Disclaimer: This site uses affiliate links. Learn More.
Updated August 4, 2022
By Bat Digest
These are best coach bats we can find from our curated list of best baseball and fastpitch bats.
We should not be overthinking the best coach pitch bat. Despite companies best efforts, there are virtually no difference between bats often considered “coach pitch.” A coach pitch bat is a bat that is not rated for high pitch speeds and is generally very light so younger kids can weild it. Imagine this as a slight improvement over T-Ball bats but, in truth, a coach pitch bat is really just a slightly larger T-ball bat.
Note this too: these are often referred to as Junior Big Barrel bats.
Our favorite are generally the less expensive ones as long as theyhave a big barrel and a light swing. So, for USSSA we like an older version of a CAT in a JBB. For USA take a look at a bat like the Rawlings Threat.
We updated this list with 2022 bats in July of 2022.
Certification: USA
Sizes: 27, 28, 28, 30, 31
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
Drop: 12
Swing Weight: Light+
Serial Number: YBB22MX12
Original Price: $280
Release Month: October 2021
$280
Original Price
If you are in a league requiring USA bats for coach pitch (which we don’t know why anyone would do that, but each league to their own, I guess), then go with a bat like the Maxum Ultra in a USA drop 12. This bat swings ridiculously light, has a massive barrel, and can swing well. However, its smallest size is a 27, which might be quite the carry for a little guy. So, if they aren’t on the bigger side for Coach pitch, you might want to jump into the T-Ball range of bats for a league that requires the USA. Also, don’t get this bat if you can swing USSSA bats (or, like most coach pitch leagues, there are no bat restrictions). This bat pick is the last resort bat for coach pitch that requires a USA bat, but you don’t want to go the T-Ball route.
Certification: USSSA
Sizes: 25, 26, 27
Barrel Size: 2 3/4
Drop: 10
Swing Weight: Mid
Serial Number: MJBBF53
Original Price: $100
Release Month: October 2019
We like Marucci’s F5 in a Junior Big Barrel for the best coach pitch bat. It isn’t a runaway choice by any means. Many JBB bats in the drop 10 space are legit and can work fine for this type of hitter. But we like the price, barrel size, and brand recognition in this little bat enough to put it on top of the list. With dimensions as small as 25/15, it will also work for many T-ball players.
Certification: USSSA
Sizes: 25, 26, 27
Barrel Size: 2 3/4
Drop: 12
Swing Weight: Light
Serial Number: JBB22MX12
Original Price: $200
Release Month: October 2021
If you have a 6-year-old in coach pitch, you might like the Maxum from Easton more than the F5. This bat swings even lighter than the F5, which is hard to fathom as both are light. But, if you need a very lightweight bat for that 6-year-old in their first year of coach pitch, then the drop 12 25/13 Maxum Ultra JBB here is a good choice, and we recommend it.
Why We Love the 2022 Maxum Ultra
If you are in a league requiring USA bats for coach pitch (which we don’t know why anyone would do that, but each league to their own, I guess), then go with a bat like the Maxum Ultra in a USA drop 12. This bat swings ridiculously light, has a massive barrel, and can swing well. However, its smallest size is a 27, which might be quite the carry for a little guy. So, if they aren’t on the bigger side for Coach pitch, you might want to jump into the T-Ball range of bats for a league that requires the USA. Also, don’t get this bat if you can swing USSSA bats (or, like most coach pitch leagues, there are no bat restrictions). This bat pick is the last resort bat for coach pitch that requires a USA bat, but you don’t want to go the T-Ball route.
Certification: USA
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
Sizes: 27, 28, 28, 30, 31
Drop: 12
Serial Number: YBB22MX12
Release Month: October 2021
Why We Love the 2022 Maxum Ultra
If you have a 6-year-old in coach pitch, you might like the Maxum from Easton more than the F5. This bat swings even lighter than the F5, which is hard to fathom as both are light. But, if you need a very lightweight bat for that 6-year-old in their first year of coach pitch, then the drop 12 25/13 Maxum Ultra JBB here is a good choice, and we recommend it.
