If you really want to get kids to love the game of baseball, you have to start with them young.
That’s why we have lots of youth leagues in the country. The game offers lessons about teamwork for defense, and then each kid has their own chance to shine batting at the plate.
When they’re young, kids aren’t that strong. So they can’t handle heavy bats properly.
That’s what the drop indicates. The drop 13 means that the weight of the bat in ounces is 13 less than the length of the bat in inches.
It’s all about control, but the following drop 13 youth bats offer a lot more than that.
If you’re in a hurry…
These are the drop 13 bats on the most popular list.
Otherwise, below you will find the absolute BEST bats on my top five list for 2024.
Quick Links to Info on this Page:
Top 5 Best Drop 13 Bats Available For 2024
- 2022 DeMarini CF USA T-Ball Bat (-13)
- Mizuno B21 Drop 13
- 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta Drop 13
- Easton Speed Comp
- 2022 Easton ADV Drop 13
1. 2022 DeMarini CF USA T-Ball Bat (-13)
The DeMarini bat measures 2 5/8 inches in diameter. Its size ranges from 25 inches (12 ounces) to 26 inches (13 ounces).
Here are some factors that make it one of the top choices for next year’s coming season:
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It comes with lots of certifications, including AABC, Dixie Youth, Pony, Little League, USSSA, and Babe Ruth.
It’s pretty much guaranteed that it will be allowed for use next year for any league your kid plays in.
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It comes with a balanced swing weight. This even distribution of the load again makes it much easier for younger players to wield and swing.
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It’s made of a 2-piece hybrid construction. Again, the 2-piece design makes it easier for DeMarini to really get the balance of the bat right.
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It uses the New X14 Alloy Barrel. This is a new alloy that puts a lot more pop when making contact with the ball. It features the enhanced variable wall thickness.
This lets DeMarini optimize the weight distribution throughout the bat.
The new alloy optimizes the kilopound per square inch tensile strength so your kid gets the best performance from the bat every time.
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Even though it’s for youth baseball, it also features the vaunted D-Fusion 2.0 Handle Technology. This is the feature that reduces the vibrations from the player’s hands.
Also, it returns much of the energy of the contact to the ball, so the ball can really zoom.
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The Low Pro End Cap helps with the weight balance, and it offers a great feel for the players.
It just seems so easy for a young player to control and direct this bat.
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It also comes with the RCK Knob. This lets your kid have a perfect fit for their hand when they grasp the handle of the bat.
It’s really very comfortable. For young players, this kind of comfy handle can give them a lot of confidence when they’re at the plate. They’re not distracted about losing their grip with the bat.
2022 DeMarini Baseball: The Uprising Continues
Bottom Line on This DeMarini Youth Bat
With this 2022 DeMarini drop 13 baseball bat, young players will get what they need most: control and comfort.
They just feel great when they use this bat, because it doesn’t seem awkward to swing at all. It’s very obedient and it goes where the players want it to go.
With the reduced vibrations, players aren’t discouraged from making swings and imperfect contacts. Their hands aren’t punished for their mistakes.
But that’s not all. The new alloy helps put more pop to the hit, and that makes young players feel good.
The ball doesn’t just dribble safely to an infielder.
It can go rather fast, and that increases their chances of getting to 1st base safely.
2. Mizuno B21 -13
This is another one of the greats among the current crop of drop 13 baseball bats.
Now your kids may balk at a non-American brand, so you may have to explain how the Japanese brand has been making baseball gear for the last 110 years.
You can inform them that the Atlanta Braves consider Mizuno as their official gear partner.
They have experts right here in America. In fact, Mizuno USA is in the Atlanta, GA area.
Features of The Youth Version Mizuno B21
Let’s take a look at why the Mizuno B21 Hot Metal is a highly sought after drop 13 baseball bat.
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The weight is once again incredibly balanced, so young players will have no trouble using and swinging with this bat.
Wherever the ball may be placed over the home plate, the barrel will go where the player directs it to go.
