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Online now: 3 members: TABLE SETTER 11, dawg888, teampanthers; 115 anonymousDiscussion: Bat Weight
| Posted | Discussion |
| March 30, 2012 HJ Men's 70 481 posts | Bat Weight I am a new to slowpitch so please bare with me. I note many of you appear to easily have HR power. I am wondering if HRs can be hit with a 26 oz balanced bat. I also am interested in your experiences experimenting with balanced and endload bats and up and down in the weight of the bat. Are there any big guys using 26 oz. bats? Thank you. |
| March 30, 2012 softball4b Men's 70 1248 posts | I use a 26oz fork. |
| March 30, 2012 Robo2 238 posts | I weigh about 240 and use a 30 oz endload. I have no problem with it. I just cnnot get the hang of the light bats. It must be a personnal preference. I know of several individuals that use 26 oz and they hit with power. |
| March 30, 2012 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Copied post He would know the "math" on this. Dec. 19, 2005 bashbro1 Men's 60 266 posts A baseball study was undertaken a few years back that took into consideration these three hitting parameters: Bat-Speed, Batted-Ball-Speed, & the Batís mass (i.e. its weight on earth). The study showed that the batted ball speed curve essentially flattens out between 32oz and 41oz bats remaining almost constant @ about 110mph. At the same time understand that the batterís swing speed decreases in swinging the 32oz to 41oz bat; but the mass of the bat makes up the difference in power curve. Plugging values into the kinetic energy equation,,, KineticEnergy=1.5Mass x Bat*Velocity squared proves the point. This study was done for baseball with a 90mph+ fastball coming @ you and most batterís would certainly would opt out for using the 32oz bat since you can swing it faster and with the same power curve as the 41oz! Applying this study to slo-pitch would not be as significant obviously, as we have more time to wind up and swing a heavier bat. However, it does raise questions about those players that swear by the lighter bats such as: 26oz, 27oz and even 28oz because they get more bat-speed. According to this study you would have a greater ëball exit speedí using a 30oz slo-pitch bat even though your bat speed would be slower than using a lighter oz bat, thus yielding more power and distance on you long flies! ------- For myself, the lighter bats is more productive. I use a 26 mostly a 27 on occasion. Have no concern if bal or EL. |
| March 30, 2012 Super V 10 Men's 55 72 posts | HJ I have used a 26oz endload bat for 25 years. I weigh 250lbs, because of the way I swing I don't like the heavy bats. What ever you learned in baseball (hitting) you meed to throw out the window when it comes to softball Dave Velasquez seniorsoftballbatreviews.com softballtraning.com |
| March 30, 2012 96packers Men's 60 5 posts | As stated by a few, if you can get your swing timing down to hit a 26oz by all means do it, depending on your swing. I've seen big guys swing 26oz'ers for more 15-20+ years. It's all timing. I have no luck with it though so I stick with 28's. I'll wise up at some point. |
| March 30, 2012 JamesLG 420 posts | Hi HJ: I am 185lbs and like a heavy 29-30oz balanced bat because it is easier for me to maintain timing. With these bats you don't need to be 225lbs to hit the ball 310'. Good luck. James |
| March 30, 2012 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | I prefer a 30 endload. I have used a 28 for ASA but if I had 30 ASA bat I would use it. When trying a 26 I found that the bat rebounds after contact. Btw, 200lbs. |
| March 31, 2012 17Black Men's 60 414 posts | I remember swinging 38 ounce Bombats and other manufacturers 30 years ago. As others above, I also prefer the 30 ounce end load or max load---it just feels heavier. If they made composite bats heavier now, I'd probably buy them. To answer HJ question------most guys one one of my league teams swear by the lighter bats----but they are not hitting for power---at all---they get the ball through the infield decent, but they are just not power hitting guys. Now--there is an outstanding good player on my team who normally swings a 27 and "used to hit" a lot of home runs, but hadn't hit one for about a year, but kept swinging with it. It finally broke at a tournament. He blamed his lack of power to age, (he is now 61) not the bat. I let him use same model Ultra II in 30 ounce instead of 27 (black, not max load) and he hit two home runs in first four swings with it. He has since switched to a 30 ounce bat again, and is hitting long again. Not like he used to, but is again a "threat"------and when he drops to a lighter bat, his power decreases again. Before some guys jump on the bandwagon that this is a good reason why NOT to use composite bats, the 61 year old is no slouch of a player and is in Ohio Softball Hall of Fame. I'm not an engineer------so you physics majors have to explain this to me------the 30 ounce bats also "seem" to have longer live span--------I'm not the smartest guy, but is there "more material" that goes into making a 30 ounce bat instead of a 26 or 27 or 28 which "might" allow for more wear and tear????? |
