Fastpitch Softball Bats

Which stamp do you need?

Fastpitch has four sanctioning bodies you will run into: USA Softball (the former ASA, renamed in 2017; older ASA-stamped bats are still legal), USSSA (its own 1.20 BPF stamp), NSA, and ISA, with WBSC covering international play. High school (NFHS) and college (NCAA) both use the USA Softball approved list rather than a stamp of their own. The good news: the flagship composites from Easton, Rawlings, Mizuno and Marucci are multi-stamped, so the certification question mostly comes up on older closeouts and a few entry-level alloys. If your league is strict, check the approvals on the product page before you buy.

Picking a drop weight

Drop is length in inches minus weight in ounces; a 32" / 22 oz bat is a -10.

• -13 and -12: 8U to 10U, and any first-year player who needs the lightest swing possible
• -11: 10U to 12U hitters, or a 12U player moving up a length without adding weight
• -10: the standard from 12U through college; the widest selection in every model line
• -9 and -8: strong 14U, high school and college hitters who want more mass behind the ball

When a player is between sizes, take the lighter bat. Bat speed does more for a fastpitch hitter than an extra ounce.

Length by age

• Ages 7 to 9: 26" to 28"
• Ages 9 to 11: 28" to 30"
• Ages 11 to 13: 30" to 32"
• Ages 13 to 15: 32" to 33"
• High school and college: 33" to 34"

A quick check: stand the bat on its end cap next to the player. The knob should reach about mid-hip. If you are torn between two lengths, the shorter bat is easier to control and gets to the inside pitch faster.

Composite vs. alloy

Composite barrels (Ghost, Mantra, CRBN Pro, Asura) have the larger sweet spot and the most forgiveness on mishits, but they need a break-in of roughly 150 to 200 swings at moderate effort, rotating the barrel a quarter turn every few hits. They also do not like the cold: below about 60°F the resin gets brittle and cracks are not covered by most warranties. Alloy bats are game-ready out of the wrapper, cost less, handle cold spring weather, and are the right call for 10U and under, where a player will outgrow the bat long before she wears it out.

Frequently asked questions

Which fastpitch bat is the best? The Easton Ghost, and it is not close. It has been the top-selling fastpitch bat for the better part of a decade and the bat you see most in college dugouts. Ghost Advanced is the two-piece flagship, Ghost Unlimited is the one-piece version with a stiffer feel, and Ghost OG is the throwback build at a lower price. Rawlings Mantra, Mizuno CRBN Pro and Marucci Asura are the strongest alternatives if a hitter wants a different feel.

Can I use a USSSA fastpitch bat in a USA Softball league? Only if it also carries the USA Softball stamp. Most current models do; older USSSA-only bats do not.

Is a slowpitch bat legal in fastpitch? No. Slowpitch bats are built for a heavier swing weight and a different ball; use a bat stamped for fastpitch play.

How long does the warranty last? Easton, Rawlings, Mizuno and Marucci all offer a one-year manufacturer warranty against defects on their fastpitch bats. Closeout and used bats are sold as-is unless the listing says otherwise.

Do you have last year's Ghost? Usually. Prior-season Ghost Advanced and Ghost Unlimited bats show up in closeout fastpitch bats as soon as the new model lands, and they are the same bat at a lower price.

When do new-year fastpitch bats come out? Easton, Rawlings, Mizuno and Marucci release on a rolling calendar from late summer through spring. New models go live here the evening before their retail date with the model year in the title, so sort by newest to see what just landed.