Seth BrundageBuying one of the best tee ball bats of 2022 is a momentous occasion. It marks the day your son or daughter receives their first baseball bat. It could be the spark that keeps them playing for years to come!
That said, this may also be the first time that you are buying a bat, which means tee ball bat reviews are foreign to you. How do you know what the best tee ball bat for a 5-year-old is versus the best tee ball bat for 6-7-year-olds?
This guide will help you out! We have selected 8 reviews of the best tee ball bats of 2022 so you don’t have to scour the internet for them!
These are the best tee ball bats for 2022:
1. 2021 Louisville Slugger Meta
The overall best tee ball bat of 2022
Based on its size and features, the 2021 Louisville Slugger Meta (-13) USA tee ball bat is the best bat for 3-year-olds to 5-year-olds. It could be used by older, smaller tee ball players as well.
You can typically judge the quality of a bat by its price. A more expensive bat has high-quality materials and more advanced design features. By that logic, you can expect big things from the 2021 Louisville Slugger Meta tee ball bat because it is the most expensive product on the list.
If you want to start your young player off on the right foot, this is a great option. It’s a one-piece, composite tee ball bat that is approved for AABC, Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken, Dixie Youth, Little League and Pony Baseball. You should have no issues using it in your son or daughter’s league!
Many hitters prefer composite bats over alloy because they are typically lighter, which delivers a nice, balanced swing. You also get less bat sting from composite materials. Bat sting is caused when the ball isn’t hit squarely on the barrel. It’s painful feedback that will cause the player’s hands to ring uncomfortably.
Young players are particularly susceptible to bat sting because they haven’t developed proper hitting mechanics yet. So, having a composite bat is a great way to eliminate this problem. This is one of the few composite tee ball bats you’ll find.
The Louisville Slugger Pro Comfort Grip will also keep the player comfortable at the plate, while giving them a tacky grip to maintain swing control. The 2021 Louisville Slugger Meta (-13) USA tee ball bat has a 2 5/8-inch thick barrel, with plenty of surface to make contact from a stationary tee.
- A lightweight bat that is easy to swing and make contact with.
- Composite material reduces irritating bat sting.
- Approved for play for all youth leagues.
- May be too light for older tee ball players.
2. 2021 Axe Avenge
The best tee ball bat for 7-year-old
The 2021 Axe Avenge (-11) tee ball USA bat brings a lot to the table. Based on its size and features, it is one of the best tee ball bats for 5-year-olds to 7-year-olds.
If you’re new to the baseball world, you’re not far behind the Axe Bat company. While the idea originated in 1990, these unique bats have only entered the mainstream baseball world in the last decade.
Axe Bats are unique because of the shape of the handle. Instead of the traditional rounded knob, these bats have a handle that mimics a woodcutter’s axe. But, it’s not just about aesthetics. There are some real benefits of this handle design. The Axe Handle is more comfortable to grip, easier to use, faster to swing and even helps reduce injury!
The 2021 Axe Avenge tee ball bat uses a modified version of the Axe Handle to fit smaller hands. It will help teach your young player proper handle position to achieve the best swing. This is a 1-piece bat made from alloy materials.
The Performance LP1 Alloy material is ready to go the moment it arrives. There is no warmup or break-in required! The barrel is 2 1/4 inches thick and conforms to the USABat standard. This means it is approved for all of the popular tee ball leagues (Little League, Pony, AABC, etc.)
The HyperWhip End Cap at the top of the barrel helps remove unnecessary weight, thereby helping the 2021 Axe Avenge (-11) tee ball bat achieve an extremely fast swing.
- Revolutionary Axe Handle offers multiple player benefits.
- Performance LP1 Alloy is hot out of the wrapper.
- HyperWhip End Cap makes an incredibly lightweight bat.
- This is the same Axe Avenge from 2020, just rebranded with 2021.
- Axe Handle may be unfamiliar to players at first.
3. Marucci CAT
The best tee ball bat for 6-year-old
The Marucci CAT (-11) USA tee ball bat is a great learning tool. Young players can swing without fear of bat sting. Plus, they will be able to hear and feel when they’ve made solid contact.
The Marucci CAT tee ball bat is a one-piece, alloy model that is built to have a consistent, easy swing for young players. It is certified for AABC, Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken, Dixie Youth, Little League and Pony leagues.
