Baseball and softball are similar sports, but the balls that are used for each sport are drastically different in size, material and weight. For this reason, baseball bats vary greatly from softball bats. When looking for a softball or baseball bat, consider the difference in length, weight, diameter and other factors to see how truly different these types of bats are. The right type of bat will affect your performance on the field.
Length
While softball and baseball bats come in different lengths for the size of the players, each has a maximum size that the bat cannot exceed. For softball, the bat cannot exceed 34 inches, according to Dick's Sporting Goods. Baseball bat lengths vary by the league, but in general cannot exceed 33 inches for a youth league and 35 inches for both adult and senior leagues.
Weight
Different batters prefer different weights when it comes to how they hit. Some like a light bat that is easy to swing, while others prefer heavy bats with more power. A fast-pitch softball bat is usually in the 23 to 28 ounce range, and slow-pitch bats are 26 to 30 ounces, according to Kettering University. Baseball bats vary in weight, with a youth bat weighing 14 to 27 ounces and an adult bat weighing 23 to 31 ounces and up.
Diameter
The diameter of a softball bat is usually smaller than that of a baseball bat. The smaller softball bat accounts for the size of the larger ball over a small baseball. Softball bats cannot be any larger than 2 1/4 inches in diameter, says Academy Sports. A baseball bat can be no larger than 2 3/4 inches in diameter. However, college rules state that a baseball or softball bat can be no larger than two inches in diameter.
Composition
Both softball and baseball bats can be made of wood or aluminum, but softball bats often feature "end loading," a term which means there is extra material placed in the core of the bat to give it extra weight. Most softball bats use a polyurethane material that fills up to four inches of the barrel for added heft and balance.
Game Play
Because of these differences, softball bats may only be used for softball, and baseball bats are only for baseball. Don't try to interchange them when playing the different games. You can see the sport, league level, weight and height stamped on every bat for reference purposes.
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