For young girls, there are so many different sports that they can play. From field hockey to golf or soccer to gymnastics, girls are spoiled for choices when it comes to sports. However, no one sport is quite like softball. It is the one game that focuses on team, while also relying heavily on individual effort and ability.
To be a good softball player, you can’t be good at just one thing: you need to be an accurate thrower, a fast runner, and a good catch. Above all else, you should be an excellent hitter.
While timing and hand-eye-coordination are essential, you will also need to make sure you are using the best softball bats available to you, but what makes a good bat?
In this article, you will find a review for the top ten bats on the market, as well as an in-depth review for the five that we found to be the best of the best.
Top 10 Softball Bats Comparison Table
| Picture | Name | Weight | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Louisville Slugger 2012 TPS Quest Fastpitch Softball Bat | Multiple Sizes Available 12.5 ounces, 17 ounces, and 18 ounces | $ | 4.8 |
 | 2. Louisville Slugger Xeno Plus 17 (-10) Fast Pitch Softball Bat | Multiple Sizes Available 18 ounces-22 ounces | $$$$ | 4.6 |
 | 3. Mizuno Finch Fastpitch Softball Bat (-13) | Multiple Sizes Available 16 ounces-20 ounces | $$ | 4.6 |
 | 4. Easton Salvo Composite Balanced ASA/USSSA Slow-Pitch Softball Bat | Multiple Sizes Available 26 ounces-28 ounces | $$ | 4.6 |
 | 5. Easton FS50 Fastpitch Softball Bat | Multiple Sizes Available 15 ounces-20 ounces | $ | 4.4 |
 | 6. Louisville Slugger Slow Pitch Vapor ASA Bat (34 inch/26 oz) | Multiple Sizes Available 26 ounces and 28 ounces | $ | 4.3 |
 | 7. Easton FS200 Fastpitch Softball Bat | Multiple Sizes Available 18 ounces - 23 ounces | $ | 4.2 |
 | 8. DeMarini ONE OG Slow Pitch Softball Bat | Multiple Sizes Available 26 ounces - 30 ounces | $$$ | 4.1 |
 | 9. Easton FS300 Fastpitch Softball Bat | Multiple Sizes Available 17 ounces - 23 ounces | $ | 4.0 |
 | 10. Easton FS400 Fastpitch Softball Bat | Multiple Sizes Available 16 ounces - 21 ounces | $ | 3.6 |
Bat Buying Info
Whenever you want to only use the best softball bats out there, you need to take a few factors into consideration.
- Bat Length. Depending on the age, arm length, and height of the player, you want to make sure that you get a bat that is the right length.
If you pick a bat that is too short, the player will most likely be unable to swing and reach certain pitches accurately. However, if the bat is too long, it will be hard to swing fast enough, and in softball, every second counts.
A quick way to check for fit is to put the bat on the ground with the handle facing up. If you can grab onto the knob at the top, the bat is a good fit.
- Bat Weight. Just like with bat length, you want to make sure that you find a bat that has the right weight.
If you pick one that is on the light side, you will be able to swing quickly, but will not have as much power as you would with a heavier bat. Conversely, if you select a bat on the heavier side, you will have more power, but a slower swing.
You need to pick a bat that is in somewhere right in the middle of your strength level.
- Bat Material. You have three choices for materials when it comes to a bat. The three options are composite, metal, and wood. Each has its unique advantages and disadvantages. We highly recommend trying the different types to see which one works best with your personal preferences.
- Wood. This is the most traditional material for bats. Depending on the wood species, it can either be heavy; however, once broken in; it can provide plenty of power to your hits. The biggest disadvantage with wood is that it will crack and splinter with use and age.
- Metal. The cheapest material for bats to be made with is also the most durable. Unlike wood or composite, it will not crack or break, but instead dents with use; this means that it will last longer than the other two. The disadvantage with metal bats is that if you hit a ball the wrong way they have a tendency to shock your hands, which can be quite painful.
