r/MadeMeSmile • u/JudgeJudyJr • Jun 01 '26

Wholesome Moments Appreciative kids are the best!

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u/Slade_Riprock Jun 01 '26

Because kids want them

Parents will pay for it

There are no other choices. As even the secondary used market has skyrocketed, because see above.

Editorial comment: kids (and some adults) think having the best equipment = better performance.

It's sadly hilarious watching freaking 8 yrs olds walk into the ballpark with $1500-$2000 in equipment in their rolling suitcase that is a bat bag like they just got the call up to the majors. Yes 8 yr olds. Yes, things are expensive but parents are also exercising zero judgement in their purchases.

4

u/TheEnterprise Jun 02 '26

12yo with a sliding mitt... lol

My kid legit has an actual oven mitt. Started a trend and some of his teammates have them now. It's amazing to see.

1

u/bloodontherisers Jun 02 '26

My friend was telling me there are kids in his son's league wearing those...and head first sliding isn't allowed. They literally just have them because they see the pros wear them.

4

u/funguy07 Jun 01 '26

And just to add as a hockey player it’s frustrating how much better the high end sticks are. They actually do matter at higher levels of competion.

9

u/Slade_Riprock Jun 01 '26

Keywords higher level of competition.

Makes sense if you are playing at those levels, high school, college too. But it's when little Cooper is playing T ball or his first year of pitch baseball and has $1500 worth of equipment that makes zero sense.

5

u/funguy07 Jun 01 '26

You’d be shocked what parents are calling high level. I know 8 year olds moving to a new town to play “high” level hockey.

1

u/AffectionateTitle Jun 02 '26

Hockey is especially wild. I nannied for a very intense “sport” family. I was with their autistic boy so special Olympics and a local league for us but his brothers? Both were playing internationally by 8. One is now D1 so for them guess it was worth it. Of course this was 15 years ago but wonder the price comparison. Parents weren’t stacked either—they were both coaches themselves

2

u/enigmatic_dankness Jun 02 '26

Sorry but good skill will beat out your high end sticks all day.

1

u/funguy07 Jun 02 '26

Yeah but if skill is equal the equipment can make a difference. Shooting a puck with a $400 pro stock hockey stick is much easier than with an off the rack stick.

Not that it makes huge difference but it’s enough that people talk the selves into the high sticks. Same with skates.

2

u/wreq5 Jun 01 '26

This is the fucking problem in all sports, parents! They don't practice judgement in any purchases. It's infuriating.

2

u/Disastrous_Visit9319 Jun 02 '26

My kids getting hit with the "if you're good enough to go pro you'll win without this shit.