If you’re a softball fan, you probably know by now that it’s a very competitive sport. This is especially true of fastpitch softball, which is played by women and men all over the world.
And if you want to be competitive, you need to use one of the best fastpitch softball bats you can find.
But that just naturally leads to another question: which ones are the best? There’s no real consensus on which brand and model is legitimately superior to all the others.
And you have a lot of options to choose from. What you need to do instead is to focus on several crucial factors that should help you whittle down your choices.
Prices of the Best Fastpitch Softball Bats
When your purchase has the possibility of reaching hundreds of dollars, it’s not a trivial purchase. New parents who buy bats for their children for the first time are often taken aback at how expensive good bats can be.
For example, the 2022 Easton Ghost bats cost about $350 each, although the brand does offer a more moderately priced $80 bat.
But then at online sites like Amazon, quite a few bats are offered at $50 and below. And these aren’t some cheap unknown bats from some obscure parts of the world.
These are bats from such revered brands as Louisville Slugger and Easton.
Choosing the right price range for you (or for your child) isn’t just about what you can afford. It’s also about passion for the sport.
If your child is old enough and serious about doing well, then playing with the best bats for fast pitch softball makes sense even if they are expensive.
But for very young players or for those who just play every now and then, an inexpensive bat will do.
Material Choices – Is There One Better Than The Other?
There’s an ongoing debate going on about the relative benefits of choosing either aluminum or composite bats. Some of the better aluminum bats may also have composite additions to the mix.
As aluminum bats are generally less expensive, you need to think about cost-effectiveness. For softball leagues for very young players, the aluminum bats should suffice.
You don’t really need more performance from the best fastpitch softball bats at this level.
The more expensive and better-performing composite bats are worth their price tags if they’re for the travel, high school and college leagues.
Bottom line: It’s your choice. The higher quality bats cost more. It just depends on if you’re a “for fun” player or a more competitive player.
What’s Specs Should You Look For?
Some people think that all bats are the same, so they only pick according to the color (do they match the uniform?).
Others believe that what’s works well for the others should also work well for them too. Both beliefs are not entirely accurate, however.
The first and most important rule when buying the best bats for fastpitch softball is that they should feel right for you. You have to try them out first and do a few practice swings.
That’s why even if you buy your bat online you should first try one from a retails tore or borrow one from a friend.
Still, you can quickly estimate the specs of the best fastpitch bats for you by adhering to the following:
Get one that’s right for your size. You can consult a bat size chart to see how long a bat you should get.
But that’s just a starting reference. Your comfort is still the most important factor, and you should adjust the chart suggestions as you see fit.
Usually, these bats can reach up to 34 inches in length for high school and college players, while youth athletes have bats which can reach up to 32 inches.
Balanced or endloaded? In a balanced bat, the weight is evenly distributed, so it offers greater control for base hitters. The endloaded bats are heavier at the tip, so they offer greater force that should suit power hitters.
But players who use these bats must be able to maintain their bat speeds when they take a swing.
What about bat drop? This is the negative number you often see as part of the bat’s name. It denotes the ration of the bat’s length in inches to the bat’s weight in ounces.
So a bat that’s 34 inches long and has a weight of 24 ounces has a -10 drop.
Larger drops indicate lighter bats, so power hitters may want to use bats with drops ranging from -8 to -10. The lighter bats with drops of up to -13 are easier to control.
Softball Bats You Should Look At in 2022
Now that you have an inkling as to what to look for when you’re trying to choose among the various fastpitch softball bats, let’s start with a few suggestions.
What you need to look at are the top brands, which can give you reliable bats that can be very comfortable to handle when you choose the right size.
The top 3 brands right now are Louisville Slugger, DeMarini, and Easton, although other good brands like Mizuno and Anderson also have numerous fans of their own.
Remember to refer to the table at the top of this article to review what the current best fastpitch softball bats look like.
2022 Easton Ghost Advanced. These are composite bats with sizes ranging from 29″ to 34″.
They offer quick swing speeds and a large sweet spot. The walls are thin and yet strong.
The barrel is somewhat flexible, and you’ll have a better feel with the stiff and solid handle.
2022 Louisville Slugger LXT. The LXT is a very popular series of bats, and this particular version is offers quite a punch because of its low length to weight ratio.
But it feels very balanced.
2022 DeMarini CF Fastpitch Bat. While DeMarini offers cheaper bats, this is their more high level model.
It offers an even balance, and the lightweight composite offer very fast bat speeds.
Even if you’re just a beginner, it can give you a reliable performance each time.
2021 Mizuno F-21 Titanium. This Three-piece Hot Metal Titanium bat is higher priced, but its performance is remarkable.
Its light weight offers exquisite control for base hitters, and its cushioned grip offers a very comfortable feel.
2021 DeMarini FNX Fastpitch Softball Bat. This Parastack Composite Barrel bat is modestly priced, but its performance is remarkable.
Its light weight offers exquisite control for base hitters, and its cushioned grip offers a very comfortable feel.
Final Thoughts on The Best Fastpitch Softball Bats
Just make sure that the bat you buy is actually approved by your league. The last thing you want is to buy your dream bat only to find out you have to return it.
Refer to the chart at the top of this page for pictures and direct links to where you can get the best fastpitch softball bats.
My daughter plays this great sport and I’ve been to the stores. Mark my words: There is a 90% chance you will NOT find the bat you want at the store.
I’ve also compared the pricing between the stores and Amazon and you’ll find a better deal and quick shipping without having to waste gas and the headache of going store to store unsuccessfully.
And remember, the best fastpitch softball bat for others may not be the best for you. Take a look at all your options and make the best choice for you.
Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API