A softball game becomes more entertaining with the right bat in the hands. A right bat has ideal length, and perfect weight, and meets all the properties that are required to use the bat in any selected league. Simply, it is well equipped with everything to take you to a winning position. But, what is the best size of a softball bat to go for?
The list of senior softball leagues is enormous. All the softball senior leagues follow more or less the same criteria, however, there might be a minute difference in the demands of one league to another.
As for the size of the softball bat for a senior player, the length is defined already and accepted by almost all the leagues. An adult softball bat has the following characteristics when it comes to the size:
- The barrel diameter must be 2 ¼ inches
- The length must not be more than 34 inches
- The weight requirements may vary depending on the game type
Other than these, the bat should be able to meet the standard ball speed of a softball game – it can be higher in a fastpitch and slower in a slowpitch game. The constructing material of the bat can be aluminum or other bat material like fiberglass, composite, graphite, or wood.
The age of the player is also important when it comes to the bat’s size.
According to the expert recommendation, a player who is 14 years old or over can have the bat with a length of 31 inches to 34 inches depending on the player’s height. The upper limit is defined generally and the lower limit may change according to the league in which you are playing.
Keeping the variation allowed in the game aside, your softball bat size will depend on your body size. Knowing your size and selecting the right bat will boost your performance greatly.
In This Article
How to select the right length?
Your height and also the length of your hands and feet will tell about the best bat size.
As for the length, there are three ways to know which length suits you the best.
- Stand up in the straight position and place your bat in the same position vertically side by side. The bat must reach your mid-hip region. If it does so, it is the right length to go for.
- Stand in the straight position with your one arm extended. Now hold the bat in a way that its knob is in the center of your chest and its end going towards the fingertips of your extended hand. If it touches your fingertips, then it is the right size for you.
- Stand straight and place the bat’s knob on your chest in such a way that the bat becomes perpendicular to your body. Now, try to reach the bat’s end. If you can touch the barrel,
How to select the right weight?
There is no definition to tell the correct weight of the bat. It is a matter of your own choice. Mainly, it depends on your swinging ability and efficiency.
It is obvious that a lean player will find it difficult to swing a heavy bat. On the other hand, a heavy bat only adds more power to the swinging shot for a strong player. So, how well you can bear the weight of any bat will lead you towards final selection.
You need to hold the bat continuously on the field. To test your ability to hold the bat for long, extend your arm with which you are going to play and hold the bat for at least 30 seconds. If your hands remain extended for that long without getting tired, that means this bat is right for you.
How to select the right drop weight?
The difference in the bat’s length and weight values is called its drop weight. The bat with a higher drop weight means it is lighter in weight and the opposite is correct for the heavier bat.
When you know the right length and weight for you, selecting the drop weight becomes easier. Just go for the bat that matches your size.
Is there any difference between the size requirement of the fastpitch and slowpitch softball bats?
According to the game regulations, a slowpitch and a fastpitch game have the same bat size requirement. The maximum length is 34 inches for both games. The difference comes in the weight mainly.
In the fastpitch game, the player can select the maximum drop weight of -12 and the weight limit is 22 ounces. On the contrary, the weight of the bat can go up to 38 ounces.
As the name suggests, the fastpitch game is fast with a higher ball speed. So, a simple hit can drag the ball across the field. Adversely, the slowpitch match allows low-speed pitches thus taking a ball to the distances needs a lot of power. Hence, it is desirable for a slowpitch softball bat to be heavier overall as it will increase the player’s powers and efforts.
Final Words
It is crucial that the players keep in mind their special body configuration when selecting a bat. A right bat selection helps the player to cover the whole strike zone along with making the swing easier.
Lighter bats swing faster but they have lesser power than the bats having more weight. Their lower swing is due to the heavyweight but in the hands of a strong player, they may swing with the same speed. The speed of the bat is the combined efforts of the bat and the player. The player’s power and playing technique influence the speed greatly. The right bat in the hand of the right player can make a great difference.
Overall, we can say that the perfect size of a softball bat for any adult is a matter of the abilities of the player. With the right bat selection, a player’s perfection in the game makes the bat perfect in return.
Hello everyone, I’m Darron and head Editor of this site. I’m so proud to be a part of this project.
