Best way to take softball gear on a plane?

[sjjjbugs]

13 year old DD is going to be going to some tournaments out west this year and for the first time beyond driving distance (live in Indiana, Florida is the farthest she's gone to play) and I have no idea what the best way to get her gear out there would be. Bat bag in checked baggage? Any guidance/experience on this or even just some good pointers for playing for a few straight weeks away from home would be terrific.
Thanks

[thor2173]

we packed every thing but her glove and uniform. checked in the gear bag and luggage. carried on her glove and uniform. if the luggaged was lost you could get a new bat and other gear. breaking in a new glove would be tough.

[NumeroUno]

Our team has Worth roller bags and we check them right with our suit cases. Try not to leave the traps hanging down to avoid getting them stuck in the conveyors. You cannot take bats for sure and possibly metal cleats in your carry on.

We have all the girls pack their uniforms and gloves in there carry on. You can get bats and cleats if they get lost but to lose your uniforms and your glove would be a nightmare.

[sjjjbugs]

No worries about bats being broken in a roller bag?

[Mick]

We put DD's bat bag inside my golf club travel bag and all was good. If you are really worried about bats breaking you can get a hard sided golf club travel bag. The one issue with the hard sided is they take up a lot of space and may not fit well in the rental car.

[CULater]

We wrap the bats with a layer of thick foam, actually an old military foam mattress pad just for a little added protection.

[hit4power]

First day's uniform, glove, mouth guard, and contact lens stuff in carry-on. If I'm bringing my golf clubs along then bat in the golf bag. Otherwise, I have a rolling ClubGlove suitcase with a hard plastic bottom (sort of like a catchers rolling bag but for the hard bottom) that will hold several bats, cleats, bat bags, misc equip, etc. We've never had a problem with damaged bats.

Another way I've seen is to get one of those hardsided rifle or shotgun cases; the kind you have to break the gun down to use, then take out the molded foam and replace with some plain foam. Most will hold 2 or even 3 bats, plus they lock. Downside is that they can be pricey, but given that 2 bats cost more than my shotgun, maybe worth it....

[sjjjbugs]

Another way I've seen is to get one of those hardsided rifle or shotgun cases; the kind you have to break the gun down to use, then take out the molded foam and replace with some plain foam. Most will hold 2 or even 3 bats, plus they lock. Downside is that they can be pricey, but given that 2 bats cost more than my shotgun, maybe worth it....

Love that idea as I have a universal shotgun case with flat foam in it already. That makes it in my price range

[txfastptchcoach]

You can always ship your equipment to your Hotel via UPS/FedX. I did this every year for Colorado. It's there when you check into room.

[dirtlover]

Do the carry on thing with the essentials. I put DD's bat bag in my golf club travel bag along with our chairs, umbrella, soft sided roller ice chest among other items. The key is the weight allowance is 70 lbs for clubs vs 50 lbs for luggage. Check the airlines luggage allowance on their website. Works for us really well.