Softball...

Talking Poker · #1 08-24-07, 02:08 PM

In response to omahilo:

It's mostly "just for fun." I'd rather it be a little more serious, honestly. I mean, I still want to play for fun, but we have some definite weak spots on our team and people who don't seem to have any desire to improve. We've improved a TON in the last year as a team though, so that's nice.

My team only plays one night per week, but I was thinking about trying to get on another team in another league next season (starts in September) so I can play twice per week.

In Florida, some of the summer games are just brutal. The next couple of seasons will be much nicer, weather wise...

In other news, our team has always used crappy bats, and I think investing in a good bat would really help us. I think we only have 1 guy who has hit a home run over the fence, and with a decent bat, I think we'd have 2-3 more who could make it - myself included. I don't think I'd have consistent HR power, but I should be able to hit it to the fence a lot more often and cut down on the long fly outs (and hit one out when I really get ahold of one).

Do you use a good bat? I'm just beginning my bat shopping, but would like to try to get a nice doublewall bat in the $200-300 range. Any recommendations?

bdawg31 · #2 08-24-07, 03:54 PM

I am by no means a soft-ball expert - and its been a while since I have played - but the bats, IMO, make a HUGE difference. I can remember most of the time just using the decent team bats and then getting a hold of someones fancy-expensive bat - and wow, what a difference. I vaguely remember our leauge (not too serious) banning certain types of bats.

Why not try to get everyone on yoru team to kick in $20 for a really good team bat? Figure if you are carrying 15 people - that should cover the cost.

Talking Poker · #3 08-24-07, 04:11 PM

Two reasons:

1. While I agree with you that a good bat will make a HUGE difference for some of the people on the team, it will make ZERO difference for others. We have people (girls) who are lucky to make contact and get the ball to the pitcher, for example. An expensive bat will do nothing for them, so I see no reason for them to have to pay for it.

2. I'd rather not everyone use the bat. Bats only have so many hits in them, so why should the people I mentioned in #1 even use the bat? Let's save it for the people who will get something out of it.

I thought I could hopefully solve both problems by saying that I'm buying the bat, but would appreciate a one time $10 donation from anyone who plans to use it regularly. That way, not everyone will have to kick in money, but this will also limit the number of people who use it, as well. I'll guess that maybe 5 people will pay the $10, but that's fine with me...

BTW, I'm leaning towards the . This isn't the most expensive bat out there, but it's got great reviews and would be a HUGE improvement for us...

Dick's has it for $250, but I've seen it online for as low as $200 + shipping.

bdawg31 · #4 08-24-07, 04:18 PM

Agreed. That was why i suggested everyone pitching in. You could even do it on a yearly basis. As long as you dont mind telling people "you cant use the bat without the donation" then you are fine. Or if you are fine donating a bat to the team every year.

bdawg31 · #5 08-24-07, 04:20 PM

I played in a co-ed league years ago - they used a different ball for the women hitters vs the men hitters. Do they do that in your league? The ball for the women was smaller and more dense - so it went further. It was sort of in-between what i would consider a normal softball and a baseball.

It helped the average women somewhat - but if you had a real good woman player, she could really hammer that ball.

Talking Poker · #6 08-24-07, 04:23 PM

Nope. We have one ball for everyone.

Talking Poker · #7 08-24-07, 04:25 PM

This makes no sense to me.

Why make people pay extra for a bat that won't help them and that I'd rather they not use anyway?

bdawg31 · #8 08-24-07, 04:26 PM

Two words TEAM SPIRIT!!!

omahilo · #9 08-25-07, 02:14 AM

$250 is alot for a double wall bat... the new bat now is composite bats. You can get a composite bat for the same price and they are so much better.

Composite bats wont dent up like the doublewall bats do. Miken, Worth, Easton are top of the line when it comes to composite bats. They are the best bats on the market right now. You can get a freak plus for $199 which is a awesome deal. Also do you play USSSA or ASA? if you play ASA you can only use certain bats.

I attached a link below which will help with your shopping. Also they have a forum where you can post about finding a team to play on, just asking general softball stuff or even buying a bat. Ive bought several bats thought people on the forum and have had no problems with them.

Composite bats will last for thousands and thousands of swing if you treat them right. Ive seen composite bats that have all the graphics wore off of them from being hit so much and the bat itself is in mint condition.

Talking Poker · #10 08-25-07, 02:41 AM

Thanks for the link. The bat I've been leaning towards was on the list you sent:

What do you think of it? Every review I have read has been extremely positive.

I only see two bats on that page that have "composite" in their names (I didb't click on every link) and they both cost $280.

omahilo · #11 08-25-07, 06:49 AM

its not a bad bat... I got a older one (04 I think) for free from demarini a few months ago. the big question is what kind of balls do you use.

If you use .44 cor 375 compression then its a good bat for you because those are the balls that the demarini 375 is made to hit. if you use .44 cor 525 compression or .47 cor balls then it wont be as good of a bat for you because it will end up denting very easily because the harder the ball is the more likely it will dent that kind of bat.

I mean if you hit .47 cor balls with the 375 it will hit them good but the life of the bat wont be nearly as long since it is a doublewall bat.

omahilo · #12 08-25-07, 06:59 AM

also most of those bats on there are composite, they just dont say it since I guess they assume if you are looking for a bat that you know if it is composite or not.

These would be my personal recommandations if I was buying a bat.

or if you wanted to spend alittle more money...

