All right, let's assume you've read my hubs about choosing the right baseball glove and the difference between baseball leagues. If not, you know they are out there. So now it's time to talk bats. It seems like buying a bat for your 6-18 year-old would be a pretty straightforward proposition until you get to the sporting goods store and see there about a million different kinds of bats. And as your eyes glaze over while the helpful, but talkative, kid at the store tries to explain the difference between the bats, you get the sinking feeling that all those words are just aimed at getting you to buy the most expensive one. So you leave the store empty handed, thinking it might be easier if your kid just played chess.

But don't fear. I'll explain it to you. You're really going to have to look at four key things: the material (wood or aluminum), size of the barrel, weight, and length. Now, many of your baseball leagues will have rules about all three, so be sure to talk to your league officials to find out what bats are legal according to them.

Aluminum has long been the preferred material for youth baseball. However, there are more and more discussions on using wood bats. The main concerns are the injuries caused by using aluminum bats. A hitter is able to generate more power swinging a hollow aluminum bat, and the result can sometimes be painful for the fielders. The jury is still out whether aluminum bats are more dangerous than wooden bats.

To determine the right bat length for your child, you can reference their height. Tiny ones, four feet to four and a half will use 26-28 inches. Four and a half feet to five feet will use 28-30 inches. From five to five and a half feet, you will want to use a 30-32 inch bat. From 5'6" to 6", a 32 or 33-inch bat, and six feet and above will typically use a 32-34-inch bat. These are general guidelines for height. Your child's weight and strength will factor into the length of bat you'll want to buy, but they will generally fall into these categories.

Beyond choosing the right length, your child's league will most definitely have rules about weight and barrel size. Little League, for instance, mandates bats must be 32 inches or less and have a 2 ¼" barrel. In most high school leagues the barrel can be up to 2 3/8th”. Again, consult your child's youth league for guidelines.

You'll also see length to weight ratio on bats. For instance, if a bat is 34 inches and weighs 30 ounces, it is -4. For Little League, this ratio is restricted to -12. For high school, the ratio reduces to -3. This is mainly because as the children get bigger, they will get stronger. Allowing anything more than -3 for a 5'10" 190-pound kid could turn the bat into a weapon in their hands.

Now the bad news: the cost. Expect to pay anywhere between $40 to $300 for your bats. If your child is just starting out, there's not need to go out and buy the $300 bat. The more expensive the bat, the better the materials are and the more high tech the bat is likely to be. In reality though, the difference in performance between a $150 bat and a $300 bat will be very minimal.

Some people say you can tell if a child is a good hitter when you get a wood bat into their hands. I don't necessarily agree with that. Chances are, unless your child makes it to the major or minor leagues, he or she will be playing with aluminum bats their entire baseball careers (with the possible exception of high schools in New York City that are considering switching to wood). Babe Ruth, Pony, and Little League allow wooden bats as long as they meet the weight, length, and barrel size requirements.

Wooden bats tend to be heavier because they are made of solid wood (where aluminum bats are hollow). Hitters get a better understanding of bat speed with a wooden bat, as it is heavier and you need to be strong and quick to pull it through the zone. However, the harsh reality is that wooden bats break, which can cost a fortune as even the best professional hitters break dozens of bats a year.

Have in your head what you want to spend before you go. Your child's baseball development and commitment, along with your budget, will determine how much you should spend on the bat. Be sure to bring your child along. After all, if the bat doesn't feel good in his or her hands, the guidelines don't mean a thing.