JustBats.com Buying Guides

Choosing a Fastpitch Bat

How long of a bat do you need? How heavy should it be? The key to finding a good bat is getting the perfect size and weight that fits you. JustBats.com is here to help you answer some of the simple questions for selecting a fastpitch softball bat.

Fastpitch bats range from 26 to 32 inches for youth players and 30 to 34 inches long for high school and older players. Fastpitch bats will typically have a drop weight ranging from -8 to -13. The drop weight indicates the length to weight ratio. It is a really simple concept, so don't let it confuse you. Basically, you are just taking the weight minus the length to come up with a negative number that is called the drop. For instance, a 34 inch bat that weighs 24 ounces is a -10 drop weight.

Fastpitch bats are available in aluminum as well as composite models. There are many different sanction leagues such as ASA, USSSA, NSA and ISA. Almost all fastpitch bats will be approved for any play and come with an ASA certified stamp. ASA tends to have the most strict batted ball speed policies therefore, if a fastpitch bat has an ASA stamp it will be approved in almost all leagues.

Check out JustBats.com for the largest selection of fastpitch softball bats around.

Mistakes to Avoid when Picking a Fastpitch Softball Bat

Hi, I’m Michele Smith, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and I’m going to talk with you a little bit about some of the common mistakes that athletes make when picking bats.

The first one is they pick it because of the color. Either it matches their uniform or it doesn’t, or it’s their favorite color, or it’s not. Color should have nothing to do with the performance of the bat. So, make sure you’re picking a bat based on performance, not on its color.

The other mistake I see sometimes is that you pick a bat that your teammates are swinging; just because they’re swinging it doesn’t mean it’s the perfect bat for you. Try out some bats, find out what bat performs the best in your hands, because remember nobody’s in that box with you other than you and the bat.

The third thing I think that sometimes are mistakes that are made, is that you pick a bat that’s too heavy. Remember, when swinging a bat, you want to have a quick light bat to contact quick and fast, is what gives the ball a lot of pop.

If you’re swinging a bat that’s too heavy you’re going to be slow. The pitcher’s going to be beat you. So, you want to swing the heaviest bat that you can swing as fast as possible. If you swing a heavy bat too slow, you’re just going to be hurting yourself.

So, remember those three points. Don’t make those mistakes. If you follow a guide where you’re picking out a bat that performs best for you, your performance is going to show in an increased batting average.

ASA, USSSA, NSA Fastpitch Softball Bat Rules

Watch to ensure your bat is approved for play in ASA, USSSA, and NSA fastpitch softball.

Bat Sizing Chart