Certification: USSSA
Barrel Size: 2 3/4
Sizes: 25, 26, 27
Drop: 12
Serial Number: JBB22MX12
Release Month: October 2021
Why We Love the 2022 F5
We like Marucci’s F5 in a Junior Big Barrel for the best coach pitch bat. It isn’t a runaway choice by any means. Many JBB bats in the drop 10 space are legit and can work fine for this type of hitter. But we like the price, barrel size, and brand recognition in this little bat enough to put it on top of the list. With dimensions as small as 25/15, it will also work for many T-ball players.
Certification: USSSA
Barrel Size: 2 3/4
Sizes: 25, 26, 27
Drop: 10
Serial Number: MJBBF53
Release Month: October 2019
We spent several hours in the cage, online and in-game, checking the prowess of several coach pitch bats. Also, we have spent well over a thousand hours testing and reviewing other bats. We came away with a good sense of what makes a good coach pitch bat. Or, as some say, Junior Big Barrel bat. In short, and pretty obviously, a good coach pitch bat lets a player hit the ball more often. Those more often shots come with a better exit speed. We found three over-arching principles in determining the best coach pitch bat:
More barrel size gives more chances to put the ball in play. But more barrel at the expense of too heavy a bat isn’t helpful for most young players. Finding a bat with as much barrel face as possible without sacrificing a low swing weight is ideal and proves the most successful.
Few things convince a player that he doesn’t like to hit baseballs faster than a hit that rings the hands. Bats can be designed to dampen sting. The best coach pitch bat should dampen hand sting.
It’s not far-fetched to understand how a grown man’s confidence at the plate can seriously affect their batting and slugging percentage. Look no further than the pomp and circumstance of MLB hitting swag. That serves virtually no other purpose than that of looking good. Extending that idea to little tykes may be uncomfortably vain. But it doesn’t make it any less adorable. As determined by mini players, sweet-looking bats are the key to confidence, which is a serious key to success at the plate.
The main reason a composite coach pitch bat makes sense is because composite produces the lightest swing weight. Composite coach pitch bats tend toward a lighter swing weight. Aluminum alloy equivalents tend to swing heavier. There are some exceptions to this but on the whole it stands true.
It should be noted, however, a decrease in swing weight is achieved more easily by shortening the bat’s length. For example, if 27 inch aluminum coach pitch bat is too heavy for a particular player, then dropping to a 26 or 25 inch will give them a better chance at the appropriate swing weight. At least, a better chance then just changing from aluminum to composite.
Some may argue a composite coach pitch bat may be appropriate for that advanced 7 or 8 year old. Some, it is true, can wield some power. If such a player does exist, and we am sure they do, then they shouldn’t waste their time on a bat rated for 35 mph pitches. There are plenty of bats in the 2 3/4 ‘Big Barrel’ or ‘Senior League Space’. These will work for them just fine and we recommend that route.
Junior big barrel bats are often referred to as coach pitch bats. Big Barrel bats have a big barrel like the JBB and coach pitch bats, but they are rated for higher pitch speeds. JBB/Coach Pitch bats are big-barreled but are rated for slow pitch speeds and are often in very short sizes (like 25, 26, and 27 inches).
There are several 2 3/4 or 2 5/8 coach pitch “big barrel” bats. In theory, you want to get the most oversized barrel possible. Most non-USA Bat leagues allow a 2 3/4 bat. The 2 5/8 bats are leftovers from days gone by (when USSSA 2 5/8 1.15 BPF bats made sense.
In other words, get a 2 3/4 if you can. The 2 5/8 (with a USA Bat stamp) must suffice if you’re in a USA Bat league.
In 2018 very few bats made a light swinging USA Bat. It is why we like, and suggest, the Rawlings Threat as it is a drop 12.
The most critical piece to getting the best coach pitch bat is to get the right size bat. For your hitter, it might be in the T-Ball range of sizes. No one is hitting for power in Coach Pitch. We are trying to make consistent and fair contact. That’s the win, and the brand or model isn’t doing much here.