Creeks Softball Association
Bat Selections
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
How to Select a Softball Bat
This presentation came from the Fogdog Sports Web site.
No matter the softball league you play in, buying a bat is a personal decision. New technology has delivered
bats that not only enhance performance but also are tailored to an individual player's strengths. It is essential
that you select a bat that fits your unique body configuration and skill level--height, weight, and hitting strength.
Aluminum
Graphite/Titanium lined
Age
Height and weight
Barrel size
Bat taper
Grip
Understanding Bat Materials
The world of bats now offers a large variety of choices in materials. These can be broken into two primary
categories--aluminum and Graphite/Titanium lined. Virtually no softball bats are made of wood any longer.
Each provides its own unique characteristics.
This has been a player favorite for several years now
Aluminum bats provide a lighter weight for increased control and bat speed
Aluminum and the other metals also offer durability
Despite generally higher costs, players can save money since the bats are extremely difficult to
crack or break.
Aluminum bats come in a variety of alloys, each with a different weight. Generally, lighter
aluminum alloys are thinner and more durable. These lighter weights also increase the "sweet
spot," the hitting zone on the bat's barrel that gives the maximum place to put metal to ball.
Aluminum bats, and those enhanced with other alloys, also come in single-layer or double-layer
construction
Double-layer bats offer more durability and power, since the ball rebounds off the bat with more
authority
Technology has enabled bat makers to use lighter, stronger materials. Graphite and titanium are
just two of these.
Both are usually added to thinner-wall aluminum bats, enabling bats to be lighter and increasing
a player's swing speed
These materials also increase durability and the batter's sweet spot
Graphite and titanium also help reduce vibration and the sting of ball shock, the tingling feeling
sent to the hands usually when you miss hitting the ball in the bat's sweet spot.
Determine What Bat Fits Your Body
There are some standard rules of thumb in selecting the appropriate bat length. The charts below offer some
guidelines based on age and weight and height:
Using your age as a guide, use the chart below to determine the bat length that fits your body.
Height and weight are usually better ways to determine what bat length may work best for you
Use the height and weight chart to give you a general idea of the length of bat that fits your body
Most bats are weighted in ounces
Manufacturers have done a great job in balancing the bat's weight to its length
Many bats have a weight-to-length ratio, often shown as -9, -11, etc.
This basically means a 31-inch bat with a -11 ratio weighs 20 ounces
Selecting weight really depends on two critical factors--your strength and your hitting style
It also depends a lot on your personal preference in weight and length, so the following are simply
guidelines to follow:
Bigger, stronger players prefer a heavier bat since they get the benefits of both the heft
and swing power (-9 to -10 - See Bigger columns)
Smaller players with less strength should consider a lighter bat to generate a quicker
swing (-10.5 to -11.5 - See Smaller columns)
Younger players, too, should consider that a lighter bat increases control, great for
singles hitters, while also reducing the risk of injury (-12 to -13 - See Younger columns)
Understanding Bat Technology
Bat technology may seem a little confusing but it's not rocket-science. There are three essential elements to a
bat: barrel size, bat taper and grip.
This includes both the length of the barrel--top part of the bat--and its diameter
The longer the barrel, generally, the larger the sweet spot for hitting the ball
The standard softball bat diameter is 2 1/2 inches
Fast pitch softball barrel standard is 2 3/4 inches
Many players prefer a smaller barrel that lightens weight and provides more swing speed
This is the diameter of the bat's handle
Standard bats are tapered 31/32 of an inch but can be slightly larger or smaller depending on
whether you want a lighter or heavier bat
Some players like a narrower taper for the lighter weight and to rotate their wrists faster when hitting
The grip is simply the covering that bat manufacturers use on the handle of aluminum bats
Leather or synthetic leather gives a tackier feel for a surer grip
Rubber grips absorb more of the shock
Some bats come with a cushioned grip to decrease the shock even more
This presentation came from the Fogdog Sports Web site.
