Bat Size Chart

What is a good bat size chart? Most bat size charts do not consider all the factors needed for the right size bat. For starters, a bat size based on age and weight fails to recognize factors like sport (baseball, fastpitch), age, drop and league (BBCOR, USSSA, etc). Finding the right size bat depends on several factors that we consider in our bat size charts.

The mission of BatSizeChart.com is to get you the right size bat, the first time. Bat size charts’ simplicity do give them a certain allure. That is, finding where a column and row meet is easy enough. But, running to an online store
after only consulting a bat size chart you found on the internet will likely result in disappointment. At BatSizeChart.com we intend to solve that problem for consumers who, compared to just a few years ago, are way more likely to purchase online then
they once were.

Most Misunderstood Principle: Swing Weight vs Total Weight

To understand a bat size chart you MUST understand that swing weight is much more useful than is total weight or length. Bat’s have a different amount of weight as well as a distribution of weight.

• The distribution of weight determines how hard it is to swing a bat. Bats that have the same total weight don’t necessarily swing the same. In some instances they can be 10 to 15% more or less than a bat of the same total weight.
• Scale weight and the printed weight actually don’t mean very much. In terms of hitting a baseball or softball the only thing that matters to a hitter is how easy a bat is to swing. Although scale weight is a factor of how hard a bat is to swing it
  is no one and the same. The way the bat’s weight is distributed throughout the bat determines its how hard it is to swing. That phenomenon is referred to as swing weight.

Factors that should Influence Bat Size Charts

Age

Age matters. Actually, strength is what matters. But, age and strength are usually highly correlated. Taking the intersection of height and weight without consideration of age (or strength) really misses the point of a bat sizing.

League

Different leagues require different types of bats. These different standard requirements fundamentally change the feel and usefulness of a bat. Most bat size charts do a terrible job of differentiating between different sports (vis-a-vis fastpitch vs
baseball) let alone different leagues within each sport. For example, it is a mistake to assume a 31 inch suggestion in BBCOR is akin to a similar 31 inch in USSSA or USA. Here is a rough breakdown of what to expect from each league in terms of sizing
out the right kind of bat.

Fastpitch

Consider that fastpitch bats, for example, use an ASA and USSSA certification. ASA is the high school certification whereas USSSA is for more men’s fastpitch. But, turns out, many bats have both certifications. Yet, some don’t. You would not be the first
to buy an USSSA only bat for an ASA league.

USA

USA bats are their own animal. These came out circa 2018 and are required in Little League among other places. Most leagues that require a USA Bat don’t allow USSSA bats. But, some USA leagues, especially those serving the 13/14 year old market allow
both USA and BBCOR bats.

USSSA

USSSA baseball is the most common travel ball requirement for bats. However, plenty of competitive ball require the USA Bat too. There is just no way of knowing unless you ask the league you are in. And the sizing for each does change as drops and feel
are different. Don’t expect a 30/20 USA model version to feel and swing the same as a 30/20 USSSA version of the same make and model.

BBCOR

BBCOR is the most popular section because it serves almost every league that is 14 years old or up. Most famous for its high school and NCAA requirement, the BBCOR standard is the adult, non professional, standard for aluminum and composite bats. To make
it perfectly confusing too, single piece wood bats fall into the BBCOR requirement although they don’t need an actual stamp on the bat.

Wood

Wood bat leagues have all sorts of rules. This becomes more obvious when you realize that all wood bats are not created equal. Some wood bats are “composites”. Meaning, they are made up of multiple pieces of wood glued together. Other “wood” bats aren’t
“wood” bats in that they are bamboo. And bamboo is not considered an official wood bat. Other “wood” bats aren’t wood at all but some sort of weird resin that performs like wood. Depending on what amateur league you dealing with they could allow any
number of these wood bats.

Skill Levels

What is missing the most in bat size charts is a reference to skill. The ability of a player dramatically changes the length and size of the bat they should swing. The difference is skill is more useful a metric than height/weight when considering the
optimal size bat.

Drops

Another significant piece rarely pointed out in bat size charts it the drop. Instead, bat size charts often only suggest the length of the bat. As you know, or should, several bats come in different length to weight ratios. This aspect of bats, commonly
referred to as the drop, can range from as low as 0 ounces in wood bats up to 14 ounces in tee ball bats. To put it very simply, a 31/28 ounces bat feels so much different than a 31/18. Bat size charts rarely differentiate between the two and only produce
a total length.

Bat Size Chart for 8 Year Old

The average size for an 8 year old boy is 4’1″ and 50 pounds. Above average SIZE would be no less than 10% bigger and below average would be 10% lower. Don’t over think this too much. A player could be taller than average but less weigh
than average. Take the average size age you know and consider if your boy’s “size” is bigger or smaller than the average. We might do better to do a BMI rating here, but we are hopeful the honest seeker can grasp the sentiment of above or below average
size.

