College World Series Bats
Weve tracked the bats of the college world series forseveralyears.
Weve put that data into 7 charts. In good faith, we also put the data we capture out to the public here. Youre welcome to fact-check it or do with it what you will. Please tag us if you do.
Bat Contracts
Before we imply too much from the data, we should understand bat contracts and how they work.
The vast majority of schools have bat contracts. That is, a school signs an agreement with a bat company. The school gets, among other things, money and equipment. Companies get access to the schools players and coaching staff and any branding that comes with TV time. Contrary to popular belief, bat contracts dont force players to swing a certain brand. Still, though, very few players dont swing the brand that sponsors their school. There are likely many reasons for this, but well go with you have to buy it yourself as the go-to.
In other words, its hard to say that elite college players are completely unbiased when choosing the right bat for them.
That said, does anyone believe elite college players will intentionally put themselves at a disadvantage because they arent willing to buy their own bat?
Not us.
Still, though, counting what bat is used the most in the NCAA and then making sweeping determinations about its status as best seems more an exercise in marketing than performance.
Pro tip: click on the charts to make them bigger and more legible.
The Louisville Slugger Vs Demarini Bat Battle In College Softball
We all know that baseball in America may be a little more popular than softball, but I havent forgotten about my sport! The 2017 College World Series went underway about a few months ago with new gear and fresh new bats. How do we figure out which bat was the most dominant according to the seven teams who were left? How are they compared to the 2016 College World Series?
Demarini and Louisville Slugger combined have represented more than half of the teams who competed in the tournament. Amazingly, these bat brands are used all over the U.S. Each team is from somewhere different using a different bat brand. As you can see in the chart below, each college team is listed underneath the bat brand their team uses during the World Series. This is the field of the 64 teams broken down by bat brand usage going into regionals, super regionals and then the College World Series.
In order to make it to the final round of the College World Series you must make it past the regionals. You have Regionals and Super Regionals. Once you win past these two, you will advance to the College World Series. This chart below also shows the 64 teams broken down by bat usage and their total play off field. Louisville Slugger and Demarini combined showed that 33 of the teams in Regionals used their bats, leaving them with a 53% rate of the playoff field. I believe Louisville Slugger and Demarini are the hottest bats out yet.
The Age Of A Player Can Play Fastpitch Softball
Players could start playing the fastpitch softball game as the age as early as 4 years, according to the Little League International.
- Tee Ball: The Tee Ball softball league is for the girls of the age 4 to 5 years old but, there is also an option for the girls of 6 to 7 years of age to join the team.
- Minor League: Minor League is for the players of the ages 5 to 11 years old and has multiple divisions.
- Little League: Little League Softball division is also renowned as major division and offered for the players of the age 9 to 12 years. However, a local tournament can limit the age to 10 or 11 years.
- The Junior League Softball Division is for the participants of ages 12 to 14. The League is played internationally as well under the name of Junior League Softball World Series.
- Senior Division: The Senior League Softball Division is for the ladies of age 13 to 16 years old. The international tournament is called Senior Leagues Softball World Series and played in many countries.
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Fastpitch Softball Bats Basic Information
In simple words, a bat this used in the fastpitch softball game is known as fastpitch softball bat. In this game, bats that are used can be made of any of the following materials:
- Aluminum
- Wood
- Composite
Different sizes of bats are allowed but the parameters should not be more than these numbers:
- Length = 34 inches
- Diameter = 2.4 inches
- Mass = 1.1 kg
- Drop = 13
The standard diameter of the barrel is 2 1/4 inches for the fastpitch softball bat.
Any bat that offers an unfair advantage to the player is banned during the game. Every league has its own regulations about the bat size but Amateur Softball Association must approve it. ISA, USSSA, ISFA, NSA, all these leagues required their own approved stamps.
Final Words On Baseball Vs Softball Bats
As long as the league allows it, you can use a baseball bat for softball. However, were not sure a league exists with such rules. Basically, both types of bats are carefully designed for their particular games. Baseball bats have larger barrels, and are generally heavier in weight. They are not necessarily good to use in softball play, even if the rules allow it.
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Whats The Best Way To Choose A Softball Bat
This will give you the most control of the bat during your swing. A great guideline for selecting the right softball bat is to take the bat and put the knob in the middle of your chest, and if you can grab the barrel with your hand, then you have found a good length. At the end of the day, your bat choice comes down to feel and strength.
College Baseball Bat Regulations & Requirements
Every college baseball bat has to follow the same requirements in order to be certified for use in the NCAA leagues and in all of college baseball.
