First there was wood, the natural fiber that traditionalists still love, and which is the only material usable in America’s favorite pastime, Major League Baseball.  Then came aluminum, offering a harder, more durable bat all the way around.  A denser, highly energetic hitting surface was provided at much lighter weight.

The new State of the Art is composite, which introduces dual wall technology.  The outer wall is aluminum, the inner wall is woven carbon or graphite, and the proven end result is better power, better control, a better average, and more extra base hits.  It’s all good out of the batter’s box when a composite stick is in hand!  Composite bats are confidence builders, because they offer both increased power and better control.  The 2010 season will witness the introduction of some of the most dynamic composite fastpitch softball bats ever made.  If you want to stride to the plate packing one of them, consider these models, from the top names in the game!

Top Composite Softball Bats

Worth 2010 Mayhem Composite -12 Fastpitch Bat!

100% Composite, 100% power, control, and durability.  Pick it up, and you probably won’t put it down!

DeMarini 2010 CF4 Black -10 Fastpitch Softball Bat!

The horizontal and vertical weave produces the perfect synergy of flex and power through the enlarged barrel.

Easton 2010 Synergy Speed -10 Fastpitch Bat!

This hitting tool reduces weight and delivers a high-density hitting surface.  The hitter enjoys greater bat speed, greater power, and greater ability to place the ball anywhere between the lines.

Louisville 2010 TPS Catalyst -10 Fastpitch Softball Bat!

Perfect balance for optimal power at contact, including a synthetic grip for comfort and control.

Miken 2010 Rain 100 Comp -9/-10 Fastpitch Softball Bat!

If you haven’t been introduced to R900 Carbon Fiber, it might be time to makes its acquaintance.  This revolutionary material stores energy in your swing, and releases it at contact, energizing every hit for maximum ball speed and distance.

Serious athletes of all ability levels appreciate the reality that today’s athletic equipment sports an amazing level of technological and design sophistication that means the perfect piece of gear can be found for every pursuit. If fastpitch softball is your game, and it is the preferred choice of millions, then you love today’s awesome line-up of clubs, boppers, tools, lumber – that is, softball bