Softball Bat: What Is The Right Bat For You?
Robert Thatcher
You can see them all around the Softball park, swinging their
bats, hitting at imaginary targets and sometimes practicing at
objects, improving their strength all the time. The force
behind the swing of the batters can be tremendous. The truth
is, it is not the strength behind the swing that only matters.
It is also the kind of bat one uses.
How to pick the right bat?
The Length
To pick the correct bat length, the bat should be long enough
to reach your wrist when you are standing straight with arms on
your size. With the tip of the bat touching the ground to your
wrist will very most likely the most comfortable bat length
that you can pick.
The Weight
Every softball player has his own individual requirement
especially when it comes to carrying out weights. The rule of
the thumb when picking the correct bat weight is to try out the
bat first. See if the player can swing the bat comfortably and
control the swing with both hands without strain. The bat has
to be the heaviest that the player can swing without loss of
speed. If the bat does not fall into these categories, look for
another one. It does not matter if the bat chosen is the most
expensive and the most beautifully crafted with the most
advanced material. If the player will be sacrificing these, the
player will only be having a good top of the line, technically
crafted bat. You can not say that for his swings.
Whatever the case, always take a bat that is light. Lighter
bats can be swung faster and the resulting distance could be
farther.
Having said that, here are ways to pick legal bats.
Advancement in technology has created bats where the softball
bats can fit and be comfortably swung by players of all ages
and built. Even the less technically proficient can today,
swing the softball bat and hit the ball at speeds that can pose
a serious problem with the pitcher and the infielders.
Technically advanced bats can also ruin the game, as players
would rely more and more on the more expensive multiple alloys
instead of having fun and developing the skill. For these
reasons, many softball organizations started banning specific
bats and having guidelines for softball bat specifications.
Some of these standards are:
The BTF or the Bat Performance Factor has to be 1.20 certified.
The Ball to Exit Ratio has to have a 97-MPH BESR on a normally
thrown pitch.
The bats must have a smooth safety grip not just tapes.
The ideal softball bat in the hands of a good player translates
to the game Americans love. To prepare for a good batting
positions here are a few suggestions:
Loosen up. Twist back and forth, bend up and down, do a
stationary jog, do anything to loosen up the muscles. If you
have a good bat speed, fluidity in movement will give you the
power.
Use a carbon based softball bat. Carbons perform better than
aluminum.
When you are batting, distribute your weight on both feet. When
the ball is in the level between your shoulders and your chest,
hit it. Hitting the ball in that position is just giving it
another direction. The power that you smash it with will give
it the distance.
About The Author: Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher
based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and
reports in various ezines and provides softball bat resources
on
http://www.your-softball-bat.info
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