Looking for a new bat for your next softball season? Whether you play fatspitch or slowpitch, youth or adult, competitive or beer league; you still want to get the best value for your money. Whether you spend $400 or $100, you want to get the most performance for the price.
There are many factors to consider when purchasing a bat. Not all softball bats are created equal. There are many different types of bats, from composite to one-piece, from balanced to end-loaded, from basic aluminum alloy to space-age materials. One $400 bat is not necessarily better than the other $400 bat, nor is a $400 bat always the right choice over a $100 bat. It is a fact that a $400 bat is built with more innovative materials and is a higher performance bat, but you may not want or need all that performance. Or, you may not be able to afford the price unless you pilfer the kids' college funds. If you play in a highly competitive league, whether youth or adult, most players will have bats costing over $200, with many having $400 bats. If you play in a Wednesday night beer league, most of that $400 would better be spent on, well, beer.
When choosing a bat, the first thing to do is to decide on your budget. If you are loaded and the dreadful economy hasn't gutted your bank account, by all means go ahead and spend the big bucks on a bat. However, if you have to choose between food on the table or a high-priced bat, go ahead and choose one in the $100 - $150 range. There are still decent bats in this price range. You can find many good bats in the $199 - $299 range and this is often the most popular price range as you get a good performing bad for an affordable price. Most bats in the $100 range are made with basic aluminum alloy, and though they are solid bats, don't offer the performance or durability as higher priced bats. Generally, the best bats are found online. Your local sporting goods store usually doesn't stock too many high-end bats.
The second thing you need to do is to figure out what level league in which you play. If you play competitive softball, you will probably want to spend as much as you can afford. Most players in competitive leagues take their bats seriously and spend money accordingly. If a budget is of no concern, then get the highest priced bat on the market. However, if you are like most of us and money doesn't grow on trees, then doing your research to find the right type bat for you at the right price is mandatory.
The third thing you need to do is make sure the bat you want is approved for play in your league. There are approximately 20 different governing bodies in the softball world, but there are five main ones – Amateur Softball Association (ASA), United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), National Softball Association (NSA), Independent Softball Association (ISA), and the International Softball Federation (ISF). Though the rules of these governing bodies are similar, there are differences, and though many bats are approved for play in all leagues, some are not. It is important to check to see if the bat you want is approved for play in your league.
To help you with your purchase, we have compiled a few lists of the best softball bat in 2022 on the market. Figure out what you want, check out the lists, buy your bat, and start swinging for the fences.