 Macgregor Wooden Softball Bat (33) Lowest Price: $18.89 |
 Mizuno Craze Slowpitch Bat (34-Inch 27-Ounce) Lowest Price: $118.00 |
 Easton SK4 Hammer slowpitch Softball Bat Lowest Price: $19.99 |
The popularity of recreational softball is on the rise across the nation as people are starting to realize how simple and fun the game can be. Just about anyone can get into a game of softball because the pitches are generally slower, the ball is bigger, and there’s less distance between the bases.
Everyone can hit the ball, no matter how small they are, and the games move at a slow but steady pace. Another thing about softball that’s making it so popular among young adults and office picnics is the relative lack of equipment required to play. You only need a few softball bats, a glove for each player, and some balls.
If you’ve gotten into softball recently, whether you’re just playing pick up with your friends or you’ve joined the company team, you will notice that not everyone brings their own slow pitch softball bat to the field. Generally, one or two people will bring a couple of bats and the whole team will use them as they step up to the plate. However, as nice as it is to just borrow someone else’s bat, as you start to play more regularly you may want to go out and get your own. You will find that it is easier to hit those pitches harder with a bat that you chose specifically for your body type.
Here are four questions you need to ask yourself while you are out browsing the available softball bats at your local sporting goods store:
What Material is the Slowpitch Softball Bat Made Of?
There are three basic types of softball bats out there: the aluminum bats, the wooden bats, and the graphite or titanium lined bats. However, you will rarely find any wooden softball bats out on the market these days because the bats made with metal alloys have proven to be far more effective and easier to swing.
When choosing whether to get a straight up aluminum bat versus a graphite lined bat you should try to consider the bat’s “sweet spot.” The sweet spot of a bat is the area where the ball makes contact with the most metal. Hitting the ball with the sweet spot of your softball bat with give you the most force and acceleration on the swing. Consider also that composite softball bats lined with graphite or titanium will cut down on the vibration caused when the ball misses the sweet spot of the bat. A bat that vibrates heavily will hurt your hands over an extended period of play.
Does the Softball Bat’s Length Fit My Size?
You may have noticed that softball bats are noticeably larger than most baseball bats. The bats are longer in general because of the size of the ball. The longer the bat is the more power you will have in your swing and the farther you can send the ball. The general rule of thumb is that the larger you are the longer your softball bat should be.
How Heavy Should the Softball Bat Be?
Weight is another important factor in choosing your softball bat. As with the length of the bat, the weight of it is determined by your body type. Your personal preference might differ a little bit but in general larger players will opt for heavier bats so that they get more power out of their swings while younger and smaller players prefer lighter bats for that extra control.
What Kind of Bat Tech is Applied to the Softball Bat?
There are three types of bat tech that can be applied to a softball bat: grip, barrel-size, and bat taper. Bat technology is purely a matter of personal preference so you should try out a few different variations to get a feel for how they all work before you end up buying your own. Here’s generally how they work:
The grip of the bat is going to allow you to hold it steady and keep it in your hands as you swing. More grip means more control and usually more power. Every bat is going to have some form of grip and you are going to have to decide whether you want a lot of it or just a little bit.
The barrel-size of the bat determines the size of your bat’s sweet spot. The larger the barrel the more surface area you have available to strike the ball. The bat taper narrows the barrel of the bat down to your hands and will move the sweet spot up or down the barrel depending on where it tapers. To adequately decide on barrel size and taper it is important to know how you swing and with what part of the bat you generally like to hit the ball.