By David Morgan
Being best on the field isn’t going to happen if you don’t have a bat that is good enough for the job. Since pure talent alone won’t make the cut, why don’t you try looking for the right softball bat to evaluate yourself?
A great softball bat should be a combination of material, length and weight. So how do you know which type is best softball bat for you? Let’s find out the criteria below.
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Choosing the right softball bat: Useful Tips and information
Bat material
Wooden bats are a thing of the past. As technology changed in the past decades, so have the softball bats. After wooden bats, aluminum bats became very popular but this isn’t the only option nowadays as composite bats have also entered the big leagues.
So which one should you pick and which one has the benefits you need? Well, the main characteristics of these types of bats are:
Aluminum bats
This type can be found with a construction that is either single-layered or double-layered. Typically, aluminum bats deliver increased bat speed and control of the swing.
Composite bats
This type of bats on the other hand is very light weight and can provide users with greater comfort and control over swings. These bats, which are usually made from graphite, have a pretty major advantage when it comes to swing speed.
Composite baseball bats are known for their improved performance and power. The composite material used in these bats allows for a larger sweet spot, resulting in better contact and increased distance on hits. Additionally, composite bats tend to have a lighter weight, enabling players to swing the bat with greater speed and precision. This can lead to improved bat control and overall performance on the field. Another advantage of composite bats is their durability. Unlike traditional wooden bats that may break or splinter over time, composite bats are designed to withstand constant use and offer a longer lifespan. Overall, composite baseball bats provide players with a competitive edge, enhancing their skills and maximizing their performance on the field.
Deciding bat length
Another major aspect of softball bats is the length and there are lots of different methods to pick an appropriate one. Commonly, it is suggested to read through charts based on age which indicates the size you need at different ages. But experts are now trying to push a better chart that is based on weight.
In the end, it all depends on your personal preference and how comfortable it is for you when using the bat. Some classic guideline is that for a person who is ranging from 5’5’’ to 5’8’’ while weighting 101 lbs to 140 lbs, he should get a bat which is 32 inches in length.
Deciding bat weight
The weight will be different across all bat models, but deciding the right one for yourself is again going to depend on your preference. You could buy a heavier bat if you’re a strong person, but you need to keep in mind that with this, you’re sacrificing some essential swinging speed.
Follow these simple steps to determine how heavy your bat should be:
Hold the bat with one hand
Extend your arm on the side
Try to keep it that way for about 30 seconds
If you can hold the bat for more 30 seconds without failing, then, this is the right bat weight that you should always use. Using the appropriate bat weight will enable you to swing perfectly and will also enable you to control your speed.
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Getting the right “drop”
Now that you have both length and weight decided, you may want to look into something that is referred to as the drop of a bat. Basically, it is the difference between the weight of a bat and its length.
To put it in a simple way, drop is a numerical difference between the inches of the bat’s length and the ounces of its weight. Bats are standardized in the way that the maximum drop is 12 while the minimum one is 8. Guidelines to decide the appropriate one are as follows:
Getting a -8 or -9 drop is good for powerful hitters.
A -10 would be a perfect fit for players who are solid single hitters.
Conclusion
Selecting the best softball bat really is a piece of work, but researching the basics of what makes a bat good will help you greatly in making your talents stand out. The basic conclusion which we can draw from the before-mentioned characteristics is that you should tailor the bat according to your needs.
By David Morgan
Editor/Co-founder