Last updated 3/24/2008

Selecting the Perfect
Fastpitch Softball Bat

The Design & Construction of
Fastpitch Softball Bats

For elite players looking for every edge in their game, it is important ot have a basic understanding of how Fastpitch Softball Bats are constructed.

The choices are between a one piece, single extruded piece of aluminum that is spun and polished or a two piece design.

Fundamentally, a two piece Fastpitch Softball Bat will be able to generate more flex than one of solid construction made of one piece. It's the bat speed coupled with the Fastpitch Softball Bat's flex and recoil action that results in maximum power through its whip-like action at the moment of ball contact. The greater the energy recoil, the faster the ball flies off your bat.

One disadvantage of two piece Fastpitch Softball Bats is that they generally have a greater susceptibility to damage - at the "hinge" point where the two pieces are connected. Different Fastpitch Softball Bat manufacturers have varying degrees of durability - some make two piece bats with great track records. Check Reviews of Players, Parents and Coaches collected and presented in the Player, Parent and Coach Reviews of each Fastpitch Softball Bat presented in this web site.

And regarding mulit-layered construction, the "lay-up" angle between layers as well as the ‘honey comb' structure results in greater bat strength while giving the batter great response and "feel"

If want more of a “physics” perspective of materials used in the construction of Fastpitch Softball Bats and how they affect the player and the batted ball, go to Dr. Daniel Russell’s Web Site. Dr. Russell is associated with the Applied Physics Department of Kettering University (formerly the General Motors Institute) of Flint, Michigan and has done some outstanding work in this area.

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