getting hit in the head with a kickball is much different than getting hit in the head when kids are throwing 80+ mph pitches that are getting hit by large muscular boys.
It’s not too much of an issue in LL - but now that we’re heading into varsity high school baseball - it is making me nervous.
You show me any kid throwing 80+MPH fastballs, and I’ll call the Pirates front office to go sign him immediately.
I agree! My son is 14 (almost 15) and is a pitcher throwing around 80mph and I really worry about a “hit back” with a metal bat. He is doing High School tryouts right now and there is a local baseball bboard talking about going to wood in High School.
I think what needs to happen FIRST is for College baseball to go to wood then it will trickle down to H.S.
With that being said, I do not like wood bats from about 14 years old on down. Most wood bats are way too heavy for these kids that have not developed upper body strength yet and they end up with a really crappy swing because of the extra weight. It is much easier to TEACH with the lighter metal when they are 10-14 years old. Smaller wood bats only frustrate kids that need a little bigger bat size.
Youth baseball is losing kids at a rapid pace and I think metal bats keep the game a little “livelier” and exciting and that is what will keep kids in baseball longer. I’ve been hit by a ball hit with wood and metal and it hurt both times!!!
Bottom line, if College goes to wood, then I am all for High Schools to go to wood BUT NOT YOUTH BASEBALL!