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It also offers a very low swing weight. That means your kid doesn’t need a lot of power to start their swing. They don’t need a lot of muscles and strength that you only find in older players.
They can also swing this bat much faster, which gives the ball a lot more oomph when they’re hit and they go into the field.
The fielders won’t have as easy a time to catch and field the balls they hit.
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It also comes with the Hot Metal™ Alloy + CORTECH™ design. That’s techno speak for what your young player really needs: a huge sweet spot.
You can’t underestimate the value of a large sweet spot for young hitters. When the ball comes into contact with the bat on the sweet spot, the contact is a lot more solid.
The ball travels farther and faster. So with a bigger sweet spot, your id increases their chances of getting a hit.
Also, the sweet spot marks the area where you want the ball to make contact. On this spot, there aren’t any nasty vibrations travelling through the barrel of the bat.
These vibrations can really sting the hands, and for young players the pain may be enough to keep them from making any swing at all. With the larger sweet spot, these times aren’t as often.
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It also comes with the single-wall aluminum alloy barrel. This isn’t just for the great performance. It’s for a great performance for a very long time, because the durability of the barrel is very impressive.
You won’t have to worry about buying a new bat in the middle of the season.
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It even comes with the Super-Helix Grip. This grip provides the tack that players need so they know for sure that they will keep their grasp on the bat handle.
They won’t be afraid to swing because there’s a chance the bat will fly off. At the same time, this grip is also super comfy. It offers a nice feel.
The Mizuno B21 -13 offers just about everything a young player needs when it’s their turn to bat. They have a bat they’re very certain they can swing, at any spot they want.
With the pop of the bat, the ball won’t just dribble weakly into play. It’ll go very fast and very far. That’s very true because of the low swing weight, which allows for a faster swing.
Finally, your kid gets the protection and comfort they need at the plate.
Their hands are protected, and the feel of the handle seems to tell them that they have the best bat in their hands.
It’s like a samurai warrior with the best katana—they can feel confident when it’s their turn to bat.
This 2 1/4-inch bat is approved for USA & Little League Baseball.
3. 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta -13 Youth Baseball Bat
- 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta (-13) T-Ball USA Baseball Bat - 26"/13 oz
- 100% Composite T-Ball Barrel: For use with approved tee balls
- Molded End Cap: To maximize barrel profile and swing speed
- Premium LS Pro Comfort Grip: Designed to give players added tack and cushion to improve feel and bat control through the zone
- One-Piece Construction: For stiffer feel on contact and elite energy transfer
Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is also great for very young children playing youth baseball.
You can see that Louisville Slugger allowed for smaller kids, which is why its smallest size is 27 inches and 14 ounces. The sizes go all the way to 31 inches and 18 ounces.
The Louisville Slugger brand is an iconic name in baseball. With the 2021 Louisville Slugger Meta -13 Youth Baseball Bat, it feels like you get the very best of what the brand has to offer to young players.
The brand has been lording it over the industry for the last 130 years, and this bat continues the tradition of excellence.
There’s no doubt that it’s one of the best drop 13 baseball bats you’ll find.
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It’s made from their latest material, the ST 7U1+ alloy. With this material, the Omaha 517 gives your kid one of the largest sweet spots in the business.
To recap for parents who don’t know much about sweet spots, it’s the area of the bat where the player wants to make contact with the ball.
That’s because it’s this area that provides more pop when they make contact.
The balls fly farther, and they bounce on the ground much faster. With a huge sweet spot, it means that kids have a better chance of making solid contact.
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Another benefit of the sweet spot is that it’s the area where contact does not cause vibrations to travel down through the length of the bat.
These vibes can travel down to the handle, and they can really sting and hurt the hands.
When this happens too often, the player can be intimidated from making a solid swing. They will be too afraid they won’t hit the sweet spot, and they will get hurt as a result of this mistake.
But because the sweet spot is large n this bat, the chances are reduced that their hands will get hurt.
