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Online now: 4 members: 9 ball, CDNSmitty, KentMace, TABLE SETTER 11; 66 anonymousDiscussion: Diatance: 12\" vs 14\" ball
| Posted | Discussion |
| May 5, 2008 melkapule Men's 60 8 posts | Diatance: 12" vs 14" ball In watching some hitting video clips, I see balls hit 350+ feet. I assume this is with a 12" ball. Our league uses a 14" ball and I wonder if there is a ratio for the distance from 12" to 14". Rarely do hit balls travel 200+ feet. |
| May 5, 2008 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | There are no 14" balls I know of. There are 11" and 16" however, 11 for women's or Co-Ed competitive, other wise known as big ball-little ball and the 16 for the ole mush ball leagues. DeBeer Clinchers were\are the best known for these. you might think of it as which will get better gas mileage an SUV or a VW bug. as well as what it's made of, bat used person using it and weather conditions etc etc. |
| May 5, 2008 GT Men's 60 162 posts | Taits. There is a 14 inch or at least I know there use to be. I once played in a 14 inch tournament outside of Chicago. Way different rules then also. Like, unlimited height and runner can leave his base as soon as pitcher releases the pitch. This was a while ago, anyone else play 14inch or rmember playing? |
| May 5, 2008 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | GT, I had a mush ball league back in the early 70's. No glove in the OF, unlimited pitch but no leaving soon. If you miss that ball, your blind. I have played both that in regular church leagues though. a mix of fast and slow pitch. |
| May 5, 2008 dude Men's 65 16 posts | Hawaii Seniors (55 and up) play a Makule (Senior) league using a 14" ball. Rules are the same as 12" balls and they also use the SSUSA rule book.as a guide. Hawaii State tournament for this league will be held on Kauai August 5, 6, & 7. Right now 48 teams throughout Hawaii have regustered to play. Sorry, tournament is only for Hawaii qualified league players. |
| May 5, 2008 Ken Men's 55 462 posts | GT, I used to play in that tournament too. It was in West Chicago, IL. I even played in a 14' league out that way. The ball would take off like a 12", but it wouldn't carry as far. It was a novelty to use a glove for once after playing 16" most of the time. Taits, I doubt you would use the term mush ball if you had to play infield WITHOUT a glove like Chicago guys do. Maybe the ball you use is an old one that has gone soft. |
| May 5, 2008 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Ken, No glove in the OF... |
| May 5, 2008 Gary Heifner 248 posts | I play in a 14" league in Mongomery, Illinois. It is a suburb next to Aurora just west of Chicago. There are 16 teams with many young guns who play in high levels of USSSA 12" softball. The right field fence is 198' and lefties can it it out often along with a few righties. Left and left center is about 260' Each teams has 1 to 3 guys that can hit it out. There is one animal that has hit a few on the highway which is at least 340+. The ball seems to hang in the air longer on deep drives and the faster outfielders seem to be able to squeeze most batters and still get back. You do feel the bat rattle in your hands on solid contact. Not near as much as 12", but it is a fun game that is usually very defensive and low scoring. |
| May 6, 2008 Ken Men's 55 462 posts | Gary, Who makes the ball? I think we used to use one made by Clincher. |
| May 6, 2008 the wood Men's 65 1123 posts | most of the 14/16 balls that we have used have been made by DeBeer... the Clincher is a DeBeer product... it has zig zag seams. I have seen new 16" balls hit close to 300'... I've also played in a 16" league that used a LL field (200') and a very old, very soft ball... plus unlimited arc... hitting a HR there can be a big challenge, all things considered... guys use really heavy bats... mid to high 30s (ounces)... and they do hit them out. 30 years ago in the South Bay (Torrance/redondo Beach/ El Segundo area there was a real competitive 16" league called West Coast... those guys played vicious softball and were known to go in head first... a lot of big time 12"players came from it. I used to love to watch their games and we occasionally played in their tournaments... the 'hit and run' play was huge... mostly open fields. There was a 14" league in Fontana, Ca... many well known players played there as well. BW |
| May 7, 2008 bogie Men's 65 448 posts | My son and I play in a local league that used 14". Its been very popular over the years in southwest Wisconsin. We play on a 250 foot fence and can use any bat including Ultra 2s. This is a lower end rec league but the 14" balls are poly core and carry well. I would say 10% of the players (its a young league, 20s and 30s) can hit it out on occasion. 3 or 4 hitters in the 6 team league hit it out at will. A really good shot is 320 feet but I have seen balls go 350 plus. This ball carries very well and is fun to hit. But its the equivalent to a 12" blue dot...as far as how lively the poly cor ball feels. Fielding is another issue. Its like a cannonball coming at you. There are some 14" balls that are foam core and they would be mush and I doubt would travel at all. Great game where you have a field with short fences. |
