Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Wed Nov 7 10:03:08 2001

is a 34 inch 31 ounce bat too big for a 5'6" 130lb. boy?
>
> In my opinion I think a 34 inch bat is much to long for a 5'6" player. I would suggest something closer to 32 inch bat and I'm guessing with his size its a youth league and most youth leagues let the differential between height and weight be -10 to -5. College ball and some highschool leagues have gone to a -3 difference.

We all know that swinging too heavy a bat will reduce batspeed and that is a negative.
Too long a bat creates the same problem but it is more subtle. The bat may not feel heavy but it takes forever to get around.
While ideal bat weight may vary in part due to strength (and technique), bat length is primarily a function of height. Beware too long a bat.
Best idea is to experiment by swinging with a batspeed measurer (see Setpro equipment) to determine your ideal weight and length.