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The new alloy is also a bit stiffer on contact. That means it doesn’t “muffle” the ball and absorb the energy.
Instead, the stiff material transfers the energy back to the ball, so it can get a lot more pop.
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The strength of this brand new alloy also means that it is extremely durable. It won’t easily get deformed in the middle of the season.
It will still offer the same excellent performance, whether it’s at the start of spring training or late in your championship run.
It can last for at least a year, and that’s why it has a 12-month warranty. You don’t really expect your kid to keep using the same bat for years, for a simple reason—they grow up and they will need heavier bats as they become stronger.
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Since we are talking about one of the best drop 13 youth bat models around, you can’t overlook the control factor.
Here the kids have a very balanced swing weight. This gives them a lot of control over their swing, as they try to make contact with the ball properly.
They’re better able to hit the ball solidly, and in the sweet spot.
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This balanced swing weight also lets the player swing faster, and that gives greater force for the ball upon contact. This translates to a ball that goes faster past the infielders or farther than even the fielders anticipated.
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Then there’s also the fade synthetic leather grip. It’s very stylish which many kids appreciate. But more importantly this grip offers a lot of comfort.
It doesn’t just feel great. It feels great upon contact, even if the player makes contact outside the sweet spot.
The grip reduces the level of the vibrations, so the players don’t have to worry too much about the stinging on their hands.
As a bonus for young players, the graphics on the bat are considered “cool”.
But what’s really cool is the performance your kid can get from this bat.
It’s allowed for Little League, Babe Ruth, Dixie, Pony, AABC, and USSSA.
So a lot of kids will get to enjoy the performance of this bat. Meanwhile, parents will rejoice at the comparatively affordable price.
4. Easton Speed Comp Youth Baseball Bat
- ENGINEERED WITH HYPERLITE COMPOSITE | The lightest composite material, for the fastest swinging youth bat in the game
- CARBON ZERO HANDLE | Built from 90% carbon fiber and constructed with a zero-degree composite layup, creating an extra stiff handle for almost zero vibration and an ultra-solid feel
- SPEED CAP | Provides a more flexible, responsive barrel with natural sound on impact
- CUSHIONED 2.2MM FLEX GRIP | Provides additional comfort in the hands
- CERTIFICATION | Approved for use in all USA sanctioned leagues
Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Easton is one of the best brands of drop 13 youth bats around, and that’s why this is just one of two Easton entries on this list.
This is the more expensive of the two, but then again for many players and parents its performance is worth the expense.
In fact, it’s so popular you first need to check if the smallest of the sizes (28 inches and 15 ounces) is available from your seller.
That’s often the size that goes out of stock first because the bat is really good for younger kids.
Get All Details for the Easton Speed Here
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Again, like most of these bats it comes with a 2 1/4-inch barrel. Its drop 13 feature makes it also certified for Little League, Babe Ruth, Dixie, Pony, AABC and USSSA leagues.
Since it’s used in so many leagues and it’s so popular, it’s no wonder the sales figures are huge.
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We also have a balanced swing weight here. Like most of the best drop 13 baseball bats, it offers excellent control over the bat.
They can swing in the direction they want, so that they can really wallop the ball.
You don’t really want to start off your kid with an end-loaded bat, with the weight distributed at the top.Swinging with that kind of bat for smaller and younger kids can upset their balance.
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What’s more, here we also have a lower swing weight. This means your small kid doesn’t have to exert as much effort to start their swing.
This means that if they’re facing a pitcher, they can catch up to fastballs because they can get the bat in the strike zone in a hurry.
They also have more time to track where the baseball is going as it comes over the plate.
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Since the swing weight is lower, they can put in a lot of speed when they take a swing. This translates to more pop when they make contact with the ball. Upon contact, the ball can go over the head of the fielders, or zoom right past them.
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Then there’s the use of the HMX (Hyperlite Matrix) Alloy. Ignore the technical mumbo-jumbo. All you and your kid need to know is that this material is great because it offers a huge sweet spot.
