The 3 Best USSSA Slowpitch Softball Bats [2022 Updats] - BatDigest.com (2023)

FAQs

What bats have the most pop? ›

Indeed, the Maple Sam Bat led Bonds to the home run title. And no one in recorded history has hit a ball harder off the bat than Stanton (123 mph). Ergo, the maple 2K1 Sam Bat has the most pop.

Just like for fastpitch, USSSA allows for higher performance than ASA so a USSSA only stamp bat will typically be hotter than a bat with an ASA stamp.

The lightest of all USSSA bats, drop 12 bats are designed for the youngest players in travel ball. Built for young players in search of a lightweight feel, these bats are best for rising stars who are looking to maximize barrel control.

End Loaded Baseball and Softball Bats

By placing more mass directly in the hitting zone, stronger hitters can generate more momentum with similar swing speeds resulting in the ability to hit the ball a greater distance. We recommend that older, stronger players experiment with end loaded bats.

With 1.5 BPF and a larger barrel diameter, USSSA bats offer much more pop when hitting the ball, increased springiness, and thus a greater trampoline effect. According to several research testings, USSSA bats provide a 5 to 10 percent increase when it comes to how fast the ball flies and how far the batters hit it.

USA bats do tend to lack the pop or ping of a USSSA bat because of that lower weight, but they are required for play in leagues that created the USABat standard itself (again, Babe Ruth Baseball, Cal Ripken Baseball, PONY Baseball, etc.). TLDR of USABat is they are lighter weight and used for league play.

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.

ADULT SLOWPITCH

For contact/gap hitters, it may be best to choose a bat weight of 26 or 27 ounces. Athletes seeking maximum power and distance at the plate should opt for the heavier weights of 28 or 30 ounces.

Which bat is better end loaded or balanced? ›

End-loaded bats have more weight toward the end cap, more and have a relatively higher swing weight for that reason. More balanced bats have their weight distributed more evenly and have a relatively lower swing weight for that reason.

2022 Easton Maxum Ultra USSSA

Boasting one of the biggest sweet spots of any 2022 Bat, the 2022 Easton Maxum Ultra will be a great option for those looking to square up each pitch in the zone for 2022.

Starting in 2021, Perfect game bans all the USSSA banned bats, see below, and the 2017 DeMarini CF drop 5, the 2016 USSSA CF8 line of bats (5, 8, 10), the 2015 CF7 in a drop 5 and the 2015 Eaton XL1 in a drop 5. All banned for Perfect Game starting 2021.

All USSSA bats have a 1.15 Bat Performance Factor, which essentially measures how fast the ball comes off the bat at impact. In general, this standard allows USSSA bats to have more “pop” than other youth bats.

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.

In short, any decent USSSA bat will outperform a USA Bat by a considerable margin. While it depends on a number of factors you should expect a legitimate 5 to 10% improvement in total distance and exit speeds. (That is, a 200-foot shot is now a 210 to 220-foot shot).

There is a common belief that composite baseball bats perform better than alloy baseball bats. But, that's not the case. Composite bats definitely have their benefits over aluminum alloy bats, but when it comes to overall performance the two materials are equally good.

And yes a shaved bat can pass a compression test.

How do I know if my bat is too light? ›

You can tell the bat is too heavy if the player appears to be "chopping" at the ball. A bat that is too light also hampers the development of a solid, level swing. The player will swing the bat from low to high, with too much bat speed resulting in fly balls.

Bat weight is measured by the minus or drop weight. Drop weight is the difference between the length and weight of the bat, so a bat that is 30 inches long and has a drop weight of -10 will weigh 20 ounces. The bigger the drop weight is, the lighter the bat will weigh.

I knew that the leagues in our area had outlawed “USSSA” bats, because they had way too much pop, and adopted the “USA” bat standard, which strove to make bats that hit like wood ones, but maintained the durability of metal bats. It was partially a safety issue.

