Bat Sizing

Bats By Age

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:

Age Weight Drop
8-12 -12+
8-13 -11
12+ -10
14+ -10 or -9
16+ -10, -9 -8
Most Popular Length by Age
Age 5 to 7 8 to 9 10 11 to 12 13 to 14 15 to 16
Length 24"-26" 26"-28" 28"-29" 30"-31" 31"-32" 32"-33"

LENGTH, WEIGHT, WEIGHT DROP – AND WHY THEY MATTER

Many fastpitch players think a longer bat will give them better plate coverage – but that’s not always the case. A longer bat is often swings heavier, and if it’s too long for you, can reduce your swing speed and keep you from catching up to certain pitches. When choosing your bat length, keep plate coverage in mind – but also consider your swing and stance, as well.

Length
SWING WEIGHT
WEIGHT DROP
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 of the plate. However, longer bats also tend to have more mass toward the end of the barrel, requiring more power to swing them. We recommend swinging bats of different lengths to determine which option best suits your swing. The right combination of length and weight will help you reach peak performance. Fastpitch bats are commonly found between 28 and 34 inches. Please check the size chart for examples of what length may be appropriate for you.

SWING WEIGHT

Bat weight is measured in ounces. A bat’s weight is often referenced using the term ‘drop weight’ – the length minus its weight in ounces. Depending on the specific bat, the weight distribution can be different, with some bat’s weight distributed evenly throughout the barrel, while others tend to have a touch of added weight toward the end of the barrel – usually in designs crafted for elite power hitters.

WEIGHT DROP

Figuring out weight drop is simple. For example, a 31-inch, 21-ounce bat carries a -10 drop weight. A general rule of thumb is the higher level of competition, the lower the drop weight, which means the bat feels heavier. A -8 fastpitch bat will feel much heavier than, for example, a -11 bat. Players with more experience are more likely to have the strength required to not only swing, but control heavier bats. Younger players, meanwhile, often gravitate toward lighter-swinging bats that are easier to get through the zone and control.

SHOP BY DROP

*This is for example purposes only. The best way to find the right size bat for you is to demo the bat, preferably against live pitch speeds.Manufacturing tolerances, performance considerations and grip weight may cause variations from the listed weight.

Shop -8 Fastpitch Bats

Shop -9 Fastpitch Bats

Shop -11 Fastpitch Bats

Shop -12 Fastpitch bats

Shop -13 Fastpitch Bats

Bat Technology

What goes into a bat?

A fastpitch bat is more than just a hunk of metal. It is a carefully engineered tool that allows players to get the most out of every swing. Each component of the bat, from knob to end cap, is designed to maximize every ounce of performance. There are four main tech components you should understand when it comes to bats: material, barrel diameter, construction and weight balance.

 

COMPOSITE

Our fastpitch lineup features bats made from groundbreaking composite materials.

COMPOSITE
CONSTRUCTION
BARREL DIAMETER
COMPOSITE

Composite bats are made from a layered material (often carbon fiber) that is easy to distribute, giving our engineers the ability to produce bats with a variety of swing weights, ranging from balanced to end-loaded. Composite designs minimize the sting from mis-hit balls by reducing vibration in the handle and also often boast larger sweet spots than alloy bats.

CONSTRUCTION

Composite fastpitch bats are primarily built one of two ways: in a linear design or with a gapped wall design. A linear design showcases a single-wall barrel while the gapped wall construction utilizes not only the lower compression outer barrel, but an inner wall that, when activated, can produce a trampoline-like effect for additional performance. Linear bats will have more of a traditional “responsiveness” where its easier to identify exactly where on the barrel you hit the ball, whereas gapped wall will feel more consistent regardless of where you hit the ball on the barrel.

Most fastpitch composite bats are two-piece bats, meaning the handle and barrel are two separate pieces. This construction allows for dampening of negative vibrations on contact

BARREL DIAMETER

The barrel is the thickest and widest part of the bat. It’s where you’re looking to make contact with the ball when you step to the plate. Barrels come in a range of sizes and are measured by diameter. Almost exclusively, fastpitch bat barrels measure at 2 1/4”.

Leagues

Governing Bodies

Governing bodies set unique standards for bat performance. Bat manufacturers build to those specifications – in fastpitch, all of our DeMarini bats are approved by the five major governing bodies: 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 are found on the bats and certify the bat is legal for those leagues and tournaments. If you’re looking for your specific league regulations and standards, we strongly recommend consulting your local league official or coach prior to purchasing a new bat.