The governing league for college baseball is the NCAA which stands for the National Collegiate Athletic Association. They govern all college sports.
You can find all of the standards that govern NCAA baseball bats here. However, well go through them in plain English below.
The big news recently is that the NCAA does not allow white color barrel bats for the 2020 season! The full text of the ruling is below:
Baseball playing rule, Rule 1.12.b.7, requiring that the baseball bat barrel color between the 18- inch mark and the end cap must be a color that is predominantly contrasting to the color of the baseball
All of the bats in this article comply with this rule but if you look through Google, there are a lot of bats which dont. The absolute last thing you want to do is get a bat only to discover you cant play with it.
See here for a list of NON-compliant college baseball bats
Aside from the curveball above , the rest of college baseball bat rules are standard. In fact , all of the rules and regulations for college baseball bats are the exact same as high school baseball bats.
The regulations vary from college to college and from town to town. Some of the regulations are:
- All non-wood bats are to be certified so as to be used for collegiate and NCAA play.
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Aluminum Alloy College Baseball Bats:
7046
7046 is the standard alumnium alloy composition used by many college baseball bats. This alloy is made up of a combination of Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, and Aluminum. The different variations below simply change the % mix of each material and in some instances, add slightly new elements to improve one aspect of the bat design.
7050
This alloy mix uses more zirconium, magnesium, copper than the standard 7046.
7055
Compared to the traditional aluminium alloy, this mix adds additional zirconium which increases strength.
C555
This alloy is stronger than the 7000 alloy series and includes traces of scandium which helps increase the strength of the bat. A C555 alloy bat is great for power hitters.
Best Fastpitch Softball Bat For Power Hitters 2020
When youre standing on home plate, the only thing that matters is your choice of softball bat. Its one of, if not the biggest, factor in each game so choosing the right fastpitch softball bat is essential to having a great season. Today, well go through our top picks for the best fastpitch softball bats for power hitters. If youre a power hitter somebody who hits a home run every game, routinely gets on base, and is the pinch hitter in tight situations, take a look through these suggestions.
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Best For Kids: Easton Ghost
Little league is a tradition for many American families. Its a fun way for parents to bond with their children over a shared activity and a great way to learn teamwork skills. For girls and boys who play softball, the Ghost Youth Softball Bat from Easton is a great choice.
This youth-specific bat comes from the well-known line of Easton Ghost bats, which deliver a reliable, durable product that can crack the ball past the warning track. Approved for use in ASA, USSSA, NSA, ISA, and ISF play, this bat is just as good for league play as it is in the backyard. The Youth Ghost is made of ALX50 military grade aluminum, which helps your youngster deliver a powerful hit time after time without any sign of wear. With its -11 barrel weight and range of sizes, this bat hits the sweet spot for younger players.
Demarini 2019 Bustos Two Piece Bat
The 2019 Bustos bat features a half-and-half design and comes with an alloy construction. DeMarini has utilized high-quality DX1 alloy in creating the barrel. The handle is constructed from composite material which allows for a more comfortable swing and fewer feedback vibrations.
The bat has a 2 ¼ inch barrel and is one of the best fastpitch bats for the 2019 season. It has a weight drop of -13. The significantly low weight of the bat enables players to swing it at exceptionally high speeds, achieving good hits around the field.
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Whats The Best Size For A Baseball Bat
Lighter bats are often best for beginners and smaller, contact-oriented players. Heavier bats are better suited for older, advanced athletes and larger, power-hitting players. Some leagues only have one drop weight, bat length or barrel diameter. For example, all BBCOR bats have a -3 drop weight and 2-5/8 barrel diameter.
You Should Use The Newest Or Used Fastpitch Softball Bats
A wide range of new fastpitch softball bats are launched ahead of the game season every year. Typically, when this happens, the older models from the last year go on the market as used bats. Players who are looking for more affordable options can look into these bats to snag a high-performing bat at the fraction of the cost of a new bat.
That being said, there are downsides to a new bat as well as a used bat. Here is a quick rundown of the pros and cons of new and used fastpitch softball bats.
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How Is The Structure Of Alloy Fastpitch Bats
The most common tags given to the fastpitch softball bats are CU31 and C405. The detailed analysis of these alloy compositions means nothing more than the internal ALCOA designation used for bat marketing.
The high-quality softball bats are made from 7xxx series aluminum alloys. To classify the Aluminum alloys, all industries use four digits designation where the first digit is the indicator of the alloy group and the rest provides the information about the alloy composition in more details. To provide lightweight to the bat with a perfect swing, most alloy bats are manufactured from the alloys 7055 and 7050.
