Light bats for young kids
By: Old AgI know everyone today is fixated on batspeed. But the light bats (especially the ultra light bat you referenced) can backfire on kids - especially normal & smaller sized kids. Using slo-mo video analysis, I have analyzed kids hitting with the ultra lights. Often with kids who weren't the big boys for their age, the bat will slow dramatically at contact with a good fastball. I have actually seen the bat rebound backward momentarily upon contact.
If this is happening, then the ultra light bat is not providing better batspeed. The batspeed that counts is the batspeed through the period of contact (while the momentum transfer is taking place). Not just the batspeed on approach.
Often when using the ultra light bats, the normal & smaller sized kids just don't have enough strength to hit through the ball while maintaining batspeed.
Switching to a heavier bat will reduce batspeed on approach (until the player becomes used to the heavier bat & regains batspeed). But it will provide more batspeed than the ultra light bat through the period of contact (due to the greater mass, there is more momentum). And this is what counts.
I switched my son & several other of my players to the -8's at 10/11YO. And the distance on their hits increased. Also, they started developing more strength that would help as they grow older. I did not let them switch back, no matter how fast the pitcher. They can learn to adjust their timing.
I recommend starting to use the -3 upon turning league age 14 (e.g., the fall season following the spring season when they were league age 13). This allows plenty of time to adjust to the heavier bat and gain strength before having to switch to the -3 as a HS frosh.
Starting at about 10YO, I encouraged my players to take cuts every week with a wood bat. You can get northern ash bats in -4 to -5. This helped build strength and bat discipline (smaller sweet spot & diameter). Plus it sounds so much better!
My son takes about half his cuts every week with a wood bat. It has paid dividends.