13-Year-Old Division
Babe Ruth rules allow a 13-year-old’s bat to be as light as a -9 and as heavy as a -3. For most players, -9 is a good starting weight. Some players may be able to start with a -5 (another common Babe Ruth weight). Or some might start the season with a -9 and move up to a -5 (or another interim weight) over the course of the spring season. Very few will find that they can swing the -3 effectively, especially against live pitching. Our primary recommendation is for players to use a bat they can handle easily, because too many bad habits can develop when they swing too big a bat. Our secondary recommendation is, if possible, that players use one bat consistently.

The barrel size should be 2 5/8 inches -- not 2 1/4” (little league size).

The length of the bat should be one that the player can swing comfortably. Most Babe Ruth players use bats betw. 29 and 33 inches long.

Special note: Middle school league rules may require a -3; however, most middle school umpires do not enforce the -3 rule. (Last year, for example, only one umpire insisted that the JW team all use -3 bats.)

Majors Division (14/15-Year-Olds)
Babe Ruth rules require 14 and 15-year-olds to use a -3 (2 5/8 barrel), as do all school teams above middle school.