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Online now: 6 members: Doyle3, LEMO1420, Papajoe56, TABLE SETTER 11, dillydilly, gts9; 72 anonymousDiscussion: Bat restrictions for Seniors.
| Posted | Discussion |
| Aug. 23, 2013 Biscuit 6 posts | Bat restrictions for Seniors. I just joined a team in Corpus Christi for the Fall season. Thirty-five years ago I played 4A fast pitch softball in the San Antonio, Texas city league. Why and what are the restrictions between softball associations. I am having trouble finding bats and balls related to "Senior Softball? |
| Aug. 23, 2013 hemi racer Men's 65 237 posts | Biscuit, several options on bat choices. Most of us have a hard time avoiding senior equipment ads. There are several people on the board that are very knowledgeable about the different leagues and their rules. The one person that I depend on is Alan(561-718-7504) at Team1sports(tricoach18@att.net). I'm sure he could answer all your questions and has always been truthful. He can advise you for what every age group your in. Also has very competitive prices. Good luck on your second time around. |
| Aug. 23, 2013 Biscuit 6 posts | Thank you Hemi racer, Are the restrictions on balls and bats to keep balls inside the park when used by different ages? Like, If I used an ASA bat would I drive the SSUSA ball farther or less than using a SSUSA bat? Thank you. |
| Aug. 23, 2013 Fabe Men's 65 456 posts | No legal bat will out perform a legit Senior Bat! They are fun to swing n you just need to find the one that fits your swing! Contact Alan he is a good resource. Aloha, Fabe |
| Aug. 23, 2013 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Biscuit, your question was legitimate about the purpose of SSUSA equipment, but older senior players will find it amusing. Parks were built in dimensions of 250 -270 foot fences as recently as the 1980s (some parks also used by hardball players were larger). Only the true home run hitter could put the ball out of those parks with wooden bats and these men were rightly admired and praised. The single wall aluminum bats weren't much hotter if at all. Their advantage was durability and perhaps more precise weight, balance, and end load. On my teams, they helped a few guys raise their average, but no one hit the ball faster or farther. Then came the double walls and the exotic metal bats. Some were banned because they were dangerously hot. With the lively balls of the day, more and more balls were flying out of the park. My teams had a couple of guys that once had warning track power at best, but now were able to hit home runs. I was still hitting singles and the occasional gap double. As a result of the hotter bats, newer complexes were building fields with 290 - 300 to the fence. We thought they were enormous parks for the game of softball and buck shorts began to be moved to four outfielders to cover the ground. One result was that the lively balls went out of favor since park departments didn't want to have to deal with frequent balls landing over the fences in streets, playgrounds, and picnic areas. Didn't last long. The composites came along, much more powerful than the feared titanium bats of old, and suddenly lots of guys could clear the fence, even on the 300 foot parks. I now hit my FIRST home run over the fence after 50 years of playing softball! A pipsqueak like me clearing the fence! Older, weaker, slower bat speed, poorer eyesight—how ludicrous. Hit two over in one game and the coach asked me to hit a single my third time at bat. The result was even bigger fields to protect bystanders and parked cars, a banning of composites by many recreation departments since they had no room to expand fields, and a dumbing down even more of the balls. That's where we are today. SSUSA senior bats are hotter than ever, with new bats claiming even greater performance (bigger sweet spots, longer range, etc.) yet somehow staying within spec (although even that was raised slightly a couple of years ago). Very few in senior ball want to play on an outfield with 350 foot fences, so once again the balls will have to be changed to keep balls in the parks. And Fabe is absolutely right—no legal ASA bat is going to outperform the senior composite bat. They are fun to swing, but traditionalists (and rec department directors) bemoan the loss of the game of 20 years ago. |
| Aug. 23, 2013 Biscuit 6 posts | > I am 66 years old. I have an old aluminum softball bat, that probably cost 9 dollars when I bought it. I played 4A fast pitch softball in San Antonio over thirty years ago (our bats were wooden) in a city league. When I came to the coastal bend there were no fast pitch leagues down here, only slow pitch. I played catcher and first base then and I was not impressed with slow pitch. > > Now that I need to lose some weight and I still have the competitive desire. I joined the fall season on a senior slow pitch team in Corpus Christi (60+) I have also may be drafted on the 65+ league. > > I bought a nice 14" glove from one of the guys at the league batting practice last week. My first team starts play in about three weeks. I hit during two league batting practices. The first time I didn't do so well. I borrowed a bat from one of the players. The next time I switch from trifocal glasses to bifocals and I hit a million times better but none over the fence. > > Here is my question. Before I invest in a league bat and practice bat, which may cost around $400., are there any cheaper bats that are approved? Wood bats? One piece vs. two piece. The league I am in is a SSUSA governed league. |
