How heavy of a softball bat should I use?

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.

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.

What weight bat should I use?

Those measuring between 3'9" and 4' in height are encouraged to buy a 28-inch bat if they weigh 60 pounds or less. A 28-inch bat is also ideal for those in this height range who weigh between 61 pounds and 80 pounds. A 29-inch bat is recommended for players in this height range that weigh between 91 and 120 pounds.

How big of a 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.

What size bat should my daughter use for softball?

In general: Children under 60 pounds should swing a bat between 26 and 29 inches long. Children weighing more than 70 pounds should swing a bat ranging from 28 to 32 inches long.

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.

Is a heavier bat better?

So, using a heavier bat should result in faster hit balls, which means the hit ball will travel farther. If a player can maintain the same bat swing speed with a heavier bat, the heavier bat will produce higher batted ball velocity and an increase in distance.

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.

Should I practice with a heavier bat?

But a new study suggests batters who add ounces to their practice swings may be making an error. 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.

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.

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.

Can a bat be too light?

A bat that is too light will cause batters to swing too fast, which also affects rhythm and keeps the batter from doing their job. A light bat also sometimes causes the shoulders to get ahead of the hips. In an effective swing, the hips should lead the rest of the body.

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.

Do you want a lighter or heavier bat?

At some point the bat gets so heavy that you can't swing it very fast, but a very light bat, at maximum swing velocity, does not carry very much power to transfer to the ball. So you need something in-between. Plus the weight of the bat affects how easy/hard it is to control in several respects.

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.

How do you know if a bat is too short?

With that in mind, the most reliable and easiest place to start in determining bat length, according to Trudeau, is to place the knob of the bat in the center of your chest and extend it along the length of your outstretched arm, as shown below. “The bat should come somewhere out to the middle of the fingers,” he said.

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.

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 drop bat should a 13 year old use?

Weight drops vary in Senior League baseball, but players 10 years old and under often use -10 weight drop bat. Players 11-12 years old will often use a -8 weight drop, and 13 year old players often use a -5 weight drop.

What does drop 11 mean on a softball bat?

Length- Drop= Weight. For example, a 32-inch bat with a -9 'drop' would weigh in at 23 oz. while a 32-inch bat with a -10 'drop' would be 22 oz. -8, -9 and endloaded bats give you more power with each swing due to extra weight. -10 and -11 are for hitters with quicker bat speeds and looking to get on base everytime.

What size bat should my 12 year old daughter use?

Considering BBCOR bats are right around the corner we'd suggest most 12 year olds look for a drop 8 bat as the right drop. In terms of length most drop 8 bats go as low as a 30 through a 32. We think the ideal bat for the average 12 year old is a 31-inch drop 8 bat (which would make it 23-ounces).

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 size bat should my 7 year old use?

The average 7 year old should swing a bat that is between 24 and 28 inches. A 27-inch bat is the most common for this age group.