Size	Skill Level	Ideal Bat Size Options (L/W)
Average + 10%	Low	29/19 | 30/19 | 31/19
Average + 10%	Good	30/20 | 31/20 | 31/21
Average + 10%	Great	32/20 | 31/21 | 32/21
Average	Low	28/18 | 29/18 | 30/18
Average	Good	29/19 | 30/19 | 31/19
Average	Great	30/20 | 31/21 | 32/21
Average – 10%	Low	28/16 | 28/17 | 30/18
Average – 10%	Average	29/17 | 29/18| 29/19
Average – 10%	Great	29/19 | 30/20 | 31/20

Bat Size Chart for 9 Year Old

The average 9 year old boy is 62 pounds and 4 foot 4 inches tall. The below numbers represent the bigger (+10%), average and smaller (-10%) ideal bat sizes.

Size	Skill Level	Ideal Bat Size Options (L/W)
Average + 10%	Low	29/19 | 30/19 | 31/19
Average + 10%	Good	31/21 | 32/22 | 31/23
Average + 10%	Great	32/22 | 31/23 | 32/24
Average	Low	28/18 | 29/19 | 30/18
Average	Good	30/21 | 31/21 | 32/21
Average	Great	32/21 | 32/22 | 31/23
Average – 10%	Low	29/18 | 29/19 | 30/19
Average – 10%	Average	30/20 | 31/20 | 32/20
Average – 10%	Great	31/21 | 32/21 | 30/22

Bat Size Chart for 10 Year Old

The average size 10 year old boy is 74 pounds and 4 foot 6.5 inches. This is really the ideal bat for the perfect big barrel or USA stick. Most companies build their bat size chart around player just like this.

Size	Skill Level	Ideal Bat Size Options (L/W)
Average + 10%	Low	30/20 | 31/20 | 32/20
Average + 10%	Good	32/22 | 32/23 | 32/24
Average + 10%	Great	30/25 | 32/24 | 32/24
Average	Low	29/19 | 30/19 | 31/19
Average	Good	30/22 | 32/22 | 31/23
Average	Great	31/23 | 30/25 | 32/22
Average – 10%	Low	30/18 | 30/20 | 30/20
Average – 10%	Average	32/21 | 31/21 | 30/23
Average – 10%	Great	30/25 | 32/22 | 31/23

Bat Size Chart for 12 Year Old

The average size 12 year old boy is 91 pounds and 4 foot 11 inches. This age and size really pushes the change from a drop 10 to a drop 8. Elite hitters here might also consider a drop 5 as that is the best bang for your buck, so
to speak.

Size	Skill Level	Ideal Bat Size Options (L/W)
Average + 10%	Low	31/21 | 31/20 | 32/20
Average + 10%	Good	32/22 | 32/23 | 32/24
Average + 10%	Great	30/25 | 31/26 | 32/24
Average	Low	30/19 | 30/20 | 31/19
Average	Good	31/22 | 32/22 | 31/23
Average	Great	31/23 | 30/25 | 32/22
Average – 10%	Low	31/19 | 30/20 | 31/21
Average – 10%	Average	32/21 | 31/21 | 30/23
Average – 10%	Great	30/25 | 32/22 | 31/23

Bat Size Chart for 13 Year Old

A lot of 13 year old hitters won’t be excited to bounce up to a heavier bat. But, in terms of their long term development, getting to a drop 5 (atleast a drop 8) will help them develop. The average 13 year old boy is 100 pounds and 5 foot 1.5 inches.

Size	Skill Level	Ideal Bat Size Options (L/W)
Average + 10%	Low	31/26 | 32/22 | 32/24
Average + 10%	Good	31/23 | 32/24 | 31/26
Average + 10%	Great	31/26 | 32/27 | 33/28
Average	Low	31/21 | 31/22 | 30/25
Average	Good	31/22 | 32/22 | 31/23
Average	Great	31/23 | 31/26 | 32/24
Average – 10%	Low	31/19 | 30/20 | 31/21
Average – 10%	Average	32/21 | 31/21 | 30/23
Average – 10%	Great	30/25 | 32/27 | 31/23

BBCOR Bat Size Chart for High School BBCOR

BBCOR Bats are ridiculously uniform size yet high school players range in ridiculous fashion. BBCOR Bat’s range in total weight from 26 ounces (a few are 29/26) up to 31 ounces (the 34/31). We break this down by age but make sure you compensate
by skill level too.

Age	Skill Level	Ideal Bat Size Options (L/W)
14 – 15	Low	30/27
14 – 15	Good	31/28
14- 15	Great	32/29
16 – 17	Low	32/29
16 – 17	Good	33/30
16 – 17	Great	34/31
18+	Low	33/30
18+	Average	33/30
18+	Great	34/27

Traditional Bat Size Chart