| Aug. 23, 2013 swing for the fences Men's 50 1224 posts | +-Omar, the new ASA bats made for the lower compression balls are pretty close to our senior bats..FYI! I ran one down the other night that was 390 ft from home plate in a ASA league! |
| Aug. 23, 2013 TexasTransplant Men's 70 516 posts | While all of the above is good information, if you are contemplating playing in a local league (as opposed to tournament play) you need to check with local authorities. Local leagues, particularly senior leagues, have been know to have some peculiar rules and restrictions on bats. I am aware of one senior league in the DFW area that only allows old ASA bats (not the ones with the 2013 stamp). You should find plenty of bats for less than $400. Find out from you locals what you need, then do some web searches. |
| Aug. 23, 2013 Biscuit 6 posts | Iwas thinking about getting two bats. One for batting practice and one for league play. |
| Aug. 23, 2013 DCPete 409 posts | Whoa there OK, "composites came along much more powerful than the feared titanium bats of old"? Don't think so; why do you think all titanium bats are still banned while newer & better composites are still being approved? Also for the record, most if not all of the highest-performing golf drivers are made with a titanium face vs any type of composite. |
| Aug. 23, 2013 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Swing, was it a man or a gorilla that hit that?! |
| Aug. 23, 2013 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | DCPete, I think it is pure conservative thinking that keeps the titanium banned. There was a poster on here who worked for a softball company (Kevin?) who posted 3 or 4 years ago that tests showed the Miken Ultra II was hotter than the banned titanium. I'd be interested in the experience of guys who have swung both. I knew only one guy in our league who bought the titanium (really, really expensive in those times) who had a good two games in league before it was banned and there went hundreds of dollars of investment! But he stopped playing about 15 years ago and never had a chance to hit with a composite. |
| Aug. 23, 2013 swing for the fences Men's 50 1224 posts | young kid with a new ASA bat... bottom line is I went and caught it at 390 feet away from homeplate... he hit one later in the gap for a homer but no doubt the new ASA bat made for new mushy balls hit's the crap out of a 44375 like a senior bat! |
| Aug. 24, 2013 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Swing running and catching a ball at 390 feet (presumably on an unfenced field) is routine for him. No report on whether the kid's knuckles drug on the ground when he stood erect. |
| Aug. 25, 2013 DCPete 409 posts | OK; would also like to hear from anybody that swung both as to how they compare? When the titaniums 1st came out 1 umpire told us the average hitter was getting an extra 50 feet with these bats but they were banned within 2 or 3 months after several deaths/injuries happened. |
| Aug. 25, 2013 cyborg45 Men's 75 194 posts | Never swung a ti, but I still have my original Ultra. Hottest bat by far I have ever swung. Hit one off the handle in a game that I thought would be a 280 ft. fly out. Ended up in a tree about 15 ft. beyond the fence. |
| Aug. 26, 2013 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | have swung both and it would be composite over ti all the way.......IMO |
| Aug. 29, 2013 armiho211 Men's 70 449 posts | swing for the fences : i will be playing in an ASA league next year. i was invited to play with a team today 8/29, also ASA, the longest shot hit by both teams was maybe 200ft, 99% of the other hits were not over 100 ft. very disapointed with the ASA bats avail. what was the ASA bat used that was made for use with mushy balls that you saw ?? appreciate your response ! thanks! |
| Aug. 29, 2013 swing for the fences Men's 50 1224 posts | it's the Demarini Aftermath! |
| Aug. 29, 2013 armiho211 Men's 70 449 posts | swing; thanks for the info, i will check it out ! appreciate your prompt response. |
| Aug. 29, 2013 swing for the fences Men's 50 1224 posts | no problem... there might be a wait.. they didn't make a ton of them yet! Good luck with it! |
| Sept. 13, 2013 OlyPenSenior 21 posts | I'm looking for another balanced ASA bat for co-ed tourneys I play in. Anyone have any comments on the Easton new S1 or S2? |
| Sept. 15, 2013 rbigs51 Men's 60 13 posts | i have the new miken asa white bat and i dont see where its so great,a waste of money for me |
| Oct. 31, 2013 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | I bought a new Miken ASA/USSSA bat this year from Tri18 so I could use in league play. It is the end load 26 ounce model. It turned out to be a little too light for me and so I will sell it. Has only 75 swings on it and in excellent condition. Contact Me ed@ewandrews.com (970) 729-3145 |
