Selecting the right equipment for your son or daughter is important to ensure they have a positive experience playing baseball. However, with so many options at various price points it can be difficult to know what to buy. Below is a list of approved and recommended glove and bat options we have seen kids have success with over the years. It’s always smart to shop around as often sites will have sales on equipment that other sites aren’t offering. See the list of sites at the bottom to find the best deals.
Little League requires all bats must have the USA bat stamp, which they have determined ensures safer play for 12 and under athletes. There is a maximum barrel size of 2-5/8. If you would like to confirm if your bat is approved, please check here: https://usabat.com/ *All wood bats are approved for Little League and Pony play without needing the USA stamp.
An easy way to determine the correct bat length for your athlete is to place the knob of the bat at the center line of their chest and extend one arm. The end of the bat should align with the tips of their fingers. See image:
We recommend you pick a drop -8 through -12 bat weight. The word DROP simply means its weight in ounces subtracted from its length. For example: 28” / 18oz is often referred to as simply a 28 Drop 10.
Below is a list of bats at different price points that we have seen perform well. We recommend a 2-5/8 barrel size.. the maximum allowable by Little League / Pony. And a reminder it must have the USA bat stamp.
Under $100
Rawlings 5150
Louisville Slugger Omaha
Louisville Slugger Solo 619
Louisville Slugger Prime 919
Easton Beast Speed
AXE Element
Over $100
DeMARINI CF
Louisville Slugger Solo 619, 919
Easton ADV1
Easton Ghost X
Marucci CAT
AXE Avenge
Finding the right sized glove that isn’t too difficult to break in is important. This will improve the athlete’s ability to field balls and have more confidence when catching.
Rawlings R9 Series
Rawlings Select Pro Lite *younger players
Mizuno Prospect Select Series
Mizuno Prospect w/ PowerClose *younger players
Wilson A500
www.rawlings.com
www.baseballsavings.com
www.justbats.com
https://www.cheapbats.com/shop/
https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/
https://www.academy.com/
www.amazon.com
www.mizunousa.com
www.wilson.com
www.sidelineswap.com
www.craigslist.org
www.playitagainsports.com
www.ebay.com