Slowpitch Softball Bats

Which stamp

Slowpitch has more sanctioning bodies than any other bat category, and the same model is usually sold in two or three versions.

• USSSA (the 240 stamp): the hottest legal bat. USSSA tournaments and most independent leagues.
• USA Softball (formerly ASA): required in USA Softball leagues and most city rec leagues. The USA version of a bat is built to a lower performance limit and often also carries NSA and ISA stamps.
• NSA and ISA: usually covered by the USA version; check the barrel.
• SSUSA (1.21 BPF): senior softball, age 50 and up. Senior bats are the hottest of all and are not legal in USSSA or USA play.

Buy the stamp your league requires. A USSSA bat in a USA Softball league will be pulled at the plate.

Load and construction

Balanced bats put the weight closer to the hands and swing lighter than their listed weight; they suit contact hitters and anyone with a quick, level swing. End-loaded (Miken Maxload, Worth XL, Victus Ya-Ya and Big Boy loads, Easton Motherload) shifts a half ounce or more toward the end cap for hitters who drive the ball. One-piece bats are stiffer and give more feedback; two-piece bats flex at the joint, whip through the zone and take the sting out of a mishit. Barrel lengths run 12" to 14"; longer barrels give a bigger sweet spot, shorter barrels swing lighter.

Weight

26 and 27 ounces are the two most common weights and where every brand puts its most stock. 25 ounces for bat speed, 28 for big hitters, 24 for women's and co-ed players who want the lightest swing. Senior bats run heavier, 26 to 30.

Break-in and care

Composite slowpitch bats need 150 to 300 hits at about 75% effort, rotating the barrel a quarter turn every few swings, before they reach full pop. Keep them out of the cold (below 60°F the resin can crack) and never use them with cage balls, which are harder than game balls. Most current bats carry a one-year manufacturer warranty against cracking; senior bats from some brands are sold without warranty and the listing says so.

Frequently asked questions

Which slowpitch bat is the hottest? In USSSA play the Miken Freak and KP23 and the Worth Bedlam and Legit are at the top of the list every year; the Easton Tantrum is right there. In USA Softball play, performance is capped and the differences are mostly feel.

One-piece or two-piece? Two-piece for most players; it is more forgiving and easier on the hands. One-piece for hitters who want the stiffest, most direct feel.

Can I use a senior bat in a regular league? No. SSUSA bats are only legal in senior play.

Are USA Softball bats also NSA and ISA legal? Usually. Look for the stamps on the barrel; the listing lists them too.