Updated: May 15, 2023
By Bat Digest
If you talk to any bat manufacturer, one of the biggest shifts in youth baseball bats has been the increase of drop 8 bat purchases over the last few years. The growth in popularity of drop 8s has made many choose between a drop 8 vs. drop 10.
Quick Answer: What You Should Do
- If you can swing a drop 8, 30-inch bat as fast as a 31/21 or 32/22, go with a drop 8.
- If you can’t, stick with a drop 10.
- Here’s a link to our best drop 8 bats
- Here’s a link to our best drop 10 bats
Based on some of our survey data, the drop 10s still outsell drop 8s in USSSA by about 3 to 2. So, for every three CAT X drop 10s sold, there are two drop 8s sold.
Bat Trends
Two things have created this:
- About 5 years ago (2018-ish), some rule changes required certain leagues and ages in USSSA to swing bats with a drop no greater than 8. As such, several of these older kids who were once willing to swing a 32/22 were now forced to drop 8 and look for the 31/23 or 30/20s of the world.
- The popularity of the CF, and its accompanying durability issues, are largely solved by moving to a drop 8. DeMarini has suggested this to many warranty replacement players. From a drop 10 to a drop 8 for many in the CF market, that shift has generated a trend in the industry. Where 10 and 11-year-olds were once almost exclusive drop 10 hitters, they’ve now shifted more to the 30/22 and even a 29/21.
Drop 8 vs. Drop 10 Exit Speed Differences
Assuming you can swing a drop 8 as fast as you can swing a drop 10 then you should be able to hit a ball about 10% harder using the same length drop 8 as you did a drop 10.
However, that’s all theory.
The truth is, changing your bat’s weight is the ONLY thing that changes your swing speed (aside from mechanics—but nothing about a new bat is going to change much about those).
It’s like saying: if you can do 10 reps at 185 on the bench press and we added weight to 225, then you can also do 10 reps at 225. But that isn’t true. More weight means more strength is required. Same as a bat’s weight. More swing weight means more swing weight is needed.
The question for you, is does added swing weight changes your swing speed?
Drop 10 vs. Drop 8 Swing Weight Equivalents
| Drop 10 | 29/19 | 30/20 | 31/21 | 32/21 |
| Drop 8 | 28/21 | 29/22 | 30/22 | 32/23 |
Drop 8 vs. Drop 10 Performance Differences
Fundamentally, there are no differences between Drop 8 and Drop 10 bats other than the scale weight. Although each USSSA brand and model has its vibe, the industry generally applies these rules when moving from a drop 8 to a drop 10.
The Same
- The additional weight is added equally throughout the bat. So, the “balance” of the bat doesn’t change.
- The pricing is the same.
- The barrel material is the same.
- The handles are the same.
The Difference
- The total weight of the bat.
- The swing weight of the bat.
Performance Changes
Drop 8 vs. Drop 10
If the only thing that changes between the drop 8 and drop 10 for any given model is the swing weight, then the only thing that will determine which one hits the ball harder is the player’s relative swing speed. If the added weight decreases the swing speed, then it’s possible a drop 10 would do better. If the swing speed stays the same, a drop 8 will do better.
Should I get a drop 8 or drop 10?
If a drop 8 or drop 10 is the right choice for your player is an empirical question. That is, we can’t answer it here because it asks for data we don’t have access to—only you do. The only trick would be to test it on your player.
Generally, players aged 11 and 12 have better success with a drop 8. Younger players still do well with a drop 10.
Although not every brand and model follows an exact pattern, there are some swing weight equivalents when comparing drop 10s and 8s. Meaning, if you’re looking for a comparatively similar swinging bat, then here’s how it breaks down. You want to drop an inch if you’re going to a drop 8.
