Friday, April 17, 2015

Best Softball Bats - Reviews

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Welcome to HomerunSoftballBats.com, your brand new home aimed to help you find the best softball bats available (2015 is the year of focus right now). Whatever type of game you play, male or female, young or old, we know that there is a perfect one out there for you. We hope our softball bat reviews will provide you with all of the information you are looking for.

Where next?

In terms of the fastpitch softball bats. we feel that the Easton Mako, Demarini CF7, and Louisville Xeno are the top three choices for this year. The Mako and CF7 are quite similar so in all honesty the decision could come down to who you have the most confidence in: Easton or Demarini? We believe the Mako is slightly better when it comes to speed and reduced vibrations, but in some cases the difference is very small. The Louisville Xeno has made the list as well for the second year in a row. Where we really like the Xeno is its ability to provide hitters with an incredible quick break in period. In fact you really need no break in at all as it is ready right off the shelf. Either way, going with either of these three will make you a better hitter.

On the flip side for other softball players, we really like the Louisville Z2000 and Z3000 series. Available in many different variations such as ASA/USSSA approved and balanced or end loaded swings, the Z-2000 is an affordable option that provides a great amount of pop. The main reason we like the Z2000 is that we feel it provides hitters with a much lighter swing than others that are available. The LS-2X composite applied to all Z-2000 models provides stronger interior walls, but allows for it to still remain thin. Although the Z-2000 is our top of our list of slowpitch softball bats. we wouldn’,t discount the Demarini Stadium 2.1 or Worth Legit models. If you like an extra whip or flex feeling in your swing then you’,ll love the Worth Legit. If you instead want a stiffer feel then you will probably be quite happy with the Demarini Stadium instead.

Importance of Reviews

If you are anything like me, you want to break down every single thing before you make a purchase. After all as a consumer it comes down to you to make the best choice possible. To help you with this, we have put together a brand new softball bat reviews page where we look at the top ones available in 2014 and 2015. Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • All slowpitch bats feature a 34″, length and a 2 1/4″, barrel diameter. What makes each distinct is the weight, the type of load, and the organization it has been approved for.
  • When looking for the best fastpitch bats. two of the important thing to look for are the length and the weight. Typically youth players look for a model that measures 26 to 32 inches in length while adult players stick in the range of 30-34 inches. The other item to look into is the amount of drop. A lower number typcially means a lighter model, while a higher number is meant for stronger more powerful hitters.
  • The ASA standard is widely considered to be the strictest standard for softball play. When your bat has the ASA stamp of approval, you can pretty much guarantee that it can be used in any league you play for. Their rules are constantly changing and you can see a full run down on this ASA rules site
  • The last section of our softball bat reviews page is dedicated to those specifically approved by the USSSA. The USSSA is similar to the ASA with the main exception that they allow for a 100+ MPH batted ball speed.
Buyers guide

Choosing the right model can be a difficult task if you don’,t know what you are looking for. You may think it this process would be easy, but there are so many different features built within each that make it perfect for one player but not another. That is where our reviews come in. We look at the following important items:

  • One or two piece: One piece bats are the preferred choice for power hitters as they are stiffer and provide less give than those that have been fused together from two pieces. However, contact hitters have much more preference to the two-piece bats are they offer more controlled power.
  • Barrel size: Some barrels are made to be larger than others. Larger barrels offer more area to make contact but also come with the added weight. Smaller barrel on the other hand reduce weight allowing you to take faster swings.
  • Weight: Some use what is called a “,drop”, when describing how light or heavy a bat is. The drop is found by taking the difference between the length and weight and will range from -8 to as low as -13. The lower the number, the lighter the model. Power hitters typically prefer a higher drop as they’,ll receive a little more pop.
  • Handle: There are many things to consider with that little piece of metal where your hands rest. One of the first things to consider is how well it is gripped. Slippery handles can cause you to lose control of your swings. Another aspect to be considered is how well it handles vibrations when contacting the ball in funny ways. Vibrations can be one of the more annoying things about softball.
  • Durability/Materials: Let’,s face it, some are made with better materials that offer a longer durability. No one wants to make a large expensive purchase only to have it crack or break after a few months. Trying to find a bad with premium composite is key.
  • Balanced/End loaded: One key for bats in the end cap that is used. A balanced load provides hitters with more of a balanced swing. On the other side, an end loaded version provides even more pop than a regular model.
  • Single/Multi wall: Most contain multiple walls throughout the barrel to provide more durability, more trampoline effect, and are more sturdy and easy to use than a single wall bat. The only problem is some leagues do not approve these types of bats so be sure to look only at single wall versions if that is all your league will allow.
What factors went into our softball bat reviews?

As we mentioned earlier, no two bats are the exact same. As a former softball player, I know how difficult it can be to find the best softball bat. That is why this website was created. As silly as it sounds, I almost compare shopping for a new bat with shopping for a new car. There are so many different variables to consider and no two people share the exact same tastes. So finding the best softball bats for a group of people is not an easy task by any stretch. However there are certain things we considered when we reviewed the feature lists of all the different models available. Some of the main decision points included:

  • Your game: The type of game you play is arguably the most important aspect to be considered. We believe that our pages dedicated to Fastpitch and Slow Pitch will provide you with enough insight depending on which version of the sport you play.
  • Material: how a bat is built goes a long way when making a list of the best softball bats. Composite material is ideal, but also expensive. Some other regular aluminum bats have proven to be quite strong and high performing providing you with more bang for your buck.
  • Performance: This is obviously one of the most important factors that we look at in our softball bat reviews. If you are going to buy a new one, it should perform better than your older one. We look into where the power of the bat is generated from and how much additional distance can be achieved through the barrel and handle strength.
  • Organizational Approval: some of the best softball bats that we reviewed were only approved by the ASA association, while others could only be used by USSSA leagues. We believe that our ASA, and USSSA pages provide a great amount of insight about which are indeed the top performers.
  • Cost: Let’s face it…many of us are on a budget. Although the $300 softball bats are fantastic, not all of us need one. There is no doubt that bats such as the 2015 Easton Mako are top performers, but some of us have to be a little more careful with our wallets.

Well there you have it. If you are looking for specific softball bat reviews, you can find them on the right hand side of the page as they are sorted by brand name. We hope you enjoy your stay on our best softball bats website and hope to have you come back again.

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