Best Baseball Bat for an 8 Year Old: The Sizing Guide
Selecting the ideal baseball bat for a young player involves taking into account several key factors. Evaluating all the available options, including bat materials, construction, drop weight, balance, and more, will help the buyer make an informed purchase. In this article, we'll provide expert insights on baseball bats suitable for 8-year-olds, including sizing information, professional recommendations, and bat reviews. Our goal is to ensure that young hitters can comfortably swing their bats and perform at their best. To see more options, check out our full selection of coach pitch bats and Little League bats.
In this article, we’ll cover:
To help the parent select the right bat for their 8-year-old, the player’s height and weight should be considered to ensure a bat is properly sized. The chart below will depict an appropriate bat size based on an average 8-year-old’s height and weight. One thing to consider when basing your decision on your player’s height and weight is if a player is taller but lighter in weight they can typically swing a longer bat as long as their strength allows.
| Height | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 50” - 55” | 55” - 59” | ||
| 70 Ibs or less | 28”/18oz - 29”/19oz | 29”/19oz - 30”/20oz | ||
| 70-102 lbs | 30”/19oz or 30”/20oz | 30”/20oz - 31”/21oz | ||
There are several factors to consider when choosing the correct bat for an 8-year-old including length, weight, bat drop, and materials. The chart previously shown will give a good length range for an 8-year-old dependent on the player’s height. Following choosing the length, the weight of the bat should then be considered. The weight will depend on the drop weight picked and this drop weight should be either a -11 or -10 depending on the player’s size. A player who is smaller in size should steer towards a -11 drop weight, while a bigger player should consider a -10 drop weight.
Once length and drop weight is taken into account, the buyer will be able to narrow down their bat search and consider other aspects such as bat materials. Bat materials refer to how the bat is constructed. Bats will typically be constructed of one solid piece or two separate pieces that feature a connection piece between the barrel and handle.
A one-piece bat will provide better bat speed for the player but it will feature more vibration in the hands on mishits. With a one-piece bat, the player typically has better bat head control as these bats will not flex as much on each swing. This makes it a great option for a player who is learning the game of baseball and working on their swing. A two-piece bat however will be constructed from either an alloy barrel and composite handle or a fully composite bat. Two-piece bats allow for more flex on each swing, creating a whip-like action upon contact. Along with this, a two-piece bat will also dampen vibrations on mishits.
Determine Bat Length for an 8 Year Old
A good way for parents to see if a bat is an appropriate length for their 8-year-old is to check the length of the bat in comparison to the player’s arm length. The following steps will walk you step by step through this process:
- Place the knob of the bat at the center of the player’s chest and pointing it to either side
- Have the player raise their arms straight to the side of their body
- The bat and arm should be parallel to one another
- If the player can comfortably reach their fingertips to the end cap, the bat is a proper length
Determine Bat Weight for an 8 Year Old
All ball players should be able to control the bat and swing it with ease. That being said, an 8-year-old will swing a lighter bat compared to what older baseball players will swing. As player pitch begins around age 8, the player must feel comfortable and be able to get the bat around on pitches from an opposing player for the first time. Thus, choosing a properly weighted bat will play an intricate role in providing success to the hitter.
A common bat weight for an 8-year-old is between 17 oz and 19 oz. This range should take the player’s height and weight into consideration in order to find a properly weighted bat. For a smaller player, it is recommended that they swing a 17 oz or 18 oz bat, whereas a bigger player should swing a bat that is 18 oz or 19 oz.
Understand What Bat Drop Is
One thing to consider when looking at the weight of the bat is the drop weight. A drop weight on a baseball bat refers to the difference between the length and weight of the bat. For example, a 29 in and 19 oz bat will feature a -10 drop weight, while a 29 in 18 oz bat will feature a -11 drop weight. For an 8-year-old baseball player, anywhere from a -12 to a -10 drop weight is ideal depending on the player’s size and strength.
Use General Bat Sizing Wave Chart for 8 Year Olds
Sizing and picking a bat for your 8-year-old is not always an easy task. To help paint a clear picture of standard bat sizes for an 8-year-old, this chart shows the sizing for a smaller, average-size, and larger 8-year-old player.
Research League Requirements and Rules for Bats
In order for a bat to be used in games, parents must research their league’s requirements to ensure the bat is legal. Little League baseball bats must feature a USA Baseball stamp and not feature a barrel that is larger than 2 5/8 “. If your 8-year-old is participating in travel baseball, the parent should then turn to the tournament requirements to ensure the bat will be legal in that particular tournament. Some tournaments will allow for a USSSA stamp with a 1.15 Bat Performance Factor rating but the USA Baseball stamp on a bat will be approved for most travel baseball tournaments at this age. This is due to a USA Baseball bat being more closely aligned with the performance of a wood baseball bat, which will not have as much of a “trampoline effect” off of the barrel as a USSSA-approved bat would.