Remember, as a tee ball bat, this product is designed to hit balls off a tee. It may also be used in slow-toss, coach pitch leagues using the softer tee ball baseballs. If you take this bat to leagues with live pitching or harder baseballs, it will not last.
The alloy barrel of the Marucci CAT (-11) USA tee ball bat is 2 5/8 inches thick for more hitting surface. This will allow for more consistent contact at the tee. The -11 length-to-weight ratio means that this is slightly heavier than a -12 or -13.
While many alloy bats suffer from increased bat sting, this model has a design feature to help reduce that annoyance. The 2nd Generation Anti-Vibration (AV2) Knob not only reduces feedback caused by mishits, but it also feels and sounds better when you make solid contact.
This could be a great learning tool for a new player. They can listen for the right sound to know when they’ve made perfect contact! Your young player will also enjoy the Micro-Perforated, Soft-Touch Grip because of its cushiony comfort and excellent tack.
- Approved by all major tee ball league associations.
- AV2 Knob is both a comfort feature and a learning tool!
- Micro-Perforated Soft-Touch Grip offers a cushion for the player’s hands.
- This is not a brand new bat in 2021, but a rebranding of an older model.
- Will break down quickly if used with harder baseballs.
4. 2021 Rawlings 5150
The best tee ball bat for 5-year-old
The 2021 Rawlings 5150 (-11) tee ball bat is great for 5-year-olds and up. It has a comfortable swing, strong design and a large hitting surface for consistently good hitting.
Rawlings is one of the most well-known brands in the baseball industry. The 5150 tee ball bat is an all-around great option. It is made from Rawlings’ proprietary 5150 alloy, which is sturdy, yet responsive. You’ll notice stronger hits with higher velocity from this bat compared to others.
The other feature helping this kids baseball bat is the carefully optimized weight distribution to deliver an even, balanced swing with a -11 length-to-weight ratio. This makes the bat very easy to control and swing comfortably. More control means it is easier to put the bat right on the ball off the tee.
Plus, the wider 2 5/8-inch barrel offers a huge surface area to connect with. The larger sweet spot will result in consistent hitting to build your young player’s confidence at the plate.
With a USABaseball certification stamp, this tee ball bat is permitted in all of the common tee ball and coach pitch leagues.
- Large, responsive barrel for consistently powerful hits off the tee.
- Alloy material is durable and will last all season long.
- Permitted in all of the major tee ball leagues.
- This bat is on the higher end of the price spectrum for tee ball bats.
- -11 length-to-weight ratio may be too heavy for the youngest tee ball players.
5. Louisville Slugger Prime
The best tee ball bat for 4-year-old
The Louisville Slugger Prime (-12.5) USA tee ball bat makes the list because of its unique size, shape and design. It’s definitely a model worth testing out!
The Louisville Slugger Prime tee ball bat is another model from last year. This one makes the list because of its unique -12.5 drop weight. If your son or daughter finds a -13 to be too light, but other models are too heavy, this tee ball bat may be the perfect fit!
The Prime is one of Louisville Slugger’s most time-tested and popular models. This tee ball version has a durable, 100% alloy design that is built to hit softer balls off a standing tee or pitched very slowly (underhand). This one-piece design delivers a stiff feel that converts more of the youth player’s power and energy into the ball on contact.
With this stiff feel, however, you may get some extra bat sting out of this model. Luckily, the synthetic leather grip will help negate some of this discomfort. This top-rated tee ball bat also features a 1-Shot End Cap to create a smoother feel on contact. This is said to give the bat an “ultra” balanced swing weight.
The one drawback is the barrel has a thinner shape than some of the other models. This is also one of the smallest tee bat bats in terms of barrel length. Some hitters find the shorter barrel is actually easier to make contact with off the tee.
- Unique -12.5 length-to-weight ratio delivers a very compact barrel for consistent contact.
- A very durable alloy material won’t break down easily.
- 1-Shot End Cap adds additional performance to the barrel.
- A moderately high price, especially for an older model.
- Thinner barrel means less hitting surface.
6. 2021 Mizuno B21-Hot Metal (-13)
One of the lightest bats, perfect for toddlers
Overall, the Mizuno B21-Hot Metal (-13) USA tee ball bat is lightweight, yet durable, which is a great combination at any level of play. As one of the lightest tee ball bats on the market, it is a great tee ball bat for toddlers just entering the game.
