Welcome to the Fastpitch Softball Bat Guide!
Fastpitch bats come in a wide variety of sizes and styles including different ones for softball, baseball and even senior league baseball. When you shop for the right bat to use in your diamond sport of choice you’ll see models ranging in price from under $50 to over $300. This means that you will be able to find a fantastic bat that meets your needs in the batter’s box at a price that makes sense for you.
Bat technology has been increasing steadily in the last 30 years with each new generation of equipment showing innovation in both materials and design. Today’s bats are far superior to the first aluminum models and even a good used bat that is a few years old will deliver much better performance than the hitting sticks that preceded it. As you peruse the available inventory simply consider the specific level you’ll be playing and select a bat that is designed to meet its requirements.
What is the Regulation Size for a Fastpitch Bat?
The fact is, there is no universal standard for every fastpitch league. However when it comes to fastpitch softball the National Softball Association has set these requirements: The bat cannot have a length that exceeds 34 inches or a diameter in the barrel greater than 2.24 inches. In addition a bat cannot have a drop greater than 12 which is a number found by subtracting the number of ounces the bat weighs from its length. For example, a 34 inch bat cannot weigh less than 22 ounces. This number is often expressed as -12 and is sometimes called the length to weight ratio.
As you shop for bats the descriptions given may list the sanctioning bodies such as the United States Softball Association (USSA) that approve the bat for use. Most manufacturers follow these guidelines very strictly and it is unlikely you would buy, for instance, a bat designed for fastpitch softball from a major manufacturer that did not fit the proper specifications.
What is the Difference Between Fastpitch and Slowpitch Bats?
Fastpitch bats are generally lighter than those used for slowpitch and this only makes sense. In fastpitch diamond sports getting around on the pitch is essential and a bat with less weight allows for greater swing speed. The reduced mass is offset by the speed of the pitch which supplies some of the power on contact.
In slowpitch softball bats with greater mass will hit the ball with more power producing a harder, longer hit. Swing speed, or bat speed, is not as vital. In slowpitch bats a length to weight ratio of -3 or -4 is common while in fastpitch bats expect to see numbers from -8 to -12.
What are Fastpitch Bats Made of?
The bats on the market are made from a stunning array of high grade materials. Aluminum alloys are still the most popular. They are produced with a variety of aluminum grades that are lightweight and are blended with harder particles to create strength. Other metals you’ll find include magnesium, chromium, scandium, lithium and more.
Most fastpitch bat manufacturers also produce quality carbon composite bats today that offer certain advantages over metal bats but also come with a few liabilities when compared with metal. See our guide “Comparing Metal bats to Composite bats” for more details on which material is best for your fastpitch bat needs.
Fastpitch Hitting Instruction by Sue Enquist