The alloy bats have 1-3 % wt. of magnesium, and 4-8 % wt. of Zinc. Zirconium and chromium are also used in small amounts and copper as well.
What Fastpitch Softball Bats Are Illegal
All Composite Bats Are Illegal Except in Open B, Open CC and Open C divisions. For safety reasons, the League limits the use of bats with composite exterior barrels to Open B, CC, Open C only. Titanium bats and all bats that appear on the ASAs official list of banned bats are illegal in all divisions.
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Easton Project 3 Alpha
Easton is regarded as one of the worlds leading manufacturers of both baseball and softball equipment and they dont disappoint with the Project 3 Alpha.
The Easton project 3 Alpha is a one piece baseball bat with solid and amazing mind blowing features. Its construction helps give you control of your swing and hit on the pitch.
It is made with the ATAC alloy material and possesses Carbon-Core Tech which helps with the creation of thin walls. With this bat you can be sure to send the ball soaring sky high after every hit.
Look at the grip on the Project Alpha in the picture above. Notice anything different? Easton added a custom Lizard skin grip to the bat to give you better handling, control and a comfortable feel anytime you take hold of this bat.
The Project 3 Alpha is created by winners for winners and its just the right tool to help improve your play.
Special Features:
Material and Size:
The Easton Project 3 Alpha is made from the ATAC alloy material which is reinforced with the Carbon-Core Technology to help create one of the thinnest barrel walls in the game and enhance its durability.
It has a length to weight ratio of drop 3 giving it a perfect balance and the user an optimized control. It measures about 32 inches in length and is suitable for use by both high school and college players.
Barrel and Handle:
What Bats Do College Softball Teams Use
Well, it is really hard to tell which bat they specifically choose because every team has its own priority. Some like one brand over the other due to their personal preferences.
All the big bat manufacturers design the bats that are special for the college softball. I can here provide you with the brand names to make the selection a bit easier:
- Easton with Ghost series is the favorite of most
- Louisville Slugger PXT and LXT to be more precise
- Rawlings Velo series is doing great here
- DeMarini CF Zen is what you may like
- Mizuno Different models are taking the market by storm
No matter which brand is used, the game usually depends upon the training and the playing method of the batter. You can also refer the lists below when choosing the softball bats for your team.
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Aluminum Alloy Vs Composite Bats
The two primary materials used for fastpitch softball bats are aluminum alloy and composite. Composite bats are made with a layered material that is easy to distribute, giving us the ability to make bats with a variety of swing weights, from balanced to end-loaded. They are also known to minimize the sting from errant hits and often have a larger sweet spot.
Aluminum bats are more durable and are often a mixture of two or more metals. This more solid composition makes them very durable and more reliable in cold temperatures. Aluminum alloy bats are typically less expensive too, making them an appealing option for a majority of players.
One thing to keep in mind is that fastpitch softball bats that are made from alloy are ready to go immediately after purchase, with no break-in period needed. Composite bats, however, have fibers that need to be loosened before the bat reaches optimum performance. The easiest way to break in your composite bat is to take 100-200 swings with soft toss or tee practice. It is recommended that you also rotate the bat ¼ inch between swings. This will ensure the entire barrel is broken evenly and adequately.
Most Popular Length By Age
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Bat Size Chart For 10
The right bat size for a 10-year-old, as determined by usage, is a 29 or 30-inch drop 10 or 11 bat. The drop is the numerical difference between the length of the bat in inches and the weight in ounces. 29 and 30-inch bats in the 18 to 20-ounce weight range make up more than 90% of total 10U bat usage. When in doubt, we suggest a 29/19 regardless of the players 10-year-old sizeas those are poor determinates for the correctly sized bat, as weve proved in our data collection. Find more details on our best bat for 10U players.
For 10-year-olds, the most common bat lengths, far and away when compared to other young age categories, are the 29 and 30-inch drop 10 sticks. But, unlike other more youthful players, every group of bat size for 10-year-olds were generally happy with their bat size.
Most Common Bat Sizes for 10-Year-Olds
- 29/19
- 28/18
- 30/19 or 31/21
As we observe in other age-specific bat charts, very tall players tend to avoid heavier bats. They tend towards lighter and shorter bats more averaged sized kids in their age group. We arent quite sure why this is, frankly. It could be due to the fact they dont need as much length as shorter kids, so arent worried about bat reach. Or, possibly, overly tall kids are not as coordinated and therefore need as small of bats as they can find.
We dissect this chart a bit more, and have specific suggestions for bat models, in our best bats for the 10-year-old page.