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<< All Bests

Best Youth Wood Bat

Updated August 4, 2022

By Bat Digest

Our take on the best youth wood bats available in 2022.

After a lot of research, in game and cage testing, we think the Maple Sam Bat CD1 is the best youth wood bat. Players liked the solid feel and pro type custom options. Parents liked the reasonable price point for a bat that is just like the ones the pros use save, of course, the size.

Updated August 4, 2022

We updated this list in July of 2022.

1. 2023 Rawlings Youth Player Preferred Y62 Ash

Player Feedback
Performance
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Tech Specs
Specs

Certification: Wood

Sizes: 28, 29, 30

Barrel Size: 2 1/2

Drop: 7.5

Swing Weight: Mid+

Serial Number: Y62AUS21

Original Price: $50

Release Month: June 2022

1. Best Youth Wood Bat

2023 Rawlings Youth Player Preferred Y62 Ash Wood Drop 7.5
Wood
2023 Rawlings Youth Player Preferred Y62 Ash

$50

Original Price

Amazon

We think the Rawlings Youth Preferred Y62 Ash Bat is the best youth wood bat. We like the price point and the drop of 7.5. That bat also looks excellent, and any kid wanting to whet their appetite with a wood bat at a young age should like it. You can find other more expensive wood bats for youth (like Victus). But, at a young age, we don’t see the value in upgrading your wood types as swing speeds and pitch speed don’t require high-quality wood to get max performance.

2. 2023 Victus Pro Reserve Tatis JR Birch Youth

Player Feedback
Performance
Relevance
Demand
Tech Specs
Specs

Certification: Wood

Sizes: 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Barrel Size: 2 1/2

Drop: 7

Swing Weight: Mid

Serial Number: VYRWBTATISJRBGY

Original Price: $130

Release Month:

2. Best Youth Wood Bat

2023 Victus Pro Reserve Tatis JR Birch Youth Wood Drop 7
Wood
2023 Victus Pro Reserve Tatis JR Birch Youth

$130

Original Price

Amazon

If you want to spend the money, you can’t go wrong with the Victus Pro Reserve Youth wood bat in the TATIS JR birch wood. The bat is made for youth hitters and comes with a drop between 6 and 8 (You don’t get to choose, you get what you get). It uses a cup-barrelled end to bring down the swing weight. Despite its price, this bat is readily available and is the most popular youth wood bat.

3. 2023 Louisville Slugger Youth Genuine Series 125 Maple

Player Feedback
Performance
Relevance
Demand
Tech Specs
Specs

Certification: Wood

Sizes: 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Barrel Size: 2 1/2

Drop: 6

Swing Weight: Mid+

Serial Number: WBL2442010

Original Price: $30

Release Month: January 2021

3. Best Cheap Youth Wood Bat

2023 Louisville Slugger Youth Genuine Series 125 Maple Wood Drop 6
Wood
2023 Louisville Slugger Youth Genuine Series 125 Maple

$30

Original Price

Amazon

If you want a cheap youth wood bat, look no further than the Slugger Series 125 Maple wood bat. We found this on Dicks Sporting Goods for $30 at the time of this writing but located it elsewhere for almost double that price. In any case, check around in pricing for this bat. If you can find it for $30, then it is an easy choice as the best youth bat for cheap. It hits well, feels decent, and does what it is supposed to do. It also comes in a lot of different sizes.

Recommended Video

Best Youth Wood Bat

1

2023 Rawlings Youth Player Preferred Y62 Ash

1. Best Youth Wood Bat

Amazon

Youth Player Preferred Y62 Ash Ratings
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter

Why We Love the 2023 Youth Player Preferred Y62 Ash

We think the Rawlings Youth Preferred Y62 Ash Bat is the best youth wood bat. We like the price point and the drop of 7.5. That bat also looks excellent, and any kid wanting to whet their appetite with a wood bat at a young age should like it. You can find other more expensive wood bats for youth (like Victus). But, at a young age, we don’t see the value in upgrading your wood types as swing speeds and pitch speed don’t require high-quality wood to get max performance.

Amazon

Specs

Certification: Wood

Barrel Size: 2 1/2

Sizes: 28, 29, 30

Drop: 7.5

Serial Number: Y62AUS21

Release Month: June 2022

Our Review:

Related: Best Wood Bats

2

2023 Victus Pro Reserve Tatis JR Birch Youth

2. Best Youth Wood Bat

Amazon

Pro Reserve Tatis JR Birch Youth Ratings
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter

Why We Love the 2023 Pro Reserve Tatis JR Birch Youth

If you want to spend the money, you can’t go wrong with the Victus Pro Reserve Youth wood bat in the TATIS JR birch wood. The bat is made for youth hitters and comes with a drop between 6 and 8 (You don’t get to choose, you get what you get). It uses a cup-barrelled end to bring down the swing weight. Despite its price, this bat is readily available and is the most popular youth wood bat.

Amazon

Specs

Certification: Wood

Barrel Size: 2 1/2

Sizes: 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Drop: 7

Serial Number: VYRWBTATISJRBGY

Release Month:

Our Review:

Related: Best Wood Bats

3

2023 Louisville Slugger Youth Genuine Series 125 Maple

3. Best Cheap Youth Wood Bat

Amazon

Youth Genuine Series 125 Maple Ratings
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter
swing weight meter

Why We Love the 2023 Youth Genuine Series 125 Maple

If you want a cheap youth wood bat, look no further than the Slugger Series 125 Maple wood bat. We found this on Dicks Sporting Goods for $30 at the time of this writing but located it elsewhere for almost double that price. In any case, check around in pricing for this bat. If you can find it for $30, then it is an easy choice as the best youth bat for cheap. It hits well, feels decent, and does what it is supposed to do. It also comes in a lot of different sizes.

Amazon

Specs

Certification: Wood

Barrel Size: 2 1/2

Sizes: 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Drop: 6

Serial Number: WBL2442010

Release Month: January 2021

Our Review:

Related: Best Wood Bats

The Research

What is the Drop of a Youth Wood Bat?

The drop, you should know, is the numerical difference between the weight of the bat in ounces and the length of the bat in inches. For example, a 30/20 is a drop 10. Most youth wood bats will come, for instance, in a 30/25. A total of 5 ounces or 25%, heavier than the player is accustomed to.

Why Buy a Youth Wood Bat?

There are several good reasons to buy a youth wood baseball bat. None of which, by the way, are because you think it performs as well as a good aluminum or composite wood bat. But, there are some legitimate reasons. Let us list at least a few of them.

  • They force players to hit in the middle of the barrel. It is said that better players can close the gap between good and bad bats.
  • A wood bat, and its accompanying small sweet spot, make a good player focus on hitting the ball in the right area of the bat.
  • Youth wood bats help increase strength. The sole reason is that wood bats have much higher swing weights.
  • They are cool and fun to hit. And, if you can learn to hit well with a wood bat, you can learn to hit well with anything.

What is the Right Bat Size

For exact and scientific suggestions, look at our bat size chart.

However, wood bats rarely come in a light enough size for the average youth player. Most good wood youth bats are a drop 6 or 5. Some you can find in a drop 7.

In other words:

Wood bats are hard to size correctly for youth and since wood bats don’t possess the ability to control swing weight with a hollow barrel like composite and aluminum bats. It is impossible, for example, to find a 20-ounce bat, one of the more popular weights.

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