I'm looking to purchase a new slow pitch softball bat, and looking for some suggestions. I last bought a DeMarini 7 plus years ago (or so) which worked out pretty well and definitely gave a little more "pop" than your regular $70 Worth bat.

 

I know pricing has gotten pretty ridiculous, with some exceeding $300. Now, i'm not looking for anything as crazy as that, but more for something to use in a recreational league that doesn't get too intense. I'd like to spend under $200, and preferably lower if possible.

 

Which do you use in your softball league? Which sites are good to find discounted bats, or even "last years models", etc? Or any good sites to find slightly used bats for sale?

I would be wary of used bats unless they have some sort of warranty.

Our team is a big fan of the Miken Freak and Freak +. We have a bunch of DeMarini's as well, the Juggernaut gets a little play but i dont like it

Our team is a big fan of the Miken Freak and Freak +. We have a bunch of DeMarini's as well, the Juggernaut gets a little play but i dont like it

 

None of which are ASA approved so if your league enforces rules don't waste your money on those.

None of which are ASA approved so if your league enforces rules don't waste your money on those.

 

Well he didnt specify his league, it could be NSA, ASA, Utrip.

oh yeah, softballfans.com is where my buddies go for bat reviews

I'm looking to purchase a new slow pitch softball bat, and looking for some suggestions. I last bought a DeMarini 7 plus years ago (or so) which worked out pretty well and definitely gave a little more "pop" than your regular $70 Worth bat.

 

I know pricing has gotten pretty ridiculous, with some exceeding $300. Now, i'm not looking for anything as crazy as that, but more for something to use in a recreational league that doesn't get too intense. I'd like to spend under $200, and preferably lower if possible.

 

Which do you use in your softball league? Which sites are good to find discounted bats, or even "last years models", etc? Or any good sites to find slightly used bats for sale?

Are you playing 12" or 16"? Different kinds of bats work better for each.

 

I had a nice Easton bat, but its now deadened, I think it must have some cracks in it. But it did me well for a bunch of years of both 12" and 16" play, and cost me about $100. It wasn't the fanciest Easton you could get, but wasn't bottom rung either. It was ASA approved.

 

And unfortunately, you are now getting into the worst time of year to buy - spring.

 

I just wait for the insecure guys who think a bat is going to fix their game to go out and waste a few hundred bucks on bats. Then I use theirs.

oh yeah, softballfans.com is where my buddies go for bat reviews

Thanks for that. I need to buy a new one this spring myself. I assume certain softball bats are meant for certain types of hitters, yes? I never got that detailed before in my shopping, I just found ones that felt good swinging, and were good brands in the right price range.

 

I'm glad I played most of my "career" before the influx of insanely-priced quintuple-walled, aerodynamic alloy bats.

I would buy a nice, hefty chunk of wood (the heavier the better) and that would be my weapon for a few years.

Usually a nice immature bat slam after a pop-up with RISP would be the cause of death.

 

Early in my playing days one of my teammates had a used Jorge Orta baseball bat - that lumber served us well, it was pretty top-heavy for a baseball bat.

 

But always remember:

It ain't the bat, it's the batter - if you can't hit, the bat don't matter!

Well he didnt specify his league, it could be NSA, ASA, Utrip.

 

Yeah all the leagues around me are ASA so i just assumed. I gotta remember that no one else is from NY

I'm looking to purchase a new slow pitch softball bat, and looking for some suggestions. I last bought a DeMarini 7 plus years ago (or so) which worked out pretty well and definitely gave a little more "pop" than your regular $70 Worth bat.

 

I know pricing has gotten pretty ridiculous, with some exceeding $300. Now, i'm not looking for anything as crazy as that, but more for something to use in a recreational league that doesn't get too intense. I'd like to spend under $200, and preferably lower if possible.

 

Which do you use in your softball league? Which sites are good to find discounted bats, or even "last years models", etc? Or any good sites to find slightly used bats for sale?

I found a few used ones at play it again and bought some cheap new ones at various weights.

Yeah all the leagues around me are ASA so i just assumed. I gotta remember that no one else is from NY

 

The league I am in is actually a hybrid of NSA/ASA which is totally weird. NSA umpiring, ASA balls, NSA bats

Thanks for that. I need to buy a new one this spring myself. I assume certain softball bats are meant for certain types of hitters, yes? I never got that detailed before in my shopping, I just found ones that felt good swinging, and were good brands in the right price range.

 

Lets face it, me and you arent super crazy softball guys, so buying a bat for you should basically be "does it feel good when I swing?", not "is this a bat for line drives or more for home runs?"

 

If I was more committed to the sport(3-5 games a week) I would be more interested in certain types of bats. As it stands, if it feels good and the bat isnt dead, I will use it

I just wait for the insecure guys who think a bat is going to fix their game to go out and waste a few hundred bucks on bats. Then I use theirs.

Bats actually can make a huge difference. My team was using some cheap old bats, then my buddy and I went out and got a real nice one and the ball went a lot farther.

Hope this helps you guys.

 

http://home.ptd.net/~bobf/research.htm

Hope this helps you guys.

 

http://home.ptd.net/~bobf/research.htm

Heavier bats are better.

 

In my experience with 14 and 16in softball, the bats arent all that important except for weight and how they feel to you. 12in, they are very important.

Heavy bats in 12 inch are not good. In 16 inch you need a heavy bat because the ball is more dense and that helps the ball go a bit farther, in 12 inch you just want to crush the ball on the sweet spot so you need a lighter bat for better bat control.

Bats actually can make a huge difference. My team was using some cheap old bats, then my buddy and I went out and got a real nice one and the ball went a lot farther.

 

I am not saying it can't help, I am saying for many people it doesn't matter, but they sure think it does. Think of the sort of people who buy a new driver every three months and still don't break a 100.

I am not saying it can't help, I am saying for many people it doesn't matter, but they sure think it does.

 

Like the high socks. Some people think thats cool and sexy..

Are you playing 12" or 16"? Different kinds of bats work better for each.

 

I had a nice Easton bat, but its now deadened, I think it must have some cracks in it. But it did me well for a bunch of years of both 12" and 16" play, and cost me about $100. It wasn't the fanciest Easton you could get, but wasn't bottom rung either. It was ASA approved.

 

And unfortunately, you are now getting into the worst time of year to buy - spring.

12". And I agree, bad time to buy the bats, and I'd like to go another year with my current one, but it is pretty dented now.

Like the high socks. Some people think thats cool and sexy..

 

h8r

Thanks for the info guys; I'll check out the sites and look the ones you have mentioned.

 

Bats actually can make a huge difference. My team was using some cheap old bats, then my buddy and I went out and got a real nice one and the ball went a lot farther.

And I agree with Steve here, the crappy bats for $50 dont have much pop to them. However, the nicer ones allow you to crush the ball further, without having to change your swing at all. I'm still not looking to go nuts and spend $250 on a bat when that money can be wisely used elsewhere. Maybe if I was still playing 3 times a week and my team helped chip in, but I don't, and those bastards are all bums anyways, haha.

Like the high socks. Some people think thats cool and sexy..

Depends on who's wearing the socks. Is your team co-ed?

 

Depends on who's wearing the socks. Is your team co-ed?

 

agreed, there are some girls that make high socks sexy