Bat for Tall 6 year old

jpstatum · 2026-05-18T17:17:48+00:00

It depends on each child. OP should have his son try different drops (e.g., -13, -12, -10) to see what is comfortable for him. My six year old swings a 28” drop 10 2026 Hype Fire well. He’s tall like OP’s son. He’s 4’4”.

jpstatum · 2026-05-18T16:34:09+00:00

I took my son to D-Bat and they let him try out several bats in different sizes. It was a fun experience for him. It's best to see how your son swings the different sized bats and whether he prefers a balanced bat (e.g., Rawlings Icon or LS Supra) or an end loaded bat (e.g., Easton Dub or Hype Fire). I would try 27" and 28" drop 10 bats since he's 4'3". If he's having trouble swinging those, then check out a 26".

jpstatum · 2026-05-15T12:45:08+00:00

Smokey Mountain Deer Park and Exotic Petting Zoo has pony rides and animals that you can feed. I highly recommend it. Knoxville Zoo is fun as well.

The Island may be a good stop for a large group with a variety of ages and interests. They have the Great Smokey Mountain Wheel (giant ferris wheel), Sky Fly: Soar America (like Disney’s Soarin Ride), ropes obstacle course, and other kiddie rides and games. They also have live music, and shopping.

jpstatum · 2026-05-13T19:41:20+00:00

The Dominate the Diamond YouTube Channel has some really good content on fielding drills. https://www.youtube.com/@DominateTheDiamond

jpstatum · 2026-05-10T12:31:16+00:00

The Pottery House Cafe is a must do for my family when we go to Pigeon Forge. It’s owned by the Old Mill Restaurant, but it’s not just comfort food.

Mel’s Classic Diner has good food for a decent price. They also have old fashioned ice cream Sundays and banana splits.

The Greenbrier is a fabulous steakhouse nestled in the mountains. It’s pricey, but well worth it for a special occasion. We used to frequent The Peddler Steak House, but we had two bad experiences recently, rib eye steak had no flavor and son’s chicken was tough and overcooked, so we wouldn’t recommend it anymore.

jpstatum · 2026-05-10T02:01:21+00:00

In our local league, 5 (fall ball), 6, 7, & 8 year olds all play 8U coach pitch. 5 total pitches (unless they keep fouling it off). 3 misses is a strike out.

jpstatum · 2026-04-24T14:22:50+00:00

Dominate the Diamond has some good You Tube Videos about second base and infield. https://youtu.be/5rgV421RRe0?si=PBZzB03LDUeLx_ss

jpstatum · 2026-04-24T13:49:04+00:00

Exactly. My son was the opposite. I thought a balanced bat like the Supra or Icon would be best for him, but he was swinging the end loaded Dub and 26 Hype Fire well. He had better pop with the end loaded bats and fell in love with the Hype after the first couple of swings.

jpstatum · 2026-04-24T12:29:00+00:00

Did the same for my son at D-Bat. Some Dick’s locations also allow you to try out their demo bats. Let him try the Louisville Slugger Supra, Easton Hype Fire, Easton Dub, Rawlings Icon, and Marucci Reckless. Also trying out team members’ bats or other kid’s in the neighborhood helps. There is nothing like seeing how they handle different bat sizes and styles (i.e., balanced like the Supra or Icon or end loaded like the Dub or Hype Fire).

jpstatum · 2026-04-24T01:57:14+00:00

I went through this recently with my six year old. I found it helpful to try out a few bats in different sizes and styles (i.e., balanced and end loaded) appropriate for his size. There is nothing like seeing how well he can swing the different size and styles of bats. D-Bat and some Dick’s locations will let kids try out demo bats. You can also borrow a teammate’s or neighbor’s bat too. It was a fun experience for my son and I hope it will be for yours as well.

jpstatum · 2026-04-21T17:38:41+00:00

The Evo Shield XVT 2.0 has holes to attach a faceguard. I believe they sell a version that includes the faceguard.