What’s the sweet spot? This is the surface area on the bat where you want the ball to hit when you make contact.
That’s because this spot generates the greatest pop you can get to impart on the baseball. The general rule is when you hit on the sweet spot, you’re much more likely to get a hit and reach first base.
So since the sweet spot is bigger, the conclusion is obvious: more chances of getting a hit.
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This alloy is also very strong, and that means it’s built to last. Forget about the bats that seem made out of clay.
This bat will endure until the end of the season. That’s why there’s a 1-year warranty.
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There’s also the benefit of reducing the chances of getting the player’s hands stung when they don’t hit the ball square. It’s rather difficult to explain how much it hurts, but for parents, just take your kid’s word for it. It hurts a lot.
The problem is that for younger players, that kind of pain isn’t really conducive for them to love the game. They may even refuse to swing, because they don’t want to chance that kind of pain.
So at least with this large sweet spot, there’s a smaller chance of this pain happening.
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Still, these bad vibes will happen with bad hits. So this bat also comes with an additional failsafe to keep the hands from stinging.
It’s brought by the vaunted Hyperskin grip that really is comfortable. It really feels good for the player to grasp the bat by the handle.
It gives them the confidence they need to step up to bat.
- There’s another benefit your kid gets from the Hyperskin Grip.
It’s very tacky, since it was originally made for motocross bike handles. So your kid will feel secure knowing that they won’t lose their grip on the bat. They can swing as hard as they can, and even when they make contact they can follow through with the bat securely.
And why not? It’s as if they can get a hit very frequently, and their hands are protected.
For young players, those advantages are priceless.
5. Easton ADV Youth Baseball Bat -13
- DESIGNED FOR YOUNG PLAYERS | The Easton ADV Tee Ball Bat is ideal for players 8 & younger
- CONTACT & POWER | This lightweight, entry level bat promotes contact and power while being easy to swing for beginner players
- ONE-PIECE DESIGN | Composite on-piece design with rolled end for a light and balanced swing weight
- HYPERLITE COMPOSITE | Easton's lightest composite material to make swinging and generating contact as easy as possible
- CERTIFICATION | Approved for use in USA Baseball T-Ball Leagues
Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is a surprising entry, but bear with us. For many parents, price isn’t a factor they can just ignore.
The problem with a lot of the premium brands is that they may cost a little bit too much, and many of them even cost twice as much as the Easton ADV Youth Baseball Bat -13.
But just because this is available at a bargain price doesn’t mean your kid gets low quality performance. It comes with a USA baseball certification, so if it’s allowed by your kid’s league, you need to seriously consider it.
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Like all of the best drop 13 baseball bats, it comes with a balanced weight. That means your player can swing and control this much more easily.
This balanced weight won’t cause them to lose their balance when they take a huge cut on the ball.
They can also direct the bat at the spot they want it to go.
- The sweet spot area is also huge.
That means your kid has a better chance of hitting the ball solidly. They’re more likely to hit first base safely because the ball they hit will travel faster and farther. It’s more difficult to field these balls.
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It also offers a fast swing speed. That means they can react more quickly to pitches when they graduate from T-ball to machine pitches and actual pitchers.
They can take their time to track the ball. They can also get the bat to travel faster, so the ball is hit with greater force.
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As for greater force, that also comes from its 1-piece construction. But the downside is that the sting can come to their hands when they get bad contact. At least with the large sweet spot, these sting episodes aren’t all that frequent.
This is a solid bat, and it offers truly dependable performance. Lots of kids love these bats. Like the other bats on this list, this offers excellent value for money.
=> Read Consumer Reports & Reviews
Conclusion on These Drop 13 Bats
So if you have a small or young baseball player, get them the best drop 13 bats on this list. These offer excellent performance, and your kid is bound to improve their hitting.
They’ll also love the game, learn the value of teamwork, and take things seriously when it’s their turn to bat. Ask the pros—their path to greatness often starts with the right choice of drop 13 youth bats.
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