Best Baseball Bat for a 7 Year Old

What’s the Best Baseball Bat for a 7 Year Old?

With so many baseball bat brands, types and styles on the market, it can be overwhelming to try and find the best baseball bat for 7 year old ballplayers. Choosing the wrong bat could take the fun out of the game. But worse than that, it can lead to the stunting of development of your young athlete. To give your ballplayer the best experience, we've put together the following guide to help you find the best bat for 7 year olds.

To see more options, check out our full selection of youth baseball bats and T ball bats.

 

In this article, we’ll cover:

  • Choosing the Right Size Bat for a 7 Year Old
  • List of the Best Baseball Bats for 7 Year Olds
  • 7 Year Old Baseball Bat Reviews & Comparisons

Choosing the Right Size Bat for a 7 Year Old

Researching what size bat for 7 year old Little Leaguers is best means looking at a number of things, such as: 

  • Length
  • Weight
  • Bat drop 
  • Materials used in its construction

Knowing what size baseball bat for 7 year olds is easier if you know that the baseline bat size for this age group is 27/17. A simple way to think about this is: 27 inches in length and 17 ounces in weight. Of course you'll be able to adjust this based on certain considerations, which we'll discuss coming up.

Beyond physical properties, you should also be aware that there may be league rules that cover what type of bats your slugger can use. And finally, of course the cost of the best bats may also play a factor in your decision.

Understand What Bat Drop is

You’ll probably hear the term "bat drop" when shopping for a baseball bat for your 7-year old ballplayer. The bat drop number refers to the bat's length, minus its weight. For example, the average baseball bat size for a 7 year old is 27 inches long with a weight of 17 ounces. The bat drop number for this bat would be -10.

You want to pay close attention to the bat drop number when purchasing a new baseball bat for young hitters. The bat should be long enough to cover the plate, but it shouldn’t be too heavy to swing. The higher the bat drop number, the easier the bat will be to swing. If you have a stronger ballplayer, you don’t want the bat to be too light. Starting with a bat drop of -10, you can assess whether or not you should increase or decrease the bat drop. Base this on the strength and size of your ball player.

Determining Bat Length

The length of a bat for a young player just learning how to swing is very important for growth and success. The average 7 year old should swing a bat that is between 24 and 28 inches. A 27-inch bat is the most common for this age group. This shouldn't be used as a hard rule, but rather a guideline to begin sizing a baseball bat for youth players in this age group. In order to find the appropriate size for 7 year olds, start with a 27-inch youth baseball bat and follow this procedure:

  • Place the bat handle in the center of their chest
  • Extend their arm to the side
  • If the end of the barrel of the bat reaches the center of their palm, the bat is the appropriate length
  • If the bat is longer or shorter than their palm, adjust accordingly and measure again

Determining Bat Weight

The weight of a youth baseball bat can be a major factor in terms of performance and the enjoyment of playing the game. If your 7 year old is using a bat that’s too heavy, they'll drag the bat through the zone and the barrel will dip as they struggle with how heavy the bat is. A bat that’s too light will also bring poor results as batters can quickly lose control of their swing.

In order to determine an appropriate weight, start with a 27/17 bat. Have your player hold it by the handle and extend their arm to the side. Your Little Leaguer should be able to hold the bat steady for 30 to 45 seconds. If the barrel drops during this time, you'll probably want to choose a lighter youth baseball bat. If your player has absolutely no problem holding the bat steady for an extended period of time, they may be strong enough to try a heavier bat.

Most youth players will use a bat with a bat drop rate of -10, so as a general rule you can start assessing bats using this number after you've chosen a bat of an appropriate length.

General Bat Sizing Wave Chart

Having a bat that's the appropriate length and weight will result in a much more enjoyable experience for young ballplayers. The wrong-sized bat will hurt the learning process and stunt development at the plate. Use the chart below to help you begin the process of choosing the best sized baseball bat for 7 year olds.

You can also refer to our complete guide on how to size baseball bats.

Research League Requirements and Rules

Before you purchase your new youth baseball bat, it's important to verify that the bat you’re considering is legal to use in your youth league. Some leagues have different rules about length and weight, and some restrict bats made from certain materials. Since rules can vary at different age groups and different levels of play, you want to check your Little League's baseball bat rules before buying. You also want to make sure your new bat is USSSA approved. 


Check out our complete guide on Little League bat rules.

Evaluate Different Bat Materials

When choosing the best Little League bat, you'll see that youth bats are made from different materials. The most common types of bats you'll find are aluminum alloy or composite.

Aluminum and aluminum alloy bats are designed to be a stronger baseball bat. Note that many of these will be one-piece bats. One disadvantage to a one-piece bat is there is a greater chance for vibrations that can sting younger players' palms on mishits.

Composite bats are a mixture of materials that can include fiberglass, carbon fiber, graphite and other ingredients. These bats tend to be thicker and weigh more than similarly-sized aluminum bats.

 Determine a Budget

There are a wide range of baseball bats for 7 year olds. And there’s a good chance your young player may have their eye on the most expensive, flashy bat on the market (probably the one used by his favorite Major League superstar). But keep in mind, you should definitely take budget into account, since baseball bats can be quite costly. 

 

Fortunately, we have a wide selection of baseball bats for 7 years olds that can meet almost every budget.

List of the Best Baseball Bats for 7 Year Olds


1. Easton Hype Comp1 (-12) USSSA Junior Baseball Bat - 2023 Model

Overview: The 2023 Easton Hype Comp1 (-12) Junior Baseball Bat is an elite-level bat with a one-piece, fully composite structure. Easton Hype Comp1 is the lightest swinging bat in Easton’s 2023 lineup, allowing the young slugger to swing it quicker to enhance contact. Hype Comp1 also features a massive barrel and sweet spot, providing the player with a larger hitting surface for solid contact.

Key Features:

  • One-piece, fully composite bat
  • Lightest swinging bat in Easton’s 2023 lineup, enhancing swing speeds and contact
  • Thermo Composite Technology provides a massive barrel and sweet spot
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2. Marucci CAT9 America (-10) USSSA Junior Baseball Bat - 2021 Model

Type: Composite

Bat Drop: -10

Overview: Introducing the Limited Edition Marucci CAT9 Composite America (-10) USSSA Junior Baseball Bat; the latest in the long line of Marucci’s signature CAT line, and has even more improvements making it their best bat   yet.

Key Features:

  • Limited edition red, white and blue color scheme and American flag
  • Outer-Locking System
  • Micro-perforated soft touch grip
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3. Marucci F5 (-10) USSSA Junior Baseball Bat - 2022 Model

Overview: Marucci’s 2022 F5 (-10) USSSA Junior Baseball Bat combines affordability, performance, and durability into one bat. A one-piece alloy design gives the player a balanced traditional swinging bat, making this perfect for the young ballplayer still working on their swing. Marucci included a multi-variable wall design on the F5 to expand the sweet spot, while also increasing the durability of the bat.

Key Features:

  • One-piece alloy bat provides a balanced swing weight and added durability
  • Light swing weight allows for better contact for the young ballplayer
  • Multi-variable wall design expands sweet spot and increases durability
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Find the Best Selection of T Ball and Little League Bats at BaseballMonkey!

BaseballMonkey has a wide selection of the best baseball bats for 7 year old Little League ballplayers. Now that you know more about what to look for in a junior bat, check out Baseball Monkey’s full selection of bats for T Ball and bats for Little League

 

This article was originally published on June 14, 2021, and has been updated with new information.