- Composite. Bats made with composites tend to have bigger “sweet spots” than bats made with other materials. As such, they offer more power for your hits. They tend to be expensive, however and will take a breaking in period before they will perform at their highest level.
Top 5 Best Softball Bats Reviews
1. Louisville Slugger 2012 TPS Quest Softball Bat
Out of our top five best softball bats, the Quest is the one we found to be the best of the best. It is an aluminum alloy bat, which means it will have excellent durability. After testing, where we used it over 100 times, we did not notice any breakdown of the materials.
The grip, which is a synthetic material, was comfortable in our grasp. The bat comes in multiple lengths and weights, none of which were hefty.
The bat would be of great use to a wide variety of players. The smallest sizes, based on player’s measurements, could be utilized by someone as young as four or five years old. The larger sizes would most likely be more appropriate for players aged 13-15.
Summary. The Quest is a light bat with multiple lengths and weights. It is an aluminum alloy bat, which makes it extremely durable.
2. Louisville Slugger Xeno Plus Softball Bat
The Xeno Plus is another great softball bat. It is a composite bat, which makes it extremely light, but also a bit more on the expensive side. In fact, this bat was the most expensive of all of those that we tested. However, if you are looking for a bat that gives a consistently excellent performance, after a breaking in period, this is the bat for you.
Like our number one choice, this bat comes in a variety of lengths and weights; this will allow each player to be able to find the bat that works just right for them. The smallest lengths are a bit longer than our number one choice. The shortest lengths on this bat would most likely be suitable for players aged 10-12.
Summary. An excellent composite bat, the Xeno Plus comes in a variety of lengths and weights. The high price makes it a good choice for a more serious softball competitor.
3. Mizuno Finch Fastpitch Softball Bat
When we were testing the different bats, we all felt like the Mizuno Finch was an aluminum version of the Xeno. While it doesn’t have as large of a sweet spot as the Xeno, the Finch was able to be utilized for great hit frequency.
It also has similar lengths and equivalent weights as well, at a fraction of the cost. If you are looking for a good fastpitch softball bat for a lower price than a composite bat, this one is worth trying.
The only minor problem we found with this bat was that, since it is aluminum alloy, it occasionally would give our hands a bit of vibration shock if we hit the ball with certain parts of the bat.
Summary. The Finch is a good, cheaper alternative to some of the more expensive bats on the market. It is pretty light and swings well, but will occasionally give its user some vibration shock.
4. Easton Salvo Slow-Pitch Softball Bat
A bit on the heavier side, the Salvo is a good bat for slow pitch softball. It’s composite, one-piece construction allows for lots of control all the way through the swing. The grip was also extremely comfortable, even though it was not as thick as the grips on some of the other bats we tested.
This bat comes in a limited number of sizes, making it a bit less accessible for players than many of the other bats we tested. The bat also tends to be a bit on the heavier side, which provides plenty of power, but will slow down your swing. That, coupled with its higher price, make this a bat that will work well for a smaller group of players than some of the other bats we tested.
Summary. A solid one-piece composite bat, the Salvo only comes in limited lengths and weights. It will provide plenty of power for your swing but may slow you down a bit due to its weight.
5. Easton FS50 Fastpitch Softball Bat
The Easton FS50 is an aluminum alloy bat. It comes in a wide variety of lengths and weights, making it useful for a broad range of player ages. It is a bit lighter than some of the other bats that we tested, which can work to your advantage and disadvantage. This lack of weight will allow for a quicker swing, but may also cause a loss in the power of your swing as well.
Since it is an aluminum alloy, the bat has a pretty small price tag, which would make it a great beginner bat for someone who is unsure if they are going to remain seriously involved in softball for an extended length of time.
However, it tended to vibrate on more of our test hits than some of the other aluminum alloy bats that we tested.
Summary. The Easton SF50 would be a great bat for a beginner level player. It is lightweight, cheap, and comes in a variety of sizes. However, it may hurt your hands after a while, since it seemed to vibrate more on hits than other bats we tested.
