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What drop bat should a 12 year old use?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 22, 2026

For 12-13 year olds playing Pony, Junior, or Senior League level, we recommend a youth bat length-to-weight ratio of -5. For example, a 31” bat weighs 26 ounces. This drop weight gives the young hitter a very manageable weight transition between a youth bat and a high-school age bat.

What size bat should a 12 year old use?

Considering BBCOR bats are right around the corner we'd suggest most 12 year olds look for a drop 8 bat as the right drop. In terms of length most drop 8 bats go as low as a 30 through a 32. We think the ideal bat for the average 12 year old is a 31-inch drop 8 bat (which would make it 23-ounces).

Who should use a drop 12 bat?

The lightest of all USSSA bats, drop 12 bats are designed for the youngest players in travel ball. Built for young players in search of a lightweight feel, these bats are best for rising stars who are looking to maximize barrel control.

What drop bat should a 13 year old use?

Weight drops vary in Senior League baseball, but players 10 years old and under often use -10 weight drop bat. Players 11-12 years old will often use a -8 weight drop, and 13 year old players often use a -5 weight drop.

Is a drop 10 or drop 11 bat better?

So, drop 10 would mean 10 oz, whereas drop 11 would mean 11 oz. These are weights that you lessen from the overall length of the bats to get to the real weight. The higher the drop you have, the lighter your bat will be. And so, a drop 11 bat will be much lighter than a drop 10 bat.

31 related questions found

What drop should a 14 year old use?

Age 14 to 16, drop 10 • Age 16 and up, Drop 8oz to 10oz. Drop 10 is still the most popular drop, but some power hitters prefer a drop 9.

Is a drop 10 heavier than a drop 11?

Simply, the DROP is the difference between length and weight. The higher the drop, the lighter the bat. The smaller the drop, the heavier the bat. In each of those categories, there will be a number e.g. -10oz, -11oz, -12oz etc.

Can 13u use BBCOR bats?

For the 13u/14u division, BBCOR is also permitted and sometimes used by the bigger players.

What is a good bat size for a 13 year old?

Most players in the 13-14 year old age group will do well with a 29-31 inch bat. Smaller players will want a shorter, lighter bat to maximize bat speed and bat control. A larger, stronger player will want a longer heavier bat.

Can a 13 year old use a BBCOR bat?

In short, yes. We think the 32/29 will be the right size bat for most 13-year-old BBCOR players—even though it is a considerable jump from last year. Note, we suggest you focus on a lighter swing weight bat—but keep it in the 32-inch range.

What drop size bat do I need?

The drop weight changes as the player becomes better / stronger / older. Youth baseball bats – If you are a new player that makes his first baseball steps, you should start with a bat that has a -10 or -12 drop weight. These are drop weights recommended for children starting to play baseball.

Is a drop 8 or drop 10 better?

Fundamentally, there are no differences between Drop 8 and Drop 10 bats other than the scale weight. Although each USSSA brand and model has its own vibe, the industry generally holds to these rules when moving from a drop 8 to a drop 10.

What size bat should my son use?

In general: Children under 60 pounds should swing a bat between 26 and 29 inches long. Children weighing more than 70 pounds should swing a bat ranging from 28 to 32 inches long.

What does drop mean in baseball bats?

A bat's drop is the measurement determined by subtracting the weight of the bat from its length. For example, a bat that weighs 20 ounces and is 30 inches long will have a drop of -10. The greater the drop weight, the lighter the bat.

Do heavier bats hit farther?

So, using a heavier bat should result in faster hit balls, which means the hit ball will travel farther. If a player can maintain the same bat swing speed with a heavier bat, the heavier bat will produce higher batted ball velocity and an increase in distance.

Are all BBCOR bats drop 3?

All BBCOR bats are required to be -3 or heavier". As a result of being a standardized drop weight, the main difference with these models is their swing weights.

How tall should you be to swing a 33 inch bat?

Those between 5'1" and 5'8" in height who weigh between 101 and 140 pounds will need a bat that is 32 inches in length. A bat of 33 inches is ideal for those in this height range who weigh between 141 pounds and 180+ pounds. A 33-inch bat is also perfect for players between 5'9" and 6' who weigh 121 to 160 pounds.

Is a 34 inch bat too big?

The bat length they suggest is by height. A 4'6″ should have a 27 or 28-inch bat, and a 5'10” player should have between a 30 and 34-inch bat.

Are drop 10 bats illegal?

The green drop 10 and drop 8 are illegal. The blue drop 10 is illegal. The drop 5 green one, as well as the drop 11 blue one, are illegal. However, they retooled them to have an orange end cap and those are legal.

Who should use a drop 5 bat?

Weight drops vary in Senior League baseball, but players 10 years old and under often use -10 weight drop bat. Players 12 years old and under often use a -8 weight drop, and 13 year old players often use a -5 weight drop. These are recommendations.

What does BBCOR .50 mean?

49. By implementing the BBCOR of . 50 or less standard, non-wood bats are now required to perform more like wood bats. The trampoline effect is reduced, and the bat is doing less work for the hitter, which means the batter must now provide most of the power against the ball.

Is a drop 11 bat good?

All USA bats struggle in the exit speed department. But, in terms of the feel the USA ADV 360 drop 11 feels as good as a bat like the CF in USSSA. Most hitters don't notice a difference between the USA ADV and a good two-piece USSSA bat. As well, the drop 11 version of the ADV is just better than the drop 10.

What is a drop 12 bat?

The max weight you can get in a drop 12 is a 32 inch bat. This would give it a scale weight of 20 ounces, roughly. Using the chart, you'll see that this type of bat is good for a 12 year old that weighs less than 80 pounds; a 10 year old under 50 inches tall; virtually any size player under the age of 9.

What is a drop 13 bat?

The drop 13 means that the weight of the bat in ounces is 13 less than the length of the bat in inches. It's all about control, but the following drop 13 youth bats offer a lot more than that.