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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 71 anonymousDiscussion: new bat
| Posted | Discussion |
| May 22, 2012 lks3232 9 posts | new bat need help on a new bat.best?worst?--i am not a hr hitter,just line drives.makes my head spin with all the options.need value for $$ spent.any input appreciated |
| May 23, 2012 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | Alan, are you recommending the Melee or the Melee Legend, the senior bat? |
| May 23, 2012 lks3232 9 posts | tri18,when ya'll say senior bat,does that mean approved for senior associations? I am still playing with younger guys so they are ok for all the other associations.i will email as far as specifics,price,weight etc,,,thanks for your help |
| May 23, 2012 HJ Men's 70 481 posts | Ike, generally there are 3 types of slowpitch softball bats, based on how hot they are. Hot means generally that all things being equal how fast the ball will come off the bat. The faster it comes off then the farther it will go. The three types are: ASA. USSSA (Utrip) and Senior. They are all labeled. A senior bat is built to a standard that will make the ball go faster than the others off the bat. All slow pitch bats are 34 inches long and weigh between 26 and 30 ounces although I believe up to 38 oz is legal. Bats are either balanced or end loaded. Some are 1/2 end loaded. Generally power hitters prefer end loaded bats and placement hitters prefer balanced bats. Generally, for any style bat you want the heaviest bat you can swing w/o losing bat speed. Much of this is personal. Many players on my senior team prefer Utrip bats. Most sporting goods stores have very few choices so most bats are bought over the internet or at tournaments. I think the best advice is to ask everyone to try their bat, at least swing it if they don't won't you to use in bp or a game and find out what you like and don't like. Ask questions!! I personally use a Utrip bat for certain circumstances and a Senior bat for others. One final thing, a Senior bat has no warranty because to make it "hot" it is inherently weaker. Most other bats are a 1 year warranty for on replacement. Keep asking questions if this raises more for you. |
| May 23, 2012 lks3232 9 posts | thanks HJ---thats what I figured.I just want it to last if I am throwing 200-300 bucks on something.My dinosaur TPS is making me think I cant hit or hit like a girl.I am going to try a few Friday night and see whats up.Any other input would be appreciated guys. |
| May 23, 2012 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | lks, HJ gave a very complete and accurate description of the categories of bats out there. One other thing to take into account is where you usually play ball, and what tournaments (if any) you participate in. Because the senior bats are so hot, they can be prohibited in many venues. Some rec departments have older fields that are too small for senior bats so they just ban them. Other rec departments have larger fields, but ban the senior bats for safety reasons. Even some private facilities ban some senior bats. Some leagues only allow ASA bats. Some leagues allow senior bats to be used only by men of a certain age—in my league, you must be 75 or older to use a composite senior bat. Bottom line: it is fun (and often expensive) to use a powerful, but fragile, bat, but it's not fun if it is prohibited for use by you where you normally play. Even double wall bats are prohibited on some fields, by some rec departments, in some leagues, etc. Check and ask. |
| May 23, 2012 lks3232 9 posts | i guess I dont need a senior bat then.I will keep looking and trying to try some out that my teammates have.Thanks |
| May 23, 2012 lks3232 9 posts | i have your email address Alan,I will email you this evening. |
| May 30, 2012 lks3232 9 posts | hey Tri18,What is your feeling on the Demarini bats?just wondering havent made my mind up yet.Right now I cant buy a hit much less a bat. |
| May 30, 2012 HJ Men's 70 481 posts | Iks, you are obsessing. You are new to this so just buy a decent bat legal for the league you play it, buy a dozen or so used balls, a batting tee and practice. Relaxation and confidence are more important than the bat. |
| May 30, 2012 lks3232 9 posts | hj---i have been playing mens softball since I was 16,,,,37 years ago and I have never lacked for confidence batting til this year.Playing for new teams and may be pressing some,and I know my bats are ancient but my pitching and my defense keep me around.I know I can still hit,just struggling right now.I am just looking at what is out there and trying to get a feel for what is best for me.My wife did use the word,,OBSESSING...lol |
| May 31, 2012 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | Lks: I can speak to our Reebok bats. I used Mikens for over a decade and switched to Reeboks over two years ago. Our Sr. Melee's are excellent bats with distance being a plus. I am swinging our Sr Melee EL and also swinging a Vector-O ASA model. It has more durability and good distance. The Vector-O's are being discontinued so I do suggest getting one while some are still around. If I can assist you and add you to many satisfied players, please let me know. I am serious about customer service and many can vouch for that. Ed Andrews (970) 728-3144/729-3145 ed@ewandrews.com |
| May 31, 2012 MurrayW Men's 65 221 posts | Ed, why is the vector-O being discontinued? |
| May 31, 2012 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | I think because the cost to manufacture it, did not result in enough sales to warrant the profit margin needed. We will still have the Melee ASA bat that has durability and distance. Thanks, Ed |
| May 31, 2012 garyheifner 649 posts | For the what it is worth column. My 65 team swings U2s. Most of the guys use them for batting practice and the games. More than half are singles hitters and the rest power hitters. We have had very few break over the last 4-5 seasons. I have very fast bat head speed and only use them (28 & 29)in games. Both are between 4-5 years old and are still going strong. I use an old combat or old aluminum in batting practice which should add many more years of life for my U2s. |
