications that were recently adopted by the NCAA
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