I have a general question and I'm looking for some input from guys that can help me out.
I have been tasked as a Competition Committee Member to improve a Senior League that I am involved in back home. It is a recreational League that currently plays usa/asa sanctions. We're divided basically 60/40 to move to ssusa. Although the opposition is staunchly digging their heels in and fighting against change. They believe that switching to senior bats and balls will increase injury. I have provided all of the data that I can possibly put forth in favor of SSUSA but what I'm looking for is any information that would aid in convincing people that senior equipment does not make the game more dangerous. I have provided information on the dangers of using the 52/300 softball due to its propensity to have more spongy bounce, more susceptible to losing its perfect round spherical design which causes the oblong ball to take bad hops and whatever else along the lines of scientific data I can provide. I have contacted manufacturers and gotten their input but I'm curious as to what balls and bats other recreational leagues use around the country. I just get sick of buying ASA bats when I use mostly senior. I have tried to get them to just move to a 44/375 ball but that has fallen upon deaf ears as well. I guess I'm just looking for anyone with a convincing argument that I could utilize. I would really like them to switch to the SSUSA format. Thank you in advance for any time and attention you can provide for me.
senior bats are more dangerous. that is just a fact ...Reid #4 ohio elect and bpa major+
I would start with the ball first and work your way back to the bat. The ASA bat/ball combo have a lower severity of injury index and is the safest combo. More bounce/knuckle/sponge, but less severe injuries, which in a senior league is a big deal imho. There's a great write up I found here.
https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/document/ea67-2456809/52COR300Compression_Softballs.pdf
I am a commish for our local league here in AZ - a grouping of 55+ communities with their own fields - very rec like even the 4 teams in our upper division would be AA/lower level in SSUSA.
We have this discussion all the time (senior vs asa balls/bat) during our pre-season/post season board meetings.
For a while we did ASA bats & USSSA/52/375 balls, but about 4 years ago we switched. Prior, the #1 topic at the fields were how many bats we were breaking all winter and the only reason we used the hotter balls is because old guys like to hit dingers. And we had a few scarey injuries.
I play 55AAA and 60 Major in SSUSA, playing against younger(55aaa) and highly skilled players with decades of tournament experience and I still mask/gear up on 1st, given the bat speeds/exit velo's.
I hit 8 HRs in my last 3 SSUSA tournaments. In my last 2 ASA tournaments with the kids, I didn't even 1 bounce a 300 ft fence. The exit Velo is slower and balls travel less far. Watch any bat review to see the data/exit velos.
I can't imagine using that a seniorbat/ball combo in local league play given the fielder/skill levels. Someone will get hurt.
I would simply keep ASA/USA for league play, and save the hot bats/balls for tournament play. If the players are bitching about having to buy multi bats, do pick-a-stick and get ASA 4-5 bats for your league and a bucket and you're done. Myself I have 2 asa bats, and 2 senior bats. No biggie.
I developed the ball back 05 because of people dying of head impacts. All of the info in the article is from my test data in labs and on field testing with trackman radar system
The balls do bounce higher due to COR value but most companies now have consistent bounces.
