Baseball is undoubtedly a kids' game. From the dirt on your pants to the gum in your mouth, it’s impossible to step foot onto the diamond and not feel like a kid. This leads us directly to the purpose of this article. We have compiled a list of the best youth baseball bats for kids. We have divided up the best baseball bats between USA baseball bats and USSSA baseball bats and included verified bat reviews for reference. Our Bat Experts also included snippets of bat analysis to help you determine the right fit for your young slugger’s swing. But, before we get into the list, we have to review a couple of items to cover all of our bases.
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First of all, make sure the bat you're shopping for is legal for play. We recommend asking your coach or visiting websites like Little League Baseball, Dixie Baseball, Babe Ruth League, or USSSA depending on the league you play in for specifics on what baseball bats are eligible. Rules regarding factors like length-to-weight ratio, barrel materials, and barrel diameter can all vary depending on your league.
Secondly, consider whether a wood bat, metal bat, or composite bat makes the most sense. Most youth players use metal/composite bats in competition because they offer better performance and durability while wood bats are very popular for training in the cage or may be required in special Wood Bat Tournaments. But, selecting the right youth baseball bat really comes down to three key elements:
- Length
- A longer bat gives you greater reach, allowing you to easily hit balls on the other side of the plate. But selecting a longer bat generally means that the barrel will be more difficult to control. It is imperative that you choose a bat that will help the batter stay in control while at the plate. Finding the right length bat for your player is pretty simple if you know their height and weight. To make the process even easier, we've created the Bat Coach sizing tool. Simply plug in your player's height and weight, and Bat Coach will recommend a range of lengths and show you all of the bats on our website that match your search criteria. You can even narrow down the results further by specifying which materials, brands, or price ranges you're considering!
- Weight
- Choosing the correct weight of a bat is all about balance. The heavier the bat is, the more power the player can generate. But if a bat is too heavy, the hitter can lose valuable swing speed and control over the barrel through the hitting zone. It can often be difficult to suggest the appropriate weight for a particular player because their height and weight might not always be indicative of their strength level. But thankfully, most youth baseball bats are only produced in a small range of length to weight ratios (-10, -11, -12).
- Length to Weight Ratio (also known as drop)
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OK, there are technically two key elements to selecting a Youth Baseball Bat. But we field so many questions about Length to Weight Ratio or Drop Weight, that we feel it deserves to be explained here. The length to weight ratio, or drop weight of a bat, is simply a representation of the difference between its length and weight. And bats that have a greater length-to-weight ratio will have a lighter overall weight. (ie a -12 Length to Weight Ratio is lighter than a -10 Length to Weight Ratio). Click here to learn more about drop in baseball bats.
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In addition and to recap, when selecting a youth baseball bat, it's important to know the following:
- Youth baseball bats range from 26" inches to 32" inches in length.
- Youth baseball bats range from a (-7) to (-13) length to weight ratio or drop, which is the length subtracted from the weight.
- Youth baseball bats must meet league requirements, so make sure you know which one you require (ex. USSSA Baseball or USA Baseball).
As always, if you have any questions or would like youth bat recommendations please contact our Bat Experts via phone at 866-321-2287, email at experts@justbats.com, or you can click here to live chat. Now, let's begin.
Best Youth Baseball Bats
We're going to start with our top USA baseball bats for 2024. Since 2018, parents have been searching for the hottest USA baseball bats for their youth players. USA Bats from brands like DeMarini, Easton, Louisville Slugger, Marucci, and more are all available at JustBats. However, with so many baseball bats on the market, it can feel overwhelming when trying to find the right bat. This is why we’ve picked out a couple of our best-selling youth baseball bats and their key features to kick off your USA bat search.
Best USA Baseball Youth Bats
Marucci CATX -11 USA Baseball Bat: MSBCX11USA
Hitters cannot get enough of the Marucci CATX USA Baseball Bats. Built with a controllable balanced swing weight, the CATX enables young hitters to effortlessly control the barrel through the zone. But that's just where the fun begins. Once a player squares up the baseball, everyone on the diamond gets a first-hand experience of the high levels of performance the Marucci CATX can provide. The AZR Alloy barrel is one of the hottest among all USA Baseball Bats. The ball seemingly jumps on contact to deliver extra base hits with relative ease.
Other Key Features Include:
- USA Baseball Certified Stamp
- One-Piece Alloy Construction
- Multi-Variable Wall Design Creates An Expanded Sweet Spot
- 2 ⅝” Barrel Diameter
- Full Twelve (12) Month Manufacturer's Warranty when purchased from JustBats
DeMarini CF -10 USA Baseball Bat
The DeMarini CF offers something for hitters of all shapes and sizes. It has a highly-reactionary composite barrel, an easy-to-swing balanced weight, and a confidence-boosting feel on contact. Hitters can freely attack any pitch in the zone without fear of stingers. The DeMarini CF is simply one of the best youth baseball bats we have ever seen.
DeMarini CF USA Bat Review - “Feels great on contact! Nice size barrel and it's got a lot of pop!” Henry W.
