Softball bats were at one time made chiefly of wood, but advances in technology have introduced materials such as aluminum, graphite, and composites. Each material has its positive and unique features.

Wood: Wood softball bats are very rare but are slowly regaining favor with softball enthusiasts who would rather hear a whack and not a ping when the bat meets ball. A wood softball bat is bottle-shaped and can weigh between 32-35 ounces (around 8 ounces heavier than an aluminum bat). Traditionally, wood bats have been made from ash. However, ash is light and soft and bats made from ash tend to splinter and dent fast. Wood from maple, oak, and bamboo is also used for these bats. Maple is harder and its grain is denser as compared to ash, making it less susceptible to splintering and chafing. Bats made from Chinese bamboo are the closest wood bat equivalent of an aluminum bat. Bamboo is extremely light-weight and ha a tensile strength higher than that of steel.

Aluminum: The increased research and engineering in the science of bat making has resulted in high-tech aluminum softball bats that can cost upward of $300. Aluminum bats are lighter thereby enabling batters to generate greater bat speed and control. They are stronger and more durable than wood bats and they do not break; however, they may dent or ***** over a period of time. Aluminum bats are available in different alloy and weight combinations. Light aluminum alloys that are thinner are more resilient and provide a larger hitting zone or "sweet spot". Aluminum bats are made in single-layer and double-layer combinations; double-layer bats are used by the power-hitters.

Graphite/Titanium lined: Aluminum bats are lined with graphite or titanium. These light, durable, and strong materials are added to aluminum bats with thin walls in order to make the bats lighter. Lighter bats help batters to generate more power in their swing. Bats lined with graphite or titanium have a greater hitting zone or "sweet spot". These materials are shock-absorbent as well and aid in reducing the shock felt when a stroke is mistimed.

Composite materials: Bats made from composite materials such as carbon, glass, or Kevlar are light weight, rigid, and sturdy. Composite materials enable bat manufacturers to incorporate varying strengths and stiffness in different parts of a bat. The result is a bat with stiff bat handles for greater control, low stiffness hitting areas for better performance and reduced shock, and differentiated swing weights. Bats made from composite materials have a large hitting surface with a more pronounced "sweet spot". However, the extreme velocities at which the ball rebounds off the bat can pose a safety hazard to the pitcher who has to react in a very limited time.

Softball Bats That Are Prohibited

If your league is anything like most leagues in Colorado, you probably receive a list of illegal bats at the beginning of each softball season. Maybe the list is handed out at your manager's meeting, or maybe it is posted on your softball league's website, either way, you need to be conscience of that list when selecting a bat.

Why are there illegal bats?

There are two main reasons that softball leagues issue illegal bat lists. The first is for the protection of the players, mainly the pitcher. Every day the bat companies are inventing new technologies that are equipping players essentially with bats that more resemble artillery launchers than traditional softball bats. This puts the pitcher, in particular in danger. Depending on your league rules, the pitcher will be around 40-50 feet from the mound after the release. (Also, depending on your league rules, the pitcher may be 4 or 5 beers into the evening after the release).

The strength of some of the players, combined with the new technology of the bats put the pitcher in a very precarious position as a line drive comes scream towards his/her head. And don't forget the pitcher isn't the only one who should be concerned for their safety, infielders, particularly third base and shortstop, when righties are up, and second base and first base, with lefties, also can get quite a lump on the noggin from a hot shot off some of these enhanced technology bats.

The second reason behind issuing illegal bats is fairness of play. Recreational softball should not be won by the team that can pay the most for bats, and rest assured the newer the technology, the higher the price.

Recreational softball is played by millions so that they can go out and have fun for an hour or so a week. If a team is plunking homerun after homerun into the lake on the other side of the fence, the game will get tedious and boring. Restricting the power behind the bats, will keep more balls in the park and make the game more fun for both teams.

These are the two main reasons that recreational softball leagues issue an illegal bat list. Before you purchase a bat, make sure you check the illegal bat list for your league.

I am looking for a very good fastpitch softball bat for my daughter who plays on a U14 club team.

You can see them all around the Softball park, swinging their bats, hitting at imaginary targets and sometimes practicing at objects, improving their strength all the time. The force behind the swing of the batters can be tremendous. The truth is, it is not the strength behind the swing that only matters. It is also the kind of bat one uses.

How to pick the right bat?

