 | As in many sports, softball can sometimes be a psychological game. If you are the batter, you will want your opponent to respect and fear you. Yes, practice and a lot of physical training make you an effective hitter; using the right bat, however, completes your game and greatly increases your chances for success. There are two variations of softball—fast pitch bats and slow pitch. Fast pitch is what we usually associate with ladies, while slow pitch is what we associate with men and children. The two variations may look strikingly similar, but the differences are significant enough to count them as two separate games. One of the key differences lies in the bat. Slow pitch bats are generally legally allowed for use in fast pitch games, but is not advisable because they are too heavy for fast pitch. Baseball bats, on the other hand, are not allowed for play in either variations of softball. As such it is important to be playing with right fast pitch bat. So how can you choose the right fast pitch bat for you or your daughter? Read on to find out.
Length and Weight. The legal bat length for youth-level games is from 24 to 32 inches. For those older, including high school, college and adults, the range is from 30 to 34 inches. Just like baseball, you will need to consider the “drop weight” or the length-to-weight ratio, which is derived simply by subtracting the bat's length from its weight. Since the length is always bigger than the weight, the drop weight will always be a negative number. A bat, therefore, that is 34 inches long and weighs 24 ounces is a -10 drop weight. Some stores have a chart that you can follow. All you have to is run your finger to where your height in inches meets your weight in pounds to get the right bat length. If you are not too keen on using numbers, you can also find the right bat by applying your physical senses. To find the right length, look for a bat that, when stood upright, should reach where your hand is naturally falling around your hip area. You should not be leaning sideways or bending your knees in order to touch it. This is particularly advisable for young players. To find the right weight look for the heaviest bat that you can swing comfortably. If you are buying for your daughter, and one of your considerations is the length of time she will be using it, the farthest you can go is one and a half years. She will outgrow it quickly, yes, but if you get her a bat that is too long or too heavy for her now, chances are her skill development will be greatly affected.
Materials. Unlike slow pitch softball, wood bats are allowed in fast pitch games. Other materials that can be used are aluminum, graphite, fiberglass and composite materials.
Certification. A bat should be certified for play by your or your daughter's league-governing body. This should be no problem, though, because all softball bats are required to have stamps of approval. If you are borrowing an old bat and the stamp is not clearly identifiable, the umpire might have to inspect the bat first and give you the go-signal before you can use it. |
