What Makes a Good Softball Bat?

There are several factors that come into play when deciding what is the right softball bat for you. Because everyone is different, these factors will differ from player to player.

  1. Bat weight

    • When you are up to bat in a game, you will need to hold the bat up for a few seconds each time a pitch is made and several times throughout an at-bat. To make sure that a bat is not too heavy for you, make sure that you can hold the bat up in your batter's stance for at least 20-30 seconds without your arms feeling fatigued.

    Weight distribution

    • Though you may have a softball bat that is the correct weight for you, a bat that does not have its weight properly distributed will not suit you well either. If the bat is too top-heavy or oddly weighted, you may notice a change in your swing. A change in your swing due to your bat will dramatically alter your hitting for the worse. When choosing a softball bat, make sure that your swing is not affected.

    Length

    • The proper length of a softball bat differs based on the length of a player's arms and the stance they use in the batter's box. The right bat for a player will place the "sweet spot," the largest point on the bat, over the middle of home plate when they swing.