Message board »Message Board home »Sign-in or register to get started
Online now: 3 members: Apps, Matty507, TABLE SETTER 11; 108 anonymousDiscussion: softball player or not
| Posted | Discussion |
| Dec. 13, 2010 birdie Men's 70 802 posts | softball player or not truhitter, You have started a thread about being a true softball player so let us continue it. I will play the game locally with what ever the bat and balls are ( except wood bats). I will weigh my options if the game is changed for all traveling tourneys. My final decision would be if my team plays then so do I, regardless of my feelings. I enjoy the game the way it is now under the SSUSA. I have my doubts about the ASA. I will see how that pans out. I do believe that the ISSA has adopted the SSUSA equipment and their attendance has increase over the past few years. Please do not rip me if the stats are not right but I do have a gut feeling that I am pretty close to being right. Thanks Harry |
| Dec. 13, 2010 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | birdie, you have the same attitude I do—I will play softball whatever the conditions (if reasonable) because I love the game and I enjoy the camaraderie of team play. I'd prefer a game without composite bats, because I believe it would then be a more enjoyable game that rewards all softball skills, not just power hitting. But I have enjoyably played the game the last decade in the era of composite bats. If my team votes to play, I travel with them, even if the conditions are not my preference. I might draw the line with wooden bats since my retirement budget would get stretched with replacement costs.:=) |
| Dec. 13, 2010 birdie Men's 70 802 posts | Omar, You have a point. I am not a power hitter and played third till my arm went out. I told mt replacement that you put the glove down and sometimes it goes in and sometimes it does not. I like to play with the bats. I now play first base and hope there are not to many lefties. Thanks Harry |
| Dec. 13, 2010 Mr. Manassas 244 posts | I to love the game and will play regardless of the rules/equipment. It is quite confusing for me to decide on what equipment I prefer, as a pitcher I want the ball to go through the infield in slow motion and as batter I want to use atomic stuff....maybe some where in the middle.... |
| Dec. 13, 2010 truhitter 24 posts | Birdie,Omar.MR M i feel the same way as you i play softball because i love to play what ever the bat/ball combo is IT'S THE GAME THAT MATTERS MOST and remember THATS A TRU SOFTBALL PLAYER TRUHITTER |
| Dec. 13, 2010 DoubleL10 Men's 70 907 posts | I'm with my Virginia buddies (birdie and Mr. Manassas), I play because there is a game and irrespective of the bat/bat combo. If my team is travelling to a tournament then so am I! At my age, I enjoy the camaraderie as much as anything else. |
| Dec. 13, 2010 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | The overriding point all of us have made is we love the game and will continue to play for the love of it, the comaraderie and for our health in a lot of cases. I would be a fat couch potato if it weren't for softball (my team will say I'm half of that already). I would like to see the combo backed off just a little-there is an edge to some line drives that scares me from even trying to go up the middle to either side of the pitcher, let alone just driving it to center without aiming it to make sure I don't hit right at the pitcher. I know that there always has been, and always will be pitchers hit going up the middle, but it is that 'edge' I see now as a bit scary. The 47/525 ball and a techfire or EST bat was hot enough-they were even trying to go to a 44 cor with those bats, too, because they felt the combo was too lively. However, it is a bit intoxicating to see a ball fly much farther than you ever hit them before, to hear the crowd of loved ones go 'ooooohhhhh' when you hit one good, and to know how lucky and blessed we all are at our ages to still be able to play competitively. Never forget it is a GAME. |
| Dec. 13, 2010 truhitter 24 posts | OK people Birdie asked the question and it seems most will play no matter what bat/ball combo is played.Lets here from ALL TRU PLAYERS WHAT IS YOU'RE OPINION I will play no matter what bat or ball is used because I LOVE THE GAME AND COMPITION.TRUHITTER |
| Dec. 13, 2010 Jose #12 Men's 60 89 posts | Birdie, Omar and the others who responded to this post, I agree. I'll continue playing no matter what equipment. I do however, agree with Birdie that I prefer the way it's played now in SSUSA and so do my teammates. I can tell you, and Birdie and Mr. Manassas will concur, that the senior bat/ball combo draws the larger turnout, at least in our area of the country. My team will go where there is the best competition. That appears to be the senior bat tournaments. We haven't been to an ASA tourney in years. We are OK with the single/double wall for leagues, but not really for tourneys. If the non senior bat tourneys start attracting teams we may consider them. But, for now, we like it as it is. |
