High School bat size

[1fingeredknuckler]

I hadn't seen my now oldest GD on jv, swing until today, in the past she has had good mechanics, good strong gal, i think in 8th grade last year she was using a 31-18 or 19 maybe even a 20, i saw them today and none were getting around on the ball very well, not that much speed against them either, 1st game, lots of postponed s, Is there a possibility 32/20 or 22 would be tops? I won't know until i can work with her my self to get back in balance, I'm not that familiar with the gals as to if there is a " way to heavy or long" in a 31 or 32? at what drop?
Just out of curiosity what do most of the NCAA gals use at the speeds they face? This has nothing to do with GD , just curious.

tks

 

[Amy in AZ.]

I think that most use a 34, 26. I would go with a 34, 24 for high school.

 

[1fingeredknuckler]

Thanks Amy

I have a new cheapie 34 something in the bsmt i bought for a weighted bat, a year ago, i'll try it on some whiffles if we ever get decent weather, i doubt if she is or any of these gals 9th grade capable of a 34 though, but i have not see their choices, as to what they are using, unless she is using the one from last year, i know last year a lot of the gals used the 32 20 or 22 that my other GD had. There is a reason, i won't state it though.
tks

 

[chinamigarden]

From what I have seen inn HS drop 10 and 9 are most common, some go heavier but very few go lighter.

 

[JAD]

Bat size should be determined by the players size and strength, not her grade level. Unless she is a left handed slapper you need to get her a balanced -10 bat, -9 if she is "country strong". Most girls in high school are swinging a 32/22 or 33/23. A big strong girl may be swinging a 34/24.

 

[redhotcoach]

Bat size should be determined by the players size and strength, not her grade level. Unless she is a left handed slapper you need to get her a balanced -10 bat, -9 if she is "country strong". Most girls in high school are swinging a 32/22 or 33/23. A big strong girl may be swinging a 34/24.

Agreed! Of our 16u girls, about 75% swing 33/23 and the other 25% are split between 32" and 34". I have looked at the pro fastpitch site's interviews and a huge amount of the pro women still swing 23 and 24 oz bats...I don't think I read about a single lady (but I know there are a few) swinging a slow pitch bat (26oz+).

 

[coach james]

Agreed...
Anything between 32" and 34" long
And nothing lighter than a -10
My 14yr dd swings a 33/24
She's about 5'9" and 140#

 

[jinjet95]

Most of the girls on my DD 18U team swing a 33/23 or 32/22. One of the bigger girls swings a 34/24 or 34/25. It just really depends on the girls' size, strength and swing mechanics.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

A little off topic, but I can generally tell what size bat, my rec pitchers should be using. So, I have a beginner normal sized, to a little tall girl in LL majors. I tell her mom that she needs a 31,21. Guess what they bought? 32, 24. I didn't even know that a 32 came that heavy.

Then, I had a very stout and very talented 13 yo. I suggested that they get her a 33, 24. They bought a 33, -12. Which would have done her no good at all.

The more skilled the girl, the heavier of bat I recommend. I really like the end loaded ones, for them.

 

[Abrasiveboy]

JAD is right on the money, my daughter has being using a Miken 33/21 for the last year. Just bought her a new Miken 34/22 only because she has gotten bigger and stronger in the offseason. You never judge a bat size by the age group, good luck with your GD.