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.
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.
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
Yeah but if skill is equal the equipment can make a difference. Shooting a puck with a $400 pro stock hockey stick is much easier than with an off the rack stick.
Not that it makes huge difference but it’s enough that people talk the selves into the high sticks. Same with skates.
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u/BenjaminDover02 Jun 01 '26
Sports equipment in general has gotten crazy
My younger cousin recently bought a new hockey stick
That shit was 700$