| March 31, 2012 17Black Men's 60 414 posts | Is there anyway to hit an edit button to fix typo's on our posts ^^ ??? :) |
| March 31, 2012 salio2k Men's 60 547 posts | The old Ultras seemed to have the same size shell with the rod in the handle being the determining factor in the weight. A 28oz might have a 3" rod and a 30oz a 41/2" rod. Haven't bought or broken any new (made in USA) Ultras to see if they are the same. |
| March 31, 2012 garyheifner 649 posts | 17 Black has found what I have. The heavier the bat the longer it lasts. I have used a 29 for many years. As I have gotten older and total body strength has decreased, I have gone from little finger over the end to choking up an inch. I still have similar deep power (increased bat head speed?????maybe) and my bat control singles hitting has greatly improved as I feel I have less mis-hits. |
| March 31, 2012 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | I am 63 and weigh 160. I am swinging a 28 EL. My thinking is if you can swing a heavier bat, do it. I am not a power hitter but I believe a little heavier bat allows for additional velocity off the barrel. I have some 30 oz Melee's if needed. Ed |
| April 1, 2012 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | I made a move last year from 28 to 29 and that silly ounce made a huge difference in my power. When I get healed and able, I am going to experiment with a 30 in the combat, melee and U2. Ed, are you going to be in Albuquerque with a used 30 oz melee I could try? I'm not looking for a freebie, but just trying to be the best I can be--(must be the former Marine in me). |
| April 2, 2012 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | Webbie25, I thought there was no such thing as a "former" Marine! ;) |
| April 2, 2012 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | Web: I'll work with you. Get hold of me this week. Headed for Denver today. Having thyroid taken out tomorrow. We don't get lifetime warranties on the body parts LOL.You have my #. Ed |
| April 3, 2012 swing for the fences Men's 50 1224 posts | HJ, we have a guy Gary that swings a 26 ounce bat.. I have seen him hit the ball as far as anyone with it. the balance part I am not sure of because he swings an end load mostly.. I swing balance 30 to 29 ounce and hit them for power and control.. I have seen my friend Gary swing balance and there seems to be no drop off in power but he rarely swings them. I believe if you have power you can swing anything and it will show up! |
| April 5, 2012 goforit 97 posts | Good morning everyone, I swing a 27 oz (not end loaded)most of the time because it gives me the ability to hit for average and for power. With the 27 oz i can get my top hand over faster and hit a lot of line drives and home runs every now and then. I find i hit more home runs with a 29 oz since my top hand does not get over as quickly and i get alittle more of the bottom of the ball but i sacrifice average some times by using the 29 oz since i don't feel i have as much control on where the ball will go. I also do not pull the ball as much with a 29 oz as opposed to a 27 oz so a lot of my power is to center and right. Swinging a heavier bat i believe does benefit the power game but if you can't control the weight you will find that you will also hit more pop ups and ground balls, but who cares if all you want to do is go WOW when you hit one 400'. Good luck everyone with what ever weight works for you. John Giesler |
| April 6, 2012 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Bruce-you're right, but believe it or not I was asked if I was still in a couple years ago when I just said Marine. The politically correct thing has gone way too far. |
| April 10, 2012 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | Web: I'm back from surgery. Everything went well. Get hold of me about the bat. Ed |