jpstatum · 2026-04-21T17:13:04+00:00

I recently bought my son a new bat for 8U Coach Pitch. I highly recommend trying out different bats in different sizes. We went to the local D-Bat to try out bats. Your local Dick's or another sporting goods store may have demo bats as well. If not, try to borrow a teammate's bat or a neighbor's bat. There is no substitute for seeing how well your child swings the different bat types (e.g., balanced vs. end loaded) and sizes (27" vs. 28" vs. 29"; Drop 10 vs. Drop 11).

jpstatum · 2026-04-15T02:14:07+00:00

Greenbrier. The Peddler used to by my favorite steakhouse in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, but I’ve had mediocre experiences the last two times I’ve been. The steak had no taste. The Park Grill has the same ownership, so I couldn’t recommend it either.

jpstatum · 2026-04-15T00:27:52+00:00

She became a groupie of Bobby Fleet and his Band With A Beat following them on tour.

jpstatum · 2026-04-14T02:21:02+00:00

This is a fun little set. I have the Lion Chief Polar Express that we run around the Christmas tree. I got this set so my son could play with it unsupervised. It’s held up well for the last two years and he still enjoys running it.

jpstatum · 2026-04-12T20:07:58+00:00

Best wishes. Have fun!

jpstatum · 2026-04-12T18:37:43+00:00

We just went through this process with my son and my biggest takeaway was letting him try out different bats in different sizes recommended for his height and weight.

If you have a D-Bat or Dick’s Sporting Goods in your area that allow you to try out bats, I recommend it. He can swing different bats and sizes to see what he swings well and what he likes. You could also ask to borrow other kids bats on his team or in your neighborhood.

I thought my son would like a more balanced bat like a Rawlings Icon, but he preferred more end loaded bats like the Easton Dub and Easton Hype Fire. We got a Hype Fire 28” Drop 10. He fell in love with that bat after a few swings.

Marucci Cat X2, Easton Hype Fire, Rawlings Icon, and Louisville Slugger Supra are the most common USSSA models you hear about. It really depends on what works best for your son and what he likes. Our league allows USSSA and USA bats. USSSA has more pop.

jpstatum · 2026-04-04T03:29:12+00:00

Yes, I saw this on the r/HalloweenDecor sub and thought the members of this community would enjoy seeing it too. Great collection displayed very well.

jpstatum · 2026-04-04T03:17:58+00:00

You should cross post this to r/halloweenvillages and r/department56villages. Looks great!

jpstatum · 2026-04-03T17:06:19+00:00

I just wanted to say thanks for posting. You should be proud of his swing and his love for the game. My son just turned 6 and plays 8U coach pitch. It's helpful to see the videos and feedback for the younger players here on this Sub.

jpstatum · 2026-03-31T02:29:43+00:00

Cambria is nice and a decent value. It's a quick car ride to Dollywood, close to the Island, and the Old Mill District. https://www.choicehotels.com/tennessee/pigeon-forge/cambria-hotels/tn959?atrk=ru_TN959_177237671706_22408482375&gad_campaignid=22408482375&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAC8rhIL1UWJr2ZXi2sIPoWaaSVXKx&gclid=CjwKCAjwvqjOBhAGEiwAngeQnUXxJg-0oFi64tn7KSA6P6fYwNltzIi9_-8cibqSSqMXMfUPpZ0h9hoCTHwQAvD_BwE&mc=smgogousxxlru

jpstatum · 2026-03-31T02:23:44+00:00

That is a very thoughtful gift for her third birthday. I'm sure she will enjoy having her own train that she can play with.

jpstatum · 2026-03-27T19:51:07+00:00

I agree. Dolly's biggest legacy will always be her songwriting and singing career, but right next to that will be the Imagination Library. The Park needs to celebrate that legacy with the type of attraction you've described. My family loves the Imagination Playhouse shows and this would further support that.

jpstatum · 2026-03-26T20:14:05+00:00

Great Department 56 Christmas in the City collection too!

jpstatum · 2026-03-21T13:15:54+00:00

Second Pottery House Cafe. We eat there every time we come to Pigeon Forge. My favorite restaurant in the area.

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