Short version: match the stamp first, then the numbers. USA/ASA slowpitch balls are listed by two numbers: 52-300 is .52 COR and 300 lbs of compression, 44-375 is .44 COR and 375 lbs. USSSA and NSA balls carry a name instead: Classic M is .40-325, Pro M is .44-375 and NSA ICON is .44-400. Most dozens run $74.95 to $106.95, and our picks are the Dudley Thunder ZN Hycon at $99.95 for USA/ASA 52-300 and the Dudley Thunder ZN12 Classic M at $99.95 for USSSA Classic M. Confirm the exact ball with your league director before you order.
Slowpitch softballs by stamp, numbers and size
Every ball in the table is sold by the dozen. Softballs are not eligible for free shipping, and several listings also exclude them from promotional discounts.
How to read a slowpitch softball
The stamp. ASA and USA Softball are the same organization, so a dozen listed as "USA (ASA)" may arrive with either logo, and the listings note both are ASA approved. Our stamp guide covers the bat side of the same question.
The numbers. The first is COR. The second is compression in pounds. Worth's Hot Dot listing ties high COR to distance and low compression to hit speed. Dudley says of its 52-300 Hycon that lower compression limits bat damage while higher COR equalizes performance. So 52-300 and 44-375 are different trades, not grades.
The names. Dudley's listings note that USSSA and NSA do not allow COR or compression to be stamped on the ball. Those balls carry a name: Classic M, Pro M, Classic Plus, Classic W, Pro W, Stadium or ICON.
Size and cover. DeMarini describes its 12-inch Classic M as its USSSA ball for men and its 11-inch Classic W as its USSSA ball for women. Covers are leather, synthetic or composite. Dudley says its ZN composite cover is thinner, allowing more contact with the core, which means more distance. Synthetic usually runs $10 less per dozen than composite in the same line.
USA/ASA 52-300 balls
Our pick is the Dudley Thunder ZN Hycon. Dudley says the Hycon core is far less susceptible to compression changes in heat and cold than .40, .44 and .47 poly core balls. The Thunder ZN Hard Core at $106.95 is the step up: Dudley lists it as carrying 15 to 20 feet farther than its other ZN softballs. On a budget, the Baden Fire is $74.95. The AD Starr Tattoo NX3 has a one-piece heat-bonded urethane cover.
USA/ASA 44-375 balls
Same stamp, lower COR, higher compression. Dudley offers two cork-center balls, the leather SB12RF and the synthetic Thunder SB12T. The rest are poly core. Our pick is the AD Starr Tattoo composite at $92.95, or the synthetic Tattoo at $82.95 if price matters more.
USSSA balls: Classic M, Pro M, Classic W and Pro W
Classic M and Pro M are both 12-inch USSSA stamps, and they are not the same ball. Our Classic M pick is the Dudley Thunder ZN12. The Baden Classic M is the low price at $74.95, and the DeMarini Razzo Classic M synthetic is a closeout at $79.95 $49.95. For Pro M, our pick is the Dudley Thunder Hard Core at $106.95. The 11-inch stamps are Classic W and Pro W.
NSA ICON, ISA and other stamps
For NSA ICON, the Worth Super Gold Dot ICON is the low price at $79.95. Beyond the table:
- ISA: AD Starr Tattoo 44-400 $92.95, X-Rock 44-400 $94.95, Worth Super Duper Extreme 44-375 $99.95.
- GSL: Worth Super Gold Dot Extreme Classic M $82.95, its pink version $79.95, and the Pro M stamped Dudley Thunder Hard Core $106.95.
- SPA: Dudley Thunder Hard Core $104.95.
- One Nation and WSL: Worth Super Duper Extreme Pro Comp 44-375 at $99.95. One Nation in 12-inch or 11-inch, WSL in 12-inch or 11-inch.
- Senior: the SSUSA approved Baden Fire Senior 44-375, $74.95 synthetic or $84.95 composite. Bats are in our senior bat picks.
No stamp: practice, home run derby and 16-inch
The unstamped Dudley Thunder ZN 44-375 is $89.95 and the Thunder Hard Core 44-400 is a closeout at $106.95 $81.95. For batting practice, the Evil BP .52 and Evil BP .44 are $79.95. For a derby, Worth describes the Launch 650 (.50 COR, 650 lbs, $99.95) as far too hot for any league or tournament. The deBeer 16-inch clincher is $17.95 per ball, offered in white or yellow.
Which slowpitch softball should you buy?
USA/ASA league
Ask whether the league plays 52-300 or 44-375. For 52-300, the Thunder ZN Hycon. For 44-375, the Tattoo composite.
USSSA or NSA league
Ask for the name on the ball. Classic M: Thunder ZN12. Pro M: Thunder Hard Core. NSA ICON: Thunder ZN Hycon ICON at $99.95.
Church, city or company league
Buy what the league already uses. If nobody knows, match the stamp and numbers on last season's ball. New to the game? Start at Slowpitch HQ and the slowpitch bat buying guide.
Temperature and buying by the dozen
Dudley's Hycon listing talks about compression changing at 100°F and at 40°F, and Worth says its Hot Dot core reduces compression loss in hot weather. So don't judge a ball on one cold night. Check the stamp on the listing against your league rule before you order a second dozen.
Frequently asked questions
What does 52-300 mean on a softball?
It is the ball's COR and compression: .52 COR and 300 lbs of compression. A 44-375 ball is .44 COR and 375 lbs.
What is a Classic M softball?
Classic M is a USSSA stamp for a 12-inch slowpitch ball at .40 COR and 325 lbs of compression. At regular price, Classic M dozens here run $74.95 to $99.95.
What is the difference between Classic M and Pro M?
Both are 12-inch USSSA stamps. Classic M is .40 COR and 325 lbs of compression. Pro M is .44 COR and 375 lbs. Ask your league or tournament director which one is in play.
Are ASA and USA softballs the same?
Yes. ASA renamed itself USA Softball in 2017. A dozen listed as USA (ASA) may carry the older ASA stamp or the newer USA stamp, and the listings note both are ASA approved.
Should I buy 11-inch or 12-inch slowpitch softballs?
Buy the size your league plays. DeMarini describes its 12-inch Classic M as its USSSA ball for men and its 11-inch Classic W as its USSSA ball for women.
How much is a dozen slowpitch softballs?
Most game dozens are $74.95 to $106.95. Softballs are not eligible for free shipping.
Direct Sports has sold softballs from Pearisburg, Virginia since 1988. Tell us your league and what is printed on last season's ball and we'll match it. Shop all slowpitch softballs or email us.