The Length

To pick the correct bat length, the bat should be long enough to reach your wrist when you are standing straight with arms on your size. With the tip of the bat touching the ground to your wrist will very most likely the most comfortable bat length that you can pick.

The Weight

Every softball player has his own individual requirement especially when it comes to carrying out weights. The rule of the thumb when picking the correct bat weight is to try out the bat first. See if the player can swing the bat comfortably and control the swing with both hands without strain. The bat has to be the heaviest that the player can swing without loss of speed. If the bat does not fall into these categories, look for another one. It does not matter if the bat chosen is the most expensive and the most beautifully crafted with the most advanced material. If the player will be sacrificing these, the player will only be having a good top of the line, technically crafted bat. You can not say that for his swings.

Whatever the case, always take a bat that is light. Lighter bats can be swung faster and the resulting distance could be farther.

Having said that, here are ways to pick legal bats.

Advancement in technology has created bats where the softball bats can fit and be comfortably swung by players of all ages and built. Even the less technically proficient can today, swing the softball bat and hit the ball at speeds that can pose a serious problem with the pitcher and the infielders. Technically advanced bats can also ruin the game, as players would rely more and more on the more expensive multiple alloys instead of having fun and developing the skill. For these reasons, many softball organizations started banning specific bats and having guidelines for softball bat specifications. Some of these standards are:

The BTF or the Bat Performance Factor has to be 1.20 certified.

The Ball to Exit Ratio has to have a 97-MPH BESR on a normally thrown pitch.

The bats must have a smooth safety grip not just tapes.

The ideal softball bat in the hands of a good player translates to the game Americans love. To prepare for a good batting positions here are a few suggestions:

Loosen up. Twist back and forth, bend up and down, do a stationary jog, do anything to loosen up the muscles. If you have a good bat speed, fluidity in movement will give you the power.

Use a carbon based softball bat. Carbons perform better than aluminum.

When you are batting, distribute your weight on both feet. When the ball is in the level between your shoulders and your chest, hit it. Hitting the ball in that position is just giving it another direction. The power that you smash it with will give it the distance.

There are a number of advantages to using fastpitch softball bats and among them are the ability score more runs, add greater number of hits as well as win more at the sport. It is quite surprising to learn that many fastpitch softball bats can actually help you to hit the ball as much as twenty percent harder than your normal run of the mill softball bats. With such bats around, you can look forward to turning your ground outs into single runs scored, and you can also turn your single runs into doubles.

Most people that are interested in the sport of softball are keen to know which the best bats are. There are of course quite a few options to choose from and before you choose any particular one you need to do some comparisons. Some people prefer using a Miken while others will go for the Anderson RocketTech. Still others would prefer the Worth Mayhem and there are also many takers for Easton Stealth as well as Louisville Slugger Catalyst and it would also be wrong to discount the DeMarini Onyx.

With so much variety to choose from, it can be hard figuring out which fastpitch softball bats are the best. To make things simple you need to follow a few simple rules such as making sure that the bats are tested as well as held to the twenty percent rule. In other words it should not be possible for the ball to come off from your fastpitch softball bat at a speed greater than one hundred and twenty percent of the speed at which it came into contact with the bat.

Any differences that are noticed can be accounted to the way that the bats are weighed and also how they are balanced as well as the amount of flexibility that is ingrained in it which gives the bats their whipping effect. Another feature that you will need to look closely at when choosing your fastpitch softball bats is the numbers on it which include numbers such as minus 10, 9 and 8 and these numbers relate to the length versus weight. So, a bat with -10 will be thirty-one inches long and twenty ounces in weight.

To get the best out of your fastpitch softball bats you should go for ones that are longer as well as on the lighter side; however, if the batter is tall as well as lanky you may well have to choose a bat that is more compact. Another aspect to buying the correct fastpitch softball bats is that you should not expect to pay less for the bats and at the same time expect too much in return. There is bound to be a difference between a twenty dollar bat and one that costs upwards of fifty dollars. However, it may be more advisable to buy a bat that costs between one hundred and seventy-five dollars and two hundred and seventy-five dollars for which price you can expect to get premium quality fastpitch softball bats. If you are in need of saving some money; then consider buying a slightly outdated model which will mean having to pay between forty and one hundred dollars less.

I would like to buy a softball bat to play, but dont know how to choose them, the right size and/or weight.

looking for the best top of the line slow pitch softball bats that is ASA approved

Apparently you can't use a wooden baseball bat to play softball, since the softball rules for a bat are different. Why do softball and baseball have different bat shapes to begin with, and what does whatever minor shape difference they have matter with a wooden bat?

