Introduction
Just like baseball, in softball, where the athleticism, flexibility, and speed of the player come to the fore, the main aim is to hit a soft ball—as the name suggests, that is not hard, unlike in the baseball game, and send it as far as possible by making the best hitting and earning the highest score.
At this point, it should be highlighted that besides the sportive physical abilities of the players, the materials they use significantly impact the game. In softball, where each material from ball to gloves or from helmets to masks is of particular significance, it will be pointed out what the players should pay attention to and keep in mind, especially and primarily about the softball bat selection in this article.
Why Does Bat Selection Matter for Softball?
First and foremost, since one of the main actions in the game is hitting, the most effective material in the formation and composition of a softball player’s signature hitting style will be the softball bat. As aforementioned, choosing a softball bat suitable for the league the player is in and meeting the length and weight criteria of the player will be a healthy choice for both the player and the game.
In this context, factors such as the quality of the bat chosen and its suitability for the players’ league are crucial both for the player himself, as mentioned before, and for the team as well as for the progress of the game. In other words, the softball bat is just as significant for the player as an artist’s brush for defining the blurry lines between the game and himself to shine or fade out.
What Are the Qualities and the Types of a Softball Bat?
In general terms, softball bats have an average length of 34 inches, while their weight ratios vary between 26 and 30 ounces and sometimes even more. Besides, their construction material also varies among the softball players. For example, while almost all softball bats are made of aluminum or metal, some players prefer bats made of wood or composite, too, depending on their preferences and physical status.
Softball bats differ in length and weight, depending on the players’ leagues. Namely, they are classified under the categories as follows; slow pitch, fast pitch, youth, one-piece, two-piece, alloy, composite, balanced, and end-loaded bat. Speaking of the categorization, it should be underlined that the softball bats in these categories mentioned above are divided not only in terms of length and weight but also in terms of their product quality and brand.
What Types of Bat Is Best for Softball?
Considering all the factors beforementioned, it is, unfortunately, an impossible and romantic concept for a softball player to have a designated “the best” or “the only” bat. Under many circumstances, such as the player’s hitting style, physical strength, position in the game, the league he is in, and personal material preferences, the player will have the best softball bat he can choose and buy, especially for himself.
That is to say, depending on the determinants shaped mainly around the player, it can be said that all kinds of softball bats are the best in their field. As an illustration, considering the construction materials, between one-piece and two-piece bats; one-piece bats are made from a much harder metal with a single form, on the other hand; however, to gain a much more flexible structure, two-piece bats consist of two different parts, namely the barrel and the handle.
So, taking into consideration this fact, it will be more appropriate for the player to choose the most suitable bat for himself in the selection of the bat he will make based on his hitting strength, style, and physical characterization.
Or while choosing a softball bat, which differs according to their categorization in terms of length or weight, choosing a bat of the size and weight depending on the players’ league they play or their physical appearance will bring them much closer to the concept of the best softball bat. For instance, a bat that is 31 to 33 inches long is the one most preferred by females between the heights of 5 and 6 feet.
Specifically, speaking for the financial aspects of choosing a softball bat made out of aluminum, alloy bats are more suitable for low finances compared to composite bats, which means that for a player in need of a cheaper but standard quality bat, alloy bats will be a much better choice for them.
Is 25 or 26 Ounce Bat Better for Softball?
Again with the circumstances shaped around the players, how good the bat’s weight is for the player depends. To clarify, for players who have just started softball and have a weak physique and hits, the lightness of the bat will be an advantage in terms of practicality. Since the player will begin to establish his strokes, swing, and stance balance in the process, it is expected that the weight and length of the bat will change in time.
For example, slow pitch bats are heavier than other bats. That means slow-pitch players have plenty of time before they swing their bats. That is to say, a 25 or 26-ounce bat will be a wrong choice since it will lead the players to stumble before the hit during the game. On the contrary, for a player with quick and flexible hits and swings, a 25 or 26-ounce bat would be a much better option since a lighter-than-average bat would provide much faster hits.
Is a Heavier or Lighter Softball Bat Better?
Additionally and supportively, the length and weight of the softball bats are also the determining factors when choosing them as well as their construction material, the league of use, and the physical characterization of the player. So, the surrounding factors determine whether a heavier or lighter bat is better.
Compared to others, for instance, as stated earlier, being slightly heavier and weighing between 25 and 30 ounces, slow pitch bats are more difficult to swing. Considering the player’s hitting style and strength, slow pitch bats will be a better choice for a player who can hit a ball at the average speed of 25 mph. In other words, for a player with solid hits and a heavy physique, the slow-pitch softball bat is a much better choice. On the contrary, however, fastpitch softball bats differ from the slow pitch ones for being lighter and longer and being the best for faster hits.
As the last example, end-loaded bats are the best ones for the strong hitters owing to their being harder to control than the other types of bats, while the balanced bats are the best choice for the contact or base hitters as they contribute a better swing speed and control for the players and distributes the weight evenly throughout the bat.
How to Choose a Softball Bat?
To wrap all the explanations above up, let’s define how to choose a softball bat in a nutshell. In the first place, size matters. Accordingly, choosing a bat of the right size for the player’s physique will make it much more secure. If the bat held in hand at 90 degrees for 30 seconds makes the arm shake or creates weight for the players, it indicates that the physical size of the bat is not suitable for them. Likewise, the bat held for much longer than 30 seconds is too light for the player. A bat of appropriate weight for the player’s physique should be selected at this point.
In addition to its length and weight, the construction material of the bat should also be considered when choosing it. For example, composite bats are made out of layered material of carbon fibers for the strong hits, while alloy bats, which weigh light but create fast strikes, are made out of aluminum. In this case, depending on their physics and the hitting styles, the softball players should keep in mind the composition material of the bats while choosing them.
Conclusion
Ultimately, it should be noted that in addition to the players’ athletic physical ability or the playground conditions, the materials of the bats play an essential role in the game. Just like in every branch of sports, in softball, choosing the suitable material in the right way is quite crucial for the players.
Especially for the softball players, in addition to their potential and performances in the game, their hitting and playing styles will be determined by a well-chosen softball bat. In this framework, they should evaluate the points under the subject of what to look for in a softball bat.
Various factors, like their size, weight, or material, impact the best softball bat. So, especially, a softball player aiming for permanent success should recognize it while choosing his bat at this point and internalize it while playing with it. In this article, how to choose a suitable softball bat and what issues should be paid attention to in this process, as well as what to look for in a softball bat, are examined and described.