Evaluate Bat Materials
Not only is it important to pick the right size bat for your baseball player, but it is also important to understand different bat materials and their advantages or disadvantages. There are two main materials used on baseball bats for 8-year-olds and they are alloy and composite. These materials can be prevalent in a one-piece bat, meaning that the bat is made out of one-piece of the same material, or a two-piece bat which can be made from one material or a combination of alloy and composite. The combination of alloy and composite is also known as a hybrid bat.
A one-piece alloy bat is a great option for the 8-year-old who is still learning the basic fundamentals of hitting. These bats will not feature as much flex as a two-piece bat while swinging, thus providing the player with more control of the barrel during their swing. Since the bat does not have as much flex in the barrel, players who swing a one-piece bat will typically provide higher swing speeds. Thus, providing harder-hit baseballs based on higher swing speeds. Along with this, one-piece alloy bats will not be as forgiving when it comes to vibration to the hands. This is a great option for a young baseball player because the vibration to their hands can teach them if they made good contact, got jammed, or hit it off the end of the bat just based on the feel and the amount of vibration received to the hands.
Two-piece hybrid or fully composite bats will be a better option for players who have a couple of years of experience in baseball. These bats, since having two separate pieces on the bat, will not feature as much vibration to the hand as a one-piece alloy bat. Along with this, the two-piece bat will also provide more flex on each swing and the bat will act almost as a whip while swinging. Since two-piece bats will feature more barrel flex, the player will not have as much control of the barrel as a one-piece alloy bat. When picking a two-piece bat for your player, the bat must be properly sized and the player must be strong enough to swing it in order to still maintain control of the barrel on swings.
Decide on a Budget
Baseball bats can be expensive, but the price does not always mean that one bat is better than another. Bats that feature composite materials, such as a two-piece hybrid or fully composite bat, will often come with a higher price point than a one-piece alloy bat. With that being said, parents can still find a great one-piece alloy bat for their player while also saving money. These one-piece bats will also be better for the player who is learning their swing.
The list provided above are all great bats for an 8-year-old that feature a range of different materials such as a hybrid bat, two fully composite bats, and a one-piece aluminum bat. Not only that, but different drop weights will provide you with more options depending on your player in order to find the perfect bat. Along with this, depending on the player’s league they participate in and their baseball experience level players can either swing a junior baseball bat or a traditional big barrel baseball bat. For a more in-depth look at each of these bats, refer to the breakdown below.
Type: Two-piece composite
Bat Drop: -10
Overview: Marucci’s CATX Composite (-10) is one of the most popular bats for 8-year-old players. This bat features a two-piece composite design with Marucci’s MDX composite barrel that provides the player with a large barrel and ultra-responsive barrel. Along with this, Marucci has included their S-40 composite handle which is stiffer to help the player maximize their swing speeds and energy transfer on swings to the baseball.
Key Features:
- MDX Composite produces an ultra-responsive barrel
- S-40 Composite Handle
- Outer-Locking System at the connection point creates one of the stiffest connections on the market
Rawlings Icon (-10) USSSA Baseball Bat - 2023 Model$349.98 Original Price $399.99 You Save 13% Original Price $399.99 You Save
Type: Two-piece composite
Bat Drop: -10
Overview: The Rawlings Icon (-10) is a great option for an 8-year-old as a stiffer connection provides the hitter with faster swing speeds and better barrel control. Rawlings’ ZERO LOSS collar at the connection point will create one of the best connections in a senior league bat while also eliminating vibration to the hands on miss hits.
Key Features:
- ZERO LOSS Collar eliminates drag and vibration to the hands
- In/Tense Carbon Composite barrel creates one of the largest barrels for a senior league bat
- Tuned balance performance creates a slight end-load for the hitter
Type: One-piece alloy
Bat Drop: -10
Overview: The Louisville Slugger Atlas Junior Baseball Bat is a great option for the 8-year-old still in coach pitch baseball. The Atlas provides the hitter with a very lightweight bat to allow for high swing speeds and gives the player the opportunity to better control the bat on swings. This makes it a great option for a player who is still learning the game and working on their swing.
Key Features:
- SL Hyper superlight alloy barrel
- 6-Star Premium End Cap designed for power and performance
- Balanced swing weight
Type: Three-piece composite
Bat Drop: -10
Overview: The Axe Avenge Pro (-10) is a great option for the player who is still learning their swing and working to improve it. Axe’s patented Axe handle provides the player with a grip that teaches them to properly grip the bat and better control the bat. Along with this, the Axe Avenge Pro is a high-performing bat with a Charged Carbon Max barrel and a light swing weight.
Key Features:
- Charged Carbon Max barrel brings performance to the very edge of the legal limit
- Shock Suspension at the connection point eliminates vibration to the hands
- Patented Youth Axe Handle helps teach the hitter proper hitting mechanics
Browse the Best Selection of Coach Pitch and Senior League Bats at BaseballMonkey!
Whether you are looking for a bat for the 8-year-old playing coach pitch baseball or an 8-year-old travel baseball player, we have you covered here at BaseballMonkey! If you would like to view more bats, please visit our coach pitch bats section or our senior league bats section.
