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What does the mean on a fastpitch bat?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 16, 2026

The number that you see on bats refers to the length of the bat (in inches) subtracted from the weight (in ounces). So if you have a bat that's 28 inches long that weighs 20 ounces you'd have a -8 bat.

What does the number on a softball bat mean?

What does the Minus mean? (Examples: -12, -8, -5). Always a minus number, it refers to the weight of the bat. Also referred to as the bat drop or the bat's length to weight ratio. Take the length of the bat and subtract the minus number and that is the weight. So a 33 inch bat that is -3 weighs 30 ounces.

What Does the drop mean on a fastpitch softball bat?

• The drop is the difference between the length of the bat and the weight of the bat. For. example if a bat is 30 in. long and weighs 20 oz. then the drop is 10.

What is the minus on a softball bats?

The negative numbers under the bat size categories are the length to weight ratio. This means if you take the length of the bat you are searching for (e.g. 32 inches) and the size it comes in (e.g. -8), your bat would weigh 24 ounces.

What drop is a 24 oz bat?

bat with a drop 10, weighs 24 oz.

26 related questions found

What size fastpitch bat should I use?

Place the bat knob at the center of your chest and extend the barrel out toward your fingertips. If you can touch the end of the bat with your fingertips, the bat is an appropriate size.

How do you tell if a bat is the right size?

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 do you read a softball bat?

Softball Bat Drop Weight

To determine a softball bat's drop weight, you take the length minus the weight. For example, a 30-inch softball bat that weighs 20-ounces would have a drop of 10. Whether you're shopping online or browsing in a store, you'll see the drop weight indicated like this (-10).

What do the negative numbers mean on bats?

Weight differential (or drop) -- 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 (if the length is the same). For example, a 28” bat with a -10 drop weighs 18 oz.

What does 12 mean on a bat?

“Length-to-weight ratio” is perhaps the most important factor in buying a bat. This is a negative number denoting the amount of ounces the bat weighs less than the amount of inches of its length. For example, a 30-inch bat that weighs 20 ounces is a -10. The greatest differential commonly found is -12 for youth bats.

Is a drop 8 or drop 10 better?

Fundamentally, there are no differences between Drop 8 and Drop 10 bats other than the scale weight. Although each USSSA brand and model has its own vibe, the industry generally holds to these rules when moving from a drop 8 to a drop 10.

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).

Which is better drop 10 or drop 11?

So, drop 10 would mean 10 oz, whereas drop 11 would mean 11 oz. These are weights that you lessen from the overall length of the bats to get to the real weight. The higher the drop you have, the lighter your bat will be. And so, a drop 11 bat will be much lighter than a drop 10 bat.

What does the number on a wooden bat mean?

Weight A bat is measured in its “drop.” A bat “drop” is a negative number showing the bat's length to weight differential. For example if a bat is 33 inches and has a drop weight of (-3) the bat will weigh 30 ounces. The bigger the drop weight, the lighter the bat will be.

What does minus 3 bat mean?

For anyone who is wondering, a drop 3 baseball bat is one that has a length to weight ratio of -3. This means that the difference between the length of the bat in inches and its weight is about 3. These bats are most often found at the high school/college level of play.

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.

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.

What does 13 on a bat mean?

Aluminum bats are available with negative ratings as low as -13. These bats, which are extremely light and long, are only available for the youngest youth leagues.

Does an ounce make a difference in a bat?

Yes, every ounce makes a difference. Two ounces doesn't seem like much but I've seen it make a large difference. 1 inch in length is huge. My 12u daughter is still on a 30" despite her having a brand new zeno 31" and brand new 454 31" in the bag.

What inch bat should I use?

Players with a height of 4'1" to 4'4" who weigh under 60 pounds will find a 29-inch bat is just right. A 29-inch bat is also suitable for players under 60 pounds who stand between 4'5" and 4'8". Even those in this height range who weigh between 61 pounds and 90 pounds will find a 29-inch bat is perfect.

How heavy 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 is a drop 13 bat?

The drop 13 means that the weight of the bat in ounces is 13 less than the length of the bat in inches. It's all about control, but the following drop 13 youth bats offer a lot more than that.

What size bat does Jose Altuve use?

There are any number of ways to quantify the astonishing things that José Altuve has wrought as a 66-inch-tall ballplayer wielding a 33-inch-long bat.

How many meters is a bat?

The length of a baseball bat is about 1 meter.

What drop size bat do I need?

The drop weight changes as the player becomes better / stronger / older. Youth baseball bats – If you are a new player that makes his first baseball steps, you should start with a bat that has a -10 or -12 drop weight. These are drop weights recommended for children starting to play baseball.