| Dec. 13, 2010 Airbosn Men's 70 329 posts | I will play no matter what equipment is authorized...It boils down to love of the game...However, as a person who is involve in putting on tournament for you guys I have to say that the majority and that includes the 70/75 and older guys, They all want plastic bats and good balls (Fire balls at present time)at the tournament they attend. |
| Dec. 13, 2010 ShaneV Men's 55 393 posts | Olympia Senior Softball League in Washington State plays SSUSA rules, bats and balls, March through September on artificial turf infields, including 40's, 50's, 55's and 60's. Most of us love being able to play league and most tournaments under the same conditions. We have even played small local tournaments with ASA sanction and senior bats (though the balls are questionable). It can be done! Those of you who accept whatever is available in your local leagues and maybe tournaments too, in some cases have no choice. If old established powers have a grip on your facilities, etc., well then you may have to accept what's available. Or not! It's a considerable chunk of work but it is possible under the right circumstances to take control and do what you want. We did. As a self-run league we took control and we do it our way. ShaneV |
| Dec. 13, 2010 outfielder Men's 65 59 posts | Most of us playing this grand game would agree that we would play with any equipment that is dictated by the assoc. we play in and some of us enjoy playing with the composit bats and the fire balls, but that's because it's allowable and is the best equipment available, and as long as they are the best available, we have to keep pace to be competitive. |
| Dec. 13, 2010 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | not sure what you mean shane,as what we have now for senior softball is the ASA spec ball(44-375),along with the senior bat you played senior ball as it is now,so no difference,still hot bat/ball combo.why do we need the hottest equipment out there for our declining reflexes and such.in the twilight of our lives,we should be able to enjoy life and have fun doing and not worry about a bad hop or such killing us.is it worth someone dieing for this fun...... as for senior tourney's in other assoc(asa,usssa,etc)they have 1 a year for seniors each and its their worlds/nationals,etc..we do not have a choice on where to play if we want to play with our peers,no such thing but ssusa,spa,etc. |
| Dec. 14, 2010 terryspears Men's 55 38 posts | I'll play with whatever equipment is mandated as long as the other team plays with the same. JUST WANT TO PLAY without a lot of BS. |
| Dec. 14, 2010 hitman Men's 70 339 posts | I'll play with whatever is legal and approved. The only time I got really wacked was by a 52 hopper in ASA Nationals that wasn't hit hard but did catch the corner of the mound and came straight up. Left a good Harrison Ford mark on the chin. If you look at the players in all the tournaments 99% of them are hitting the hottest bat permitted. The other 1% just like a different type of bat or are just not wanting to hit it too hard. The Hitman |
| Dec. 14, 2010 Corky Men's 55 451 posts | If the epuipment is equal for both teams, then the differences will be in the players ability.....as it should be.....whether it's with wood and socks, or Ultra's and Blue Dots. |
| Dec. 14, 2010 Corky Men's 55 451 posts | Play Ball gentlemen! |
| Dec. 15, 2010 bucs15 25 posts | I to would play no matter what bats or balls the sanction dictates.Here is the problem I Have been playing slow pitch for 35 years mainly c-d some b and in the last 5-8 years no matter how they try to solve the bat issues some AHOLE finds ways to cheat and alter bats regardless of composite or aluminum.That is why I say use any bat on the market or let Tour Director supply the bats, This way we will all be equeal with the same sticks.I was once told a couple years ago from a major player that if you ain't cheat-in you ain't winning,well I'd rather be considered a loser then a cheater,I love this game and will do anything to uphold the integrity of the sport. |
| Dec. 15, 2010 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | bucs15,yep it has gotten way out of hand,with the cheaters shaving/rolling/painting their bats.the assoc's are fighting back,by making them use the 52-275/300 ball.i say they brought it on themselves,to bad. |
| Dec. 17, 2010 stick8 1992 posts | bucs15, try using a 40 core 325 compression ball (worth gold dot) |
| Dec. 17, 2010 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | stick that is an ok ball if your playing under 70 degrees,but otherwise if your saying the ball is crap ,yes i'll agree with that. like i said,the cheaters need to feel good about themselves so they go to shaving,rolling and painting bats so they can boost their ego's.now they cry b/c they have to hit a ball that won't go like they think it should with their cheater bats,so all they have to blame is their selves for the lesser ball's. |
