Choosing A Softball Bat Weight

There are a lot of considerations that you have to pay attention to when you are searching for the right softball bat. Aside from the length and its other components, you also have to pay attention to the weight of your bat.

The weight of your bat will play a huge factor on how well you are going to swing. Even if you are gripping the bat correctly, the wrong weight will make it harder for you to function. For example, if the bat is too heavy, you will not be able to hit the ball at the right moment. This is also the same when the weight of your bat is too light, you may swing so fast that the ball will not come in contact with your bat anymore.

How will you determine if the weight of the bat is correct? What you can do is to hold a bat and then extend your arms forward. The bat should be in line with your shoulders. Hold the bat for more than 30 seconds. If you are able to do this with ease then you know that the bat is not too heavy for you but if you barely feel that you are holding anything, this means that the bat is too light.

Drop of the Bat

If you are new in playing softball then you might not know some of the terms yet that veterans use. When you say “drop,” this refers to the difference between the length of the bat as well as the weight of the bat. When you scrutinize a softball bat, you may see some that have -10 or -11, this means that the length of the bat’s difference from the weight is -10 or -11. So if the bat length is 32 inches and you are holding a -11 bat, the weight is going to be 21 ounces.

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It is important to note that if you are going to use your bat professionally, there are some rules that you have to follow. For example, you are not allowed to have a bat that is more than -12. You should not choose a bat that is -8 too.

Technique

One of the reasons why bat weight is highly important is because it will determine how good you are in doing your technique. If you are unable to work on your technique, you can already count on not being able to hit the ball properly. The more overweight your bat is for you, the harder it will be to make a swing so this is not something that you should do.

You also have to consider what type of batter you are. Do you feel that you are the type of batter who is a bit slow when it comes to swinging? If this is the case then a lighter bat will be better for you. Since you are slow, you will be able to make your bat move better and faster.

Remember that even if you find yourself to be a strong batter, it does not necessarily mean that you need a heavier bat. It will still depend on how comfortable you are with the bat weight. The bat weight that you have to choose should help you in generating the speed that you are comfortable with.

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You can ponder on the following:

  • If you have a bat that is long and lightweight, you can expect that your swing will be very fast but you might not have enough power in order to make the ball soar high when you hit it.
  • If you have a bat that is a bit on the shorter side and is heavy, your speed will not be very fast and you have to exert more effort in swinging but the power will be great.

Your Opponent

You may also want to consider your opponent when you are choosing the right bat that you are going to choose. You have to match the technique of the pitcher that you will be up against otherwise, you will not be able to make hits. Some things to remember are the following:

  • If the pitcher is a bit slow, you would need to have a heavier bat because you want to make sure that you will be able to time the your swing to come in contact with the ball at the exact right moment.
  • If the pitcher has a lot of power and can make balls zoom fast, you would need to have a lighter bat so that you can swing fast and hit the ball correctly.
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Of course, it will not be a good idea to work with a heavy bat if you find it too heavy and if you can barely lift it into position. Generally, you can get to know the various tips and choose which ones you are going to do to help you in choosing the right bat weight.

Being In Control of Your Bat

The most important thing that you have to remember when you are considering the weight of the bat that you are going to choose is the bat’s weight. You need to find something that will work well for you. Even with all of the tips about bat weight that are mentioned above, you will feel that bats have different effects on you.

When buying a softball bat, you are recommended to buy in person. There are a lot of stores that have dummy bats that will help you get a feel of the bat and the bat weight. When you try holding the bat and swinging the bat, you will know which bat is right for you.

Of course aside from bat weight, there are still different things to be considered such as the bat length and the style of the bat. You can consider these factors too so that you can narrow down your choices. The bat you are going to buy will always be your choice so choose wisely.

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