No matter the softball league you play in, buying a bat is a personal decision. New technology has delivered
bats that not only enhance performance but also are tailored to an individual player's strengths. It is essential
that you select a bat that fits your unique body configuration and skill level--height, weight, and hitting strength.
Aluminum
Graphite/Titanium lined
Age
Height and weight
Barrel size
Bat taper
Grip
Understanding Bat Materials
The world of bats now offers a large variety of choices in materials. These can be broken into two primary
categories--aluminum and Graphite/Titanium lined. Virtually no softball bats are made of wood any longer.
Each provides its own unique characteristics.
- Aluminum
This has been a player favorite for several years now
Aluminum bats provide a lighter weight for increased control and bat speed
Aluminum and the other metals also offer durability
Despite generally higher costs, players can save money since the bats are extremely difficult to
crack or break.
Aluminum bats come in a variety of alloys, each with a different weight. Generally, lighter
aluminum alloys are thinner and more durable. These lighter weights also increase the "sweet
spot," the hitting zone on the bat's barrel that gives the maximum place to put metal to ball.
Aluminum bats, and those enhanced with other alloys, also come in single-layer or double-layer
construction
Double-layer bats offer more durability and power, since the ball rebounds off the bat with more
authority
- Graphite/Titanium lined
Technology has enabled bat makers to use lighter, stronger materials. Graphite and titanium are
just two of these.
Both are usually added to thinner-wall aluminum bats, enabling bats to be lighter and increasing
a player's swing speed
These materials also increase durability and the batter's sweet spot
Graphite and titanium also help reduce vibration and the sting of ball shock, the tingling feeling
sent to the hands usually when you miss hitting the ball in the bat's sweet spot.
Determine What Bat Fits Your Body
There are some standard rules of thumb in selecting the appropriate bat length. The charts below offer some
guidelines based on age and weight and height:
- Age
Using your age as a guide, use the chart below to determine the bat length that fits your body.
- Height and Weight
Height and weight are usually better ways to determine what bat length may work best for you
Use the height and weight chart to give you a general idea of the length of bat that fits your body
- Determining the Right Bat Weight
Most bats are weighted in ounces
Manufacturers have done a great job in balancing the bat's weight to its length
Many bats have a weight-to-length ratio, often shown as -9, -11, etc.
This basically means a 31-inch bat with a -11 ratio weighs 20 ounces
Selecting weight really depends on two critical factors--your strength and your hitting style
It also depends a lot on your personal preference in weight and length, so the following are simply
guidelines to follow:
Bigger, stronger players prefer a heavier bat since they get the benefits of both the heft
and swing power (-9 to -10 - See Bigger columns)
Smaller players with less strength should consider a lighter bat to generate a quicker
swing (-10.5 to -11.5 - See Smaller columns)
Younger players, too, should consider that a lighter bat increases control, great for
singles hitters, while also reducing the risk of injury (-12 to -13 - See Younger columns)
Understanding Bat Technology
Bat technology may seem a little confusing but it's not rocket-science. There are three essential elements to a
bat: barrel size, bat taper and grip.
- Barrel size
This includes both the length of the barrel--top part of the bat--and its diameter
The longer the barrel, generally, the larger the sweet spot for hitting the ball
The standard softball bat diameter is 2 1/2 inches
Fast pitch softball barrel standard is 2 3/4 inches
Many players prefer a smaller barrel that lightens weight and provides more swing speed
- Bat taper
This is the diameter of the bat's handle
Standard bats are tapered 31/32 of an inch but can be slightly larger or smaller depending on
whether you want a lighter or heavier bat
Some players like a narrower taper for the lighter weight and to rotate their wrists faster when hitting
- Grip
The grip is simply the covering that bat manufacturers use on the handle of aluminum bats
Leather or synthetic leather gives a tackier feel for a surer grip
Rubber grips absorb more of the shock
Some bats come with a cushioned grip to decrease the shock even more
