5 Best Slowpitch Softball Bats We Hit 30 Feet Further [Case Study] (2024)

5 Best Slowpitch Softball Bats We Hit 30 Feet Further [Case Study] (1)

To find the best slow pitch softball bats, we looked at popularity, field testing exit speeds, and elite player feedback. To find the most popular, we looked on all major sites (including Amazon, JustBats, and Dicks Sporting Goods) and ranked slow pitch bats by their popularity. Those top three were the 2019 Izzy Psycho SuperMax and Easton Fire Flex in USSSA and the Miken DC-41 in ASA. Those bats are all recommendable. Regarding field testing and player feedback, we like the Monsta Torch LC in USA/ASA (eBay) and the Izzy Psycho SuperMax (Amazon)in USSSA. More insight on these best slowpitch softball bats is found below.

You should see our write-ups on the best USSSA slowpitch bat and best ASA slowpitch bats.

Quick Top 3

Updated February 8, 2024

January is around the time the 2023 slowpitch USSSA and ASA bats arrive. If, in the meantime, any bat unseats the Miken Izzy Psycho SuperMax (Amazon)or Monsta Torch LC (eBay), we will update this page. But we are not holding our breath. Most slowpitch softball bats don’t change much from year to year—aside from the graphics.

Best Slowpitch Softball Bats Write Ups

What is the Right Bat Size

The right bat size is often smaller than you think. Although we all want to pull the hammer down on every hit, bat speed matters as much as mass. So, it is common for a big hitter to drop down a weight or load to see the ball really fly. There is no trick here but practice and trial and error with your approach and swing.

Best Softball Bats Sources

We relied upon several sources to assemble this best slowpitch softball bats article. We relied heavily on the justbats.com softball bat site. There, you can rank different bats by category and read some hosted reviews from what appear to be genuine buyers and players. We also spent time on Miken’s site directly andEastonandDeMarini’s slowpitch softball sites. Each was useful in gathering the most up-to-date information on sizing and drops. We spent time on several other review sites to see their rankings and reviews. We struggled to find one that had up-to-date info. It appeared to be more successful the more specific our search was. For example, a search of “Best ASA Softball Bats for Power Hitters” or “Best Home Run Derby Slowpitch Softball Bat” was more valuable than the generic “Best Slowpitch Bat.” We should also note that different results use “slow pitch” and “slow pitch.” On this site, we think our slowpitch softball review page and our page on the Best USSSA Slowpitch Softball bat were helpful.

Are We Right?

In our “Best Bat Articles,” we often write a disclaimer admitting the best bat is often more hitter-dependent than purely performance-based. In truth, standards—in the case of slow pitch, the imposed USSSA, and NSA standards—level the playing field regarding how hot bats can be and contribute to this principle. This means the best slowpitch softball bat for MOST may very well not be the very best slowpitch softball bat for you. The following list of best slowpitch softball bats is as reliable as possible. Our goal is to derive a list free of vendor and manufacturer bias while considering real-world reviews and playing experience. Ultimately, we hope the reader uses the below as evidence to support pulling the trigger on their next bomb maker. Without further ado, the following comprises our best softball bat lists by category. We are hopeful these rankings will give you insight into what softball bat is right for you.

Common Slowpitch Softball Bat Questions

After finding the best slow-pitch softball bat, you might have more questions than answers. We put together the top 10 most common questions. Hopefully, these softball bat answers will help in your quest too.

1. Do you have to break in an aluminum slowpitch bat?

No. Aluminum does not require any break-in. Theoretically, you want to use your aluminum bats as little as possible because they get less hot over time. We once asked a bat engineer this question, and their response was after “thousands and thousands of hits,” it will start to lose its pop.

2. Do you have to break in a composite slowpitch softball bat?

Some composite bats, like the ASA Miken Freak Platinum above, do not require a break-in period. This is because they use a double barrel structure where the outside barrel is hot from the wrapper. However, single-wall composite bats often require at least 200 hits around the barrel to get worked in. Some bats need much, much more.

3. What is a composite softball bat made of?

Composite is a more technical term for plastic. In other words, composite softball bats are generally made up of plastic material. The fibers are structured to give the bat maximum durability and a barrel trampoline effect that fits within the standard.

4. What does BPF 1.20 mean?

BPF, or bat performance factor, measures how well a ball bounces off a bat. A higher number means more trampoline. 1.20 BPF is the maximum standard many softball bats can perform at. It does not imply that the bat performs strictly at that standard, but that it has been verified to perform at or below it.

5. What is hotter: ASA or USSSA bats?

Impedance matching is a complicated subject. But, in large measure, the reason the ASA vs USSSA standard is an unanswerable question is because the balls are different in each league. ASA bats are meant to perform to a certain standard on ASA balls. USSSA bats are designed to perform to a certain standard on USSSA Balls. The bounciness of the ball and bat play off each other to create a maximum exit speed. This relationship is called impedance matching.

6. How do you break in a new softball bat?

Single-wall composite slow-pitch softball bats usually require at least 200 well-hit balls to start to coming into their own. Some claim that the number is well over 500. Either way, you break it in by hitting the bat on regulation balls several times around different barrel spots. You can do this off a tee or in live batting practice. Check the product page of the bat you buy, as some composite softball bats, like those with dual walls, sometimes do not need a break-in.

7. Why are slowpitch softball bats so expensive?

Expensive is a relative term, no doubt. But few think that top-end slowpitch bats are cheap. Indeed, at $300, most take serious research and resources to solve the riddle of the best slowpitch softball bat. In the end, the answer as to why they are so expensive is because people will pay that amount. Like all products in a free market, they are a function of supply and demand.

8. How much is a good slowpitch softball bat?

Bats with the most hype, and many on this list, range in price between $180 and $300. That is the general price of a good slowpitch bat directly from a manufacturer. That almost always includes a warranty price along with some customer service support.

9. When do slowpitch bats lose their pop?

There is no easy answer to this question. Depending on the bat’s durability, some significant bats can last 2 to 3 years with considerable use. Others often don’t last an entire season in terms of maximum pop. Composite bats can lose their pop before breaking, but in many instances, they will break when their pop is gone. Aluminum is harder to determine as it rarely fails and dents instead.

10. What does it mean when a bat is shaved?

Shaving a bat is an illegal practice that removes the end cap of a bat and then uses a lathe to remove material from the inner walls. The end cap is then replaced, and the bat looks perfectly normal. However, the bat now produces a greater trampoline effect with thinner walls. Of course, this also voids the warranty, considerably decreases the life of the bat, and is, frankly, a bit of a punk move.