Other key features include:
- USA Baseball Certified Stamp
- Two-Piece, All-Composite Construction
- Balanced Swing Weight
- ReAction End Cap
- 2 ⅝” Barrel Diameter
- Full Twelve (12) Month Manufacturer's Warranty
Rawlings Clout -10 USA Baseball Bat (RUS3C10)
Rawlings continues to churn out USA baseball bats that young players love to swing. Their latest, the Rawlings Clout, is no exception. The barrel provides plenty of power and the one-piece design enables hitters to leverage the ball on contact. Furthermore, players love the one-piece, hot-out-of-the-wrapper aluminum alloy profile. And parents, we didn’t forget about you either. The Rawlings Clout is one of the best youth baseball bats for under $200.
Other key features include:
- Features USA Baseball Certified Stamp
- One-Piece, Alloy Construction
- Balanced Swing Weight
- NEW Red Alloy Materials
- NEW Flex Technology
- 2 ⅝” Barrel Diameter
- Full Twelve (12) Month Manufacturer's Warranty
Easton ADV 360 -5 USA Baseball Bat (YBB23ADV5)
The Easton ADV 360 is one of the top USA baseball bats on the market. If you are interested in a baseball bat with a massive barrel and plenty of POP, you've gotta take a look at the ADV 360. This fully composite youth bat is designed to be swung fast and deliver results. It will require a couple of hundred swings before it is fully broken in, but once you've got it game ready there isn't another bat that can beat it.
Easton ADV 360 Bat Review - “The bat had amazing pop and the barrel was like 65% of the bat. The [ADV 360] performed more like an OK USSSA bat, which is saying a lot."
Other key features include:
- USA Baseball Certified Stamp
- Two-Piece, All-Composite Construction
- Balanced Swing Weight
- Engineered w/ Launch Composite Materials
- Carbon Handle - Nullifies Vibrations + Creates an Awesome Feel
- Full Twelve (12) Month Manufacturer's Warranty When Ordered from JustBats
Best USSSA Baseball Youth Bats
When you are talking about the hottest bats in baseball, you have to talk about the USSSA youth bats (also known as travel ball baseball bats). With a much higher threshold for performance (compared to USA bats) the USSSA baseball bats give hitters a large advantage every time they step into the batter’s box. We have chosen a couple of our favorites to highlight as you shop for your next youth baseball bat.
Marucci CATX USSSA Baseball Bats
Our team of Bat Experts loves the Marucci CATXs. They are easily approachable for hitters of all ages. The one-piece alloy design generates easy power when barrelled up. The balanced profile enables hitters to comfortably swing the CAT and the anti-vibration technology in the knob reduces the sting of mishits. If you're looking for a bat that can help even the newest of youth baseball players, any hitter of any age can swing the CAT9.
Marucci CATX Bat Review - “My son loves this bat. He's not a homerun hitter, more of a line drive hitter which turns into homers. Great pop and balance. Nice ping to it, lets you know when you hit sweet spot.”
Other key features include:
- Features USSSA Baseball Certified Stamp
- Available in -8 & -10
- One-Piece, All-Alloy Construction
- Balanced Swing Weight
- Exclusive to JustBats
- Full Twelve (12) Month Manufacturer's Warranty When Ordered from JustBats
2024 Easton Hype Fire -10 USSSA Baseball Bat: EUT4HYP10
Hitters of all ages have fallen in love with Easton's premiere all-composite youth bat. The Hype Fire provides effortless swings and eye-popping results every time your slugger laces up their cleats. The latest updates to the Easton Hype Fire will give your hitter the utmost confidence every time they step into the box. This is one of the best bats for youth baseball if you're looking for versatile and easy-to-swing.
Easton Hype Fire USSSA Bat Review - “Right out of the box the unique color of the Hype Fire catches the eye, even with the matte finish. The balanced weight provides a very lightweight feel and allows my players to bat up from other smaller bats. Overall the feel of the bat is next to none."
Other key features include:
- Features USSSA Baseball Certified Stamp
- Available in -5, -8, & -10
- Two-Piece, Composite Construction
- Engineered w/ Thermo Composite Technology
- Power Boost Knob Delivers Leverage w/ Each Swing
- Full Twelve (12) Month Manufacturer's Warranty When Ordered from JustBats
DeMarini Zoa -8 USSSA Baseball Bat: WTDXZ8Z22
Without a doubt, the DeMarini Zoa is one of the top USSSA baseball bats. From the balanced swing weight to the entra lengthy barrel, hitters have spent all summer addicted to this two-piece composite baseball bat. Anticipate a barrel with more-than-enough POP and a sweet spot larger than most. If you want a top youth USSSA baseball bat, you want the DeMarini Zoa.
DeMarini Zoa Bat Review - “Very level barrel, big sweet spot and overall a great bat. High EV and pretty good pop. Great contact bat.”
Other key features include:
- USSSA Baseball Certified Stamp
- Available in -5, -8, & -10
- Two-Piece, Composite Construction
- Anomaly Connection System Limits Vibration
- Full Twelve (12) Month Manufacturer's Warranty When Ordered from JustBats
And for those of you moving up to high school baseball, we have a full list of the best BBCOR bats for 2023. Be sure to take a look at those bats before you pull the trigger on your next purchase.
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Note that we will continue to update this page with more information on the best youth baseball bats as they come out. In the meantime, if you have any additional questions, concerns, or requests, don't hesitate to contact our Bat Experts at 866-321-2287, email at experts@justbats.com, or you can click here to live chat. We are JustBats and we'll be here for you from Click To Hit!
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