Bigger players looking to swing for the fence should look for a bat in the 28 oz to 30 oz range. Smaller or average sized players or those looking for more bat speed should use a bat in the 25 to 27 oz. range. Slow Pitch bats are 34 inches long and weigh from 26 - 30 ounces.
Is a heavier bat better for softball?
1) Softball Bat Weight
As a general rule, bigger, stronger players usually prefer a heavier bat for maximum power. Smaller players usually benefit from a lighter bat that allows greater bat speed.
How heavy of a bat should I use?
A 29-inch bat is recommended for players in this height range that weigh between 91 and 120 pounds. A 30-inch bat is suitable for players between these height parameters and weigh 120+ pounds. Players with a height of 4'1" to 4'4" who weigh under 60 pounds will find a 29-inch bat is just right.
How heavy should a bat weight be?
This is right in the weight range used by most professional players. The results for the Little League player are quite different. The optimum bat weight, for maximum batted ball speed, is about 16oz, and the Ideal Bat Weight is about 12-13oz.
How do I choose the right bat weight?
As a general rule of thumb, the higher the competition or league level (meaning, from youth league up to the pros) the lesser the weight drop. A lesser weight drop means the bat feels heavier. So a -5 bat will feel heavier than a -10 bat.
37 related questions foundWhat size and weight softball bat do I need?
If you have you hitters that need to pick the right softball bat, you should likely pick a bat that is either 26 or 27 inches. Going by the guidelines above, that would be anywhere between 12 and 15 ounces. Like selecting baseball bats, you want the bat to come up to just about hip height, no further, for the hitter.
How do you know if a bat is too heavy?
Another very simple test that anyone can do is to hold the bat out straight. If right-handed, use right hand to hold the bat straight out, parallel to the ground. If he can't easily hold it in this position for 20 seconds, it's too heavy.
Does a heavier softball bat hit farther?
Heavier Bats
A heavier bat will hit a ball farther than a lighter bat, when the speed of the bat swing, the pitch speed and the ball mass are kept constant. Increasing the mass of the bat gives the ball more momentum.
How heavy is a softball bat?
For slowpitch softball, the average bat weighs 28 ounces. They can range from lighter to heavier just based on player preference, whether you want a bat you can make solid contact and swing fast or a heavier bat you can produce more power with. Fastpitch softball bats are even lighter.
What size bat should my daughter use for softball?
Narrow down the bat length based on the girl's height and weight. For example, if she weighs less than 60 lbs. (27.2 kg) and is 36-40 inches tall (91-102 cm), she should probably use a bat that is about 26 inches (66 cm) long. Check the bat length by measuring it against the girl's body.
Should you practice with a heavier bat?
Practicing with a heavier bat significantly slows down the velocity of the bat head—depriving the batter of slugging power, exercise researchers at California State University, Fullerton, say.
How heavy is a drop 5 bat?
The greater the drop is, the lighter the bat will weigh. For example, if you have a -5 length-to-weight ratio (or, drop) and a 30 inch bat, you subtract 5 from the 30 inches and that will give you the weight in ounces (25 ounces).
What size bat does Bryce Harper use?
Bryce Harper
The 19-year-old Nationals phenom has been using a 36-inch, 47-ounce Marucci bat in the practice cage before games.
How many ounces should my softball bat be?
Bigger players looking to swing for the fence should look for a bat in the 28 oz to 30 oz range. Smaller or average sized players or those looking for more bat speed should use a bat in the 25 to 27 oz. range. Slow Pitch bats are 34 inches long and weigh from 26 - 30 ounces.
What does a heavier bat do?
The data shows that a heavier bat produces a faster batted ball speed. This makes intuitive sense since a heavier bat brings more momentum into the collision. Doubling the mass of the bat results in an increase of almost 12mph.
Should I use an end loaded bat?
The concentration of weight towards the end of the bat gives it a more “top-heavy” which some hitters might find a little difficult to control. This is why end-loaded bats are usually recommended for more physically strong athletes who have no problem generating speeds on their own.
Is it OK to hit baseballs with a softball bat?
Using a softball bat to play baseball would most likely result in cracking or breaking your bat. Softball bats are not designed to withstand the forces resulting from an impact with a baseball.
Is there a difference between a baseball bat and softball bat?
What are the sizes of the two types of bats? The main key difference between the two bats is that a softball bat has an average length of 33” for fastpitch and 34” for slow pitch. A regular baseball bat will typically measure to 32”.
What size bat do college softball players use?
*Check with your local league or organization to find out if there are any restrictions on barrel diameter or bat weight. Freshmen/Sophmore High School players: 31 and 32 ich are the most popular • Junior/Senior in High School players: 32 and 33 inch are the most popular • College Players: 33 is the most popular size.
What was the weight of Babe Ruth's bat?
The most amazing thing about these bats, though, is that the 36-inch, 38-ounce Ruth bat is the model the Babe used late in his career. According to the Babe Ruth Museum, the bat he used as a younger player weighed 42 ounces.
Why are bats cupped at the end?
By cupping out the end, that will remove any unnecessary weight that is toward the end of the barrel and allow a player to have more control and give them quicker swing speeds. Quicker swing speed translates into increased exit velocity and further ball flight.
What is a max loaded softball bat?
A maxloaded bat is very similar to an endloaded one, except that there is more weight at the end. This type of bat should only be used by stronger players that have no problems controlling their swing.
How do you know what size bat you need?
Position the bottom of the bat in the center of your chest, facing outward. If your arm can reach out and grab the barrel of the bat, then it is the correct length. Stand the bat up against the side of your leg. If the end of the bat reaches the center of your palm when you reach down, it's the appropriate length.
What does oz mean on a softball bat?
It refers to the difference between the length of the bat (in inches) and the weight of the bat (in ounces). It is always shown as a minus number and the higher the weight drop, the lighter the bat. A -11 drop means that the bat is 11 ounces lighter then the length of the bat.
Is a drop 10 or 11 heavier?
The smaller the drop, the heavier the bat.
In each of those categories, there will be a number e.g. -10oz, -11oz, -12oz etc. Those numbers are the DROP that represent the weight difference between the length and the actual weight of the bat.