The Mizuno B21-Hot Metal tee ball bat is a standard model with all of the features that you might expect from a baseball bat for 3-year-old to 5-year-old players. It is a one-piece, balanced bat. This means that it is easy to swing, especially with a lightweight -13 length-to-weight ratio.
The bat is made from Mizuno’s Hot Metal aluminum alloy. This is a very responsive material that will deliver great pop on hits from the tee. While the bat does have a thinner barrel diameter of 2 1/4 inches, this extra-responsive Hot Metal alloy will more than make up for it.
The Speed Helix Grip is extremely comfortable to hold, even without batting gloves. It’s sticky, rubberized surface will keep the player’s hands locked in position. Not only does this offer superb bat control, but it also solidifies hand positioning in youth players.
With the USA bat stamp, you’ll be approved for play in all major tee ball leagues. The 2021 Mizuno Hot Metal tee ball bat is for boys and girls alike.
- Hot Metal aluminum alloy has great pop and performance.
- Speed Helix Grip is a great learning tool for new players.
- Balanced, lightweight swing is easy to control through the zone.
- -13 drop weight may be too light for older tee ball players.
7. Rawlings Storm
The best tee ball bat for girls
If you want the best tee ball bat for girls, the Rawlings Storm tee ball bat is perfect. It has a great color pattern and its -12 length-to-weight ratio is great for all youth ages.
The Rawlings Storm tee ball bat is a model from last year. There are two key reasons why it makes this list of the best bats for tee ball in 2022. First, it is one of the few bats on the market with a -12 length-to-weight ratio. This makes it one of the best tee ball bats for 5-6-year-olds.
The other reason that this bat makes the list is its color pattern. The silver and hot pink colors makes it one of the hottest tee ball bats for girls. It’s also a hot bat thanks to aluminum alloy material that the Rawlings Storm is made from.
This lightweight barrel offers excellent swing speeds and consistent performance off the tee. It’s also extremely durable, which means this bat is sure to last the entire season and longer. You really get your money’s worth!
The Rawlings Storm tee ball bat has the USABaseball stamp, which means it can be used in all of the tee ball league associations. While it is not a new tee ball bat, buying an older model saves a lot of money.
- A great color pattern that makes for one of the best tee ball bat for girls.
- Alloy barrel is durable, lightweight and high-performance.
- An extremely affordable option for tee ball bats.
- The hot pink coloring might make it “too girly” to be a tee ball bat for boys.
- May not be available in all stores because it is an outdated model.
8. Louisville Slugger Ash Tee Ball Bat
The best wooden tee ball bat
A wooden tee ball bat is not an easy thing to find. The Wilson Louisville Slugger Youth Ash Tee Ball Bat is a great option that puts performance first.
Wooden bats are iconic baseball equipment. This is the only type of bat that Major League Baseball players use. So, the Wilson Louisville Slugger Youth Ash Tee Ball Bat will make your son or daughter feel like a pro. Plus, you just can’t beat the way a wooden bat sounds!
Typically, wooden bats are much heavier than alloy or composite bats. This wooden bat for kids is designed to be appropriately weighted for tee ball players. It has an easy, comfortable swing. Part of its lightweight design is thanks to the ash material.
Ash is a lighter, more flexible type of wood than maple. The softer, more flexible wood also creates a more forgiving sweet spot. If your son or daughter doesn’t make solid contact off the tee, they won’t get as much negative feedback.
The Wilson Louisville Slugger Youth Ash Tee Ball Bat has a natural wood color and a regular finish. The end of the barrel is cupped, which reduces weight and makes the barrel more explosive.
It’s also worth mentioning that this is an extremely affordable bat. While there is some risk of a wooden bat breaking, it really shouldn’t happen at the tee ball level.
- Your son or daughter will feel just like the pros they admire with a wood bat.
- Ash wood is light, flexible and doesn’t create much sting from mishits.
- An extremely affordable wooden tee ball bat.
- Wooden bats may not have the same level of pop as an aluminum or composite model.
- Wooden bats can break, especially a softer wood like ash.
Conclusion
Finding the best tee ball bats of 2022 is easy thanks to this list of reviews. You should have no problem choosing an option that will fit with your son or daughter’s playing style.
It’s important to remember that these bats will only stand up to hits from a tee using the softer youth baseballs. They can also be used in light coach pitch with these same soft-style baseballs.
Once your son or daughter graduates to more advanced leagues with faster pitching and harder balls, they will need a new youth baseball bat.
