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.
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
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.
Age | Bat length |
5-7 years old | 24"-26" |
8-9 years old | 26"-28" |
10 years old | 28"-29" |
11-12 years old | 30"-31" |
13-14 years old | 31"-32" |
15-16 years old | 32"-33" |
17+ years old | 34" |
Height and weight
- Height and weight are usually better ways to determine what bat length may work best for you
- Once again, use the height and weight chart to give you a general idea of the length of bat that fits your body
Your height (inches) | ||||||||||
Your weight (pounds) | 36-40 | 41-44 | 45-48 | 49-52 | 53-56 | 57-60 | 61-64 | 65-68 | 69-72 | 73+ |
Bat length | ||||||||||
less than 60 | 26" | 27" | 28" | 29" | 29" | |||||
61-70 | 27" | 27" | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | ||||
71-80 | 28" | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | ||||
81-90 | 28" | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 32" | |||
91-100 | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | |||
101-110 | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | |||
111-120 | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | |||
121-130 | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | ||
131-140 | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | ||
141-150 | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | |||
151-160 | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 32" | 33" | 33" | 33" | ||
161-170 | 31" | 31" | 32" | 32" | 33" | 33" | 34" | |||
171-180 | 32" | 33" | 33" | 34" | 34" | |||||
180+ | 33" | 33" | 34" | 34" | ||||||
- 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 -4, -6, etc.
- This basically means a 34-inch bat with a -6 ratio weighs 28 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
- Smaller players with less strength should consider a lighter bat to generate a quicker swing
- Younger players, too, should consider that a lighter bat increases control, great for singles hitters, while also reducing the risk of injury
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
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