Also the easton synergy extended wouldnt be a bad bat either. The biggest thing with composite bats are that they need to be broke in. So it will take a few hundred hits with the bat before it even starts to hit the way you expect. The fibers of the bat are stiff starting out and as you start to hit it they will loosen up and it will start hitting the shit out of the ball. So if your team wants to take some BP if you buy a composite bat, go for it. It will only help the bat get better.

if you arent sold on the composite bats one of the best doublewall bats Ive ever swung was this one.

This use to be my favorite bat before switching over to composite bats.

omahilo · #13 08-25-07, 07:03 AM

this is a batwars event in your area in September if you want to go and hit all the bats for yourself. I went to the one in Michigan in July, it is pretty sweet. For $10 you get to swing every kind of bat you can think of. It gives you a good idea of which bats are junk and which ones you would consider buying.

Talking Poker · #14 08-25-07, 03:07 PM

I thought we were using 375s, but after a little research, now I think we use 525s - Standard Blue Dots...? I'd rather err on the side that gives me the most bat life, so I guess I should scratch the Demarini 375 bat and look at these composites.

The ones you recommended look good - I wish there was a good way to compare them with each other. I never knew there were so many choices when it comes to slowpitch softball bats!

That batwars thing looks sweet, but I was really hoping to have the bat before then. It might be wort waiting though.

BTW - Should I go with the standard 34/28, or do you recommend something else? I won't be the only one using the bat, but it will mostly be for me - I'm 6'5" and don't have any bat speed problems (I don't think). I have good bat control and can hit to any field easily.

Talking Poker · #15 08-25-07, 03:23 PM

After doing a little more research, I'll probably go with one of your top two recommendations.

I see you linked to the balanced NRG 600 (not the Maxload), but to the Freak Plus which I believe is endloaded. Do you prefer one over the other? I can't say that I've ever even swung an end-loaded bat, so I'm not sure which I would like better.

So many questions!

Talking Poker · #16 08-25-07, 05:51 PM

OK, I've all but settled on the Freak Plus. Everyone loves it. People even make YouTube tributes to it:

Anyway, I just need to decide what weight to go with. It looks like you can get them brand new (and returnable) for $199 all over the place.

Thanks for the help, omahilo.

Tony Cheval · #17 08-25-07, 07:03 PM

Lol, doesn't he know that 'SCUD missiles' never go where you want them to?

Akverno · #18 08-26-07, 02:04 AM

Good choice with the Freak.

If you wanted to buy two bats, I'd suggest going with the Easton Synergy.

Instead of hitting a few hundred times with a bat (to break it in) you can always wrap the bat in a towel and whack it with a rubber mallet.

In terms of weight, I'm a fan of the 28oz bats myself.

Talking Poker · #19 08-26-07, 03:01 AM

Thanks.

I've done a lot of reading today - read about "rolling" bats and everything. The Freak Plus (I decided on that one - I like that it's not ASA legal) is supposed to be really good right out of the wrapper, so I'll probably just play with it right away... I might give it a little BP to see how far I can hit with it before taking it to a game, but I don't think it will really matter.

I also decided the 28 was probably the best weight... I know some people prefer lighter and some people prefer heavier, but I think middle of the road should be just fine.

BTW - The best deal I found anywhere was here:

$189.99 and free shipping. Nice!

omahilo · #20 08-26-07, 02:27 PM

yeah being 6'5 28oz should be great for you...

like me Im like 5'10 so I like 27oz or even 26oz. I think you made a nice selection. since you are using 525 comp. balls this bat will be good for along time compared to the demarini 375 which would be dented up after hitting those balls after awhile.

Also like someone else posted you can take a mallet and hit your bat alot, or go out and buy a hitaway and just hit it with it till it is broke in. Ive even seen players take the bat and hit it on a tree or pole a few times to break it in, I wouldnt recommand that tho.

PShabi · #21 08-26-07, 06:28 PM

Why does a bat need to be "broken in?" I've never heard of that. What does it accomplish?

Talking Poker · #22 08-26-07, 08:29 PM

I hadn't heard of it before either. Apparently, for these composite bats especially, they actually hit better after being broken in. I'm not sure why that is - I guess the metal softens a little bit, allowing for the bat's energy to transfer to the ball better...? I know I'm not using the correct terminology here and I'm honestly not sure, but that's kind of how I picture it in my head. What it boils down to though is that composite bats will actually hit farther after a couple hundreds hits on them than they will straight out of the wrapper.

P.S. Mayhem thinks we are nerds and "a bat is a bat!" Silly Mayhem...

omahilo · #23 08-28-07, 08:25 AM

did you order your freak plus yet?

Talking Poker · #24 08-28-07, 01:53 PM

Yup. It's scheduled to be delivered here on Thursday. I can't wait to hit it.

While I've been waiting, I've been looking through this site:

Apparently the grip I've used for as long as I can remember is WRONG.

You're supposed to line up your second knuckles on both hands, and I've always lined up the bottom section of my fingers - the area between the second knuckles and the hand knuckles. Crazy.

omahilo · #25 08-28-07, 03:10 PM

those freaks do take awhile to break in so dont be disappointed if you arent hitting well with it right out of the gate.

If you looking for a softball video you should go to softballfans.com and go to the forum and post about wanting one, you can get a burnt copy or maybe even a regular copy of a good video for 5-10 bucks.

The blasting bombs and spraying singles video is pretty good. I always wanted to watch the swingmechanic videos but never got around to doing so.