BAT CHART*
Success at the plate often comes down to this: making consistent hard contact against live pitching. To do this, it’s important to swing the right bat for you. That means a bat that’s long enough to cover the strike zone, light enough to swing with ease, heavy enough to generate power, and, of course, permitted in your league. In order to find the ideal size for you, consider the following guidelines:
| Weight | Height |
 |
3'-3'4" | 3'5"-3'8" | 3'9"-4' | 4'1"-4'4" | 4'5"-4'8" | 4'9"-5' | 5'1"-5'4" | 5'5"-5'8" | 5'9"-6' | 6'1"-Over |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 60 Lbs. | 26" | 27" | 28" | 29" | 29" | |||||
| 61 - 70 | 27" | 27" | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | ||||
| 71 - 80 | 28" | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | ||||
| 81 - 90 | 28" | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 32" | |||
| 91 - 100 | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | |||
| 101 - 110 | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | |||
| 111 - 120 | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | |||
| 121 - 130 | 29" | 30" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | ||
| 131 - 140 | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | ||
| 141 - 150 | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | |||
| 151 - 160 | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 32" | 33" | 33" | 33" | ||
| 161 - 170 | 31" | 31" | 32" | 32" | 33" | 33" | 34" | |||
| 171 - 180 | 32" | 33" | 33" | 34" | 34" | |||||
| Over 180 | 33" | 33" | 34" | 34" |
| MOST POPULAR LENGTH BY AGE |
| AGE | 5 - 7 | 8 - 9 | 10 | 11 - 12 | 13 - 14 | 15 - 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LENGTH | 24" - 26" | 26" - 28" | 28" - 29" | 30" - 31" | 31" - 32" | 32" - 33" |
LENGTH
Bat length is measured in inches from knob to end cap. A longer bat gives you greater reach, allowing you to hit balls on the outside part of the plate. However, longer bats also tend to have more mass towards the end of the bat that requires more power to swing them. We recommend swinging bats of different lengths to decide what option best suits your swing. The right combination of length and weight will help you reach your peak performance.
Many players mistakenly believe a longer bat means more plate coverage, but this is not always true. Since a longer bat often means a heavier feeling bat, a bat that is too long for you can slow down your timing and prevent you from catching up to and hitting inside pitches. When choosing your bat length, you should keep plate coverage in mind. You should also consider your swing and stance relative to the plate.
Fastpitch bats also have a wide variety of lengths, ranging from 28 to 34 inches.
WEIGHT**
Bat weight is measured in ounces (oz.). A bat’s weight is often tied to its “weight drop” -- its length in inches versus its weight in ounces. For instance, a 32-inch, 22-ounce bat would be referred to as a -10 bat.
BAT LENGTH (IN.) – BAT WEIGHT (OZ.) = WEIGHT DROP
As a general rule of thumb, the higher the competition or league level (meaning, from youth league up to the pros) the lesser the weight drop. A lesser weight drop means the bat feels heavier. So a -5 bat will feel heavier than a -10 bat.
Selecting the right bat weight depends on three main factors: sport, league rules, and player preference.
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Leagues have rules identifying which weight drops are permitted for play. Prior to choosing a bat, we recommend finding out if your league has a specific standard for bat weight drops in order for them to be permitted.
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Players with less experience generally swing lighter bats in order to have better bat control. More experienced players generally swing a heavier bats to help maximize power. A way to tell if a bat is right for you is your swing speed. A bat that is too heavy is harder to swing, causing a loss in momentum, reduced distance or a miss altogether. If a bat is too light for a player, the player could miss out on the extra force they could generate from a heavier bat. A happy medium needs to be found. It is highly recommended you demo a bat against live pitching speeds in order to find the best weight for you.
Fastpitch bats typically have a weight drop ranging from -8 to -13. Younger players often use a lighter bat (larger weight drop) and, as they increase their skill level, they often progress to a heavier bat (smaller weight drop).
**Manufacturing tolerances, performance considerations and grip weight may cause variations from the listed weight.
LEAGUES
GOVERNING BODIES
Governing bodies (for example, the USSSA) set unique standards for bat performance. Bat manufacturers make bats to meet these standards. Each standard, however, is different. So, bats meeting one standard may not meet another. Bats are marked with logos identifying the standard which they meet.
Leagues adopt the standards they deem appropriate for play under their particular rules. League adoptions vary region by region, so we highly recommend consulting your coach and/or league official to understand the standard adopted by your league prior to purchasing a new bat.
The following information will help you understand in the standard adopted by your league:
There are five major governing bodies for fastpitch softball. They are Amateur Softball Association (ASA), United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), Independent Softball Association (ISA), National Softball Association (NSA), and International Softball Federation (ISF).
These logos can be found on bats, and certify that the bat is legal for certain leagues and tournaments. Please check with your coach/league for details on what bats are approved.