In your opinion what are the best bats out there.

Softball bats were at one time made chiefly of wood, but advances in technology have introduced materials such as aluminum, graphite, and composites. Each material has its positive and unique features.

Wood: Wood softball bats are very rare but are slowly regaining favor with softball enthusiasts who would rather hear a whack and not a ping when the bat meets ball. A wood softball bat is bottle-shaped and can weigh between 32-35 ounces (around 8 ounces heavier than an aluminum bat). Traditionally, wood bats have been made from ash. However, ash is light and soft and bats made from ash tend to splinter and dent fast. Wood from maple, oak, and bamboo is also used for these bats. Maple is harder and its grain is denser as compared to ash, making it less susceptible to splintering and chafing. Bats made from Chinese bamboo are the closest wood bat equivalent of an aluminum bat. Bamboo is extremely light-weight and ha a tensile strength higher than that of steel.

Aluminum: The increased research and engineering in the science of bat making has resulted in high-tech aluminum softball bats that can cost upward of $300. Aluminum bats are lighter thereby enabling batters to generate greater bat speed and control. They are stronger and more durable than wood bats and they do not break; however, they may dent or ***** over a period of time. Aluminum bats are available in different alloy and weight combinations. Light aluminum alloys that are thinner are more resilient and provide a larger hitting zone or "sweet spot". Aluminum bats are made in single-layer and double-layer combinations; double-layer bats are used by the power-hitters.

Graphite/Titanium lined: Aluminum bats are lined with graphite or titanium. These light, durable, and strong materials are added to aluminum bats with thin walls in order to make the bats lighter. Lighter bats help batters to generate more power in their swing. Bats lined with graphite or titanium have a greater hitting zone or "sweet spot". These materials are shock-absorbent as well and aid in reducing the shock felt when a stroke is mistimed.

Composite materials: Bats made from composite materials such as carbon, glass, or Kevlar are light weight, rigid, and sturdy. Composite materials enable bat manufacturers to incorporate varying strengths and stiffness in different parts of a bat. The result is a bat with stiff bat handles for greater control, low stiffness hitting areas for better performance and reduced shock, and differentiated swing weights. Bats made from composite materials have a large hitting surface with a more pronounced "sweet spot". However, the extreme velocities at which the ball rebounds off the bat can pose a safety hazard to the pitcher who has to react in a very limited time.

You can find softball bats manufacturers' closeouts & factory seconds, cosmetically blemished softball & baseall bats, mitts, baseball gloves, softballs, cleats and other sports gear. You will probably find some of the best deals anywhere on quality softball, baseball and hockey merchandise. At stores with a mixture of current seasons stock plus insane deals on cosmetic blems, over runs and prior seasons closeouts.

When shopping for discount softball bats, follow the coaches' rules. They understand what's best for their players. We're talking world-class softball players here, not the weekend warriors on the diamond with a cooler of beer and sandwiches. So we're talking world-class coaches.

The first move is to head your nearby superstore of sporting goods. Even if you plan to buy online, where you can discover some of the finest deals, take the time to visit a brick and mortar store first. It's important to find a sporting goods store that will let you exam different bats. That way, you can precisely feel which bat works for you. Sure, you can use online reviews to aid you narrow down which bats you want to test, but at no time rely on these reviews alone. They are based on the reviewers on personal feel for the bat.

Once you have a bat in your grasp, the first thing you want to look for is length. Standing with your arms straight down to your sides, check where the knob of the bat is. It should be lined up with the crease between your wrist and your hand. You likely need a longer bat if the knob is at your palm level. You want a shorter bat if the knob is at your forearm. Just because you're looking to buy discount softball bats does not mean you should sacrifice comfort, your talent level, or your chance for improvement.

Then get a sense for the weight of the bat. Remember, it should feel like the heaviest hunk of wood that you can swing without losing swing velocity or swing mechanics, or knocking yourself out. It may be a matter of ounces

Once you have a bat selected, make note of it and race home to surf to your favorite discount softball bats vendor online. Then you can be assured that the bat that comes in the mail will be perfect to up your game.

Be sure when shopping discount to look carefully and you will find great products that unfortunately will no longer be selling at great discount prices. Some colors and or sizes may vary but the quality is usually the same. Take advantage of this opportunity when you find it because when they are gone they're gone forever as a rule! Usually Very limited quantities and colors in stock.