BBCOR bats weigh 3 oz less than their length, so a 32-inch bat weighs about 29 oz. That’s several ounces more than the -8 or -10 bats most players swing before 14U, which makes getting the length right more important than ever. Here are three quick checks you can do at home in five minutes.
1. The shoulder check
Stand the bat upright beside your kid. It shouldn’t reach past their shoulder.
2. The fingertip check
Put the knob at the center of your kid’s chest and point the bat straight out along their arm. The end of the bat should reach their fingertips. If it goes well past them, the bat is probably too long.
3. The one-inch-shorter test
Have your kid swing their own bat, then a bat one inch shorter. [Add what you found: did most testers swing the shorter bat faster?]
Bonus: weigh it
If you have a kitchen scale, weigh the bat and compare it with the label. [Add what you found.]
Starting lengths by height
| Size group | Height | Starting bat length |
|---|---|---|
| A: Small | Under 5′1″ | 30–31 in. |
| B: Medium | 5′1″ to 5′4″ | 31–32 in. |
| C: Large | 5′5″ to 5′8″ | 32–33 in. |
| D: XL | 5′9″ and up | 33–34 in. |
Heavier players in a group often go up 1 in. Also check the stamp: national USSSA 14U events require BBCOR (-3) or wood, and high schools use BBCOR. Little League’s Junior division allows USA Baseball or BBCOR bats.
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