A composite bat will last anywhere from 1 to 3 years after it is broken in. For a bat that is used all year round, it may only last 2 years before it needs to be replaced. On the other hand, a composite bat that is used only for a few months or periods of time every year may last even over 3 years.

Is It Illegal? Bat rolling is not illegal. As a matter of fact, all composite bats must be rolled in testing before they are deemed legal for play. This is to make sure that as the bat gets hotter after more use, and it will not exceed the bat performance standards put in place.

USSSA. USSSA stands for "United States Specialty Sports Association." The USSSA certification is measured by "BPF" (Bat Performance Factor). BPF is simply the increase in the liveliness of a ball hitting a bat compared to throwing a ball against a solid wall (i.e., 20% faster rebound = a BPF of 1.20).

The bats currently on the market, which are marked with a 1.15BPF stamp, will no longer be legal for play in these leagues. USSSA youth baseball will NOT be implementing this rule change to the bats.

USSSA (1.15 BPF): Bat Performance Factor measures how fast the ball comes off of the bat. 1.15 is the standard for travel baseball bats. Includes 2 1/4" Barrel, 2 5/8" Barrel, & 2 3/4" Barrel bats. Search available USSSA 1.15 Certified Baseball Bats.

Softball Hitting Tips. Hit 50 Feet Further by Snapping the Hips n ...

Shaved Easton USA bats and shaved baseball bats have a much lower swing weight than conventional bats. In a Just Bat Reviews test, a shaved bat swings 7% lighter than its originally identical counterpart. Removing the shavings from the bat got rid of an additional 1.5 ounces and deceased its MOI from 8800 to 8200.

How do you know if a bat is too heavy? ›

The best weight is very much based on feel. If you take multiple swings and the bat feels heavy or begins to drop, then it's probably too heavy for your needs. Try holding the bat handle and extending your arm to your side. If you can't hold the bat extended for 30 to 45 seconds, the bat might be too heavy for you.

A balanced softball bat is going to have a perfectly balanced weight distribution throughout the entirety of the bat. An end-loaded softball bat will have extra weight added to the end portion of the barrel. You could also think of an end-loaded bat being “top heavy”.

Drop 10 is still the most popular drop, but some power hitters prefer a drop 9. *Bat Weight is also a preference. There are some over 14 players that prefer and use lighter bats. This can vary depending on their strength or type of hitter they are (power vs slap hitter).

Choosing the Right Slow Pitch Bat: Beginner's Guide - YouTube

More often than not, a hitter trying to hit for power will be better off using a one-piece bat due to the additional power created with that type. In contrast, a two-piece bat would better serve a player looking to increase bat speed but focuses more on getting on base via regular contact.

A general rule of thumb is the higher level of competition, the lower the drop weight, which means the bat feels heavier. A -8 fastpitch bat will feel much heavier than, for example, a -11 bat. Players with more experience are more likely to have the strength required to not only swing, but control heavier bats.

A longer bat gives you greater reach, allowing you to hit balls on the other side of the plate. But remember that a longer bat may be heavier, and the extra weight could slow you down. Like checking the weight, you need to swing bats of different lengths to decide what length best suits you.

How To Break In A Composite Baseball Bat - YouTube

The Right Bat Size for Players Standing 5-Feet Tall or Taller. Players who stand 5'1" to 5'4" in height and weigh between 71 pounds and 120 pounds are encouraged to buy a bat with a 31-inch length. Plyers in this height range weighing between 121 pounds and 180 pounds should swing a 32-inch bat.

Cold weather cracks are maximized on composite bats, and dense balls (which are nearly all cold baseballs or softballs) will cause these cracks. Dents are the most common form of damage to aluminum bats in cold weather, but these bats won't break like composite bats.

How do I know if my bat is USSSA approved? ›

A USA Bat has a logo of USA Baseball engraved at the bat barrel. A USSSA Bat must have the 1.15 BPF USSSA or Certified . 50 BBCOR stamp somewhere on the barrel. If the bat exceeds a barrel diameter of 2.75 inches, it would not be certified according to USSSA Bat rules.

What Is Bat Rolling? Bat rolling is an accelerated break-in process for composite bats that brings a bat to peak performance. More specifically, mechanical rollers built within a type of vice, compress the barrel along its length. This compression loosens the composite fibers in the barrel.

The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) announced yesterday that following further consideration, it lifted its ban on the 29” and 30” models of the popular DeMarini CF Zen ¾” -10 model bats (pictured above).

The lightest of all USSSA bats, drop 12 bats are designed for the youngest players in travel ball. Built for young players in search of a lightweight feel, these bats are best for rising stars who are looking to maximize barrel control. The 2022 Louisville Slugger Meta One is available in a drop 12-bat drop.

Just like for fastpitch, USSSA allows for higher performance than ASA so a USSSA only stamp bat will typically be hotter than a bat with an ASA stamp.

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.

Performance Differences

As we mentioned earlier, BBCOR bats are made for players looking to maximize performance – high school, collegiate or adult athletes are the people that should be using BBCOR bats. On the other hand, USA bats tend to lack the pop or ping of a BBCOR bat because they have a lighter swing weight.

When compared to alloy or wood bats, composites produce more potential for pop. The complex blend of carbon fiber materials propels the baseball off the barrel at quicker speeds and extra force vs. aluminum bats.

It is widely agreed that composite bats have a slightly better or more consistent pop than their alloy counterparts. Also, because of the carbon fiber materials, the vibration control when making contact with the ball makes hitting a ball off the end or handle more forgiving.

The breaking down of composite resin forms spider-web-like cracks on the bat's barrel and ultimately improves the performance of your composite bat. Bats that are fully broken in have more pop & launch the ball further. On the other hand, aluminum bats don't crack or break. Instead, they dent.

Which is better BBCOR or USSSA? ›

USSSA Bat Standards

A USSSA baseball bat has a higher bat performance factor than a wood baseball bat or BBCOR bat. As a result, the composite and metal bats (aluminum bats, metal hybrids, etc.)

With the approval of USSSA National, certain 14U and an even more limited number of 13U tournaments may be run allowing only BBCOR and wood bats from approved USSSA Bat Licensees. (2) USSSA marks and other graphics of the bat must be applied permanently and must be applied by the USSSA licensed manufacturer.

Composite baseball bats are never recommended for use when playing in temperatures that fall below 60 degrees. This is because the performance problems and possibility of cracking increases.

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.

A variety of things can result in a baseball bat becoming dead, but it eventually happens to all composite or aluminum bats over time. Just like wood bats eventually will break, a metal bat will go dead.

How does a Composite Bat go Dead? As mentioned previously, all baseball bats have an expiration date. Therefore yes, even a composite bat can be dead. In general, the closer a composite bat comes to the end of its lifespan, the more different the bat will sound.

Slow Pitch Bat With The Most Pop

Like fastpitch, most softball bats with the best pop will come from composite barrel bats. Composite materials tend to hold up better to the powerful collisions with softballs, allowing each player to effectively swing through contact and drive the ball further into the outfield.

The biggest benefit of composite bats is how much pop youth players can achieve. In addition, composite bats have a larger sweet spot than wood or alloy bats so that you can get a baseball further. Batters can hit further faster thanks to the fiber polymers used in composite bats.

Detroit Tigers, 118.8 mph. Want proof that a baseball doesn't have to have launch angle to still have a high exit velocity? Look no further than this single off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton.

Pop is something that should never be compromised when it comes to a softball bat. Sadly, many of the softball bats tend to lose their pop with time. Take careful note of how fast balls bounce off the barrel of your baseball bat from the very first use and onward.

What does a dead bat mean? ›

dead bat (plural dead bats) (cricket) The bat when held with a light grip such that it gives when the ball strikes it, and the ball loses momentum and falls to the ground.

A composite bat typically lasts somewhere between one and three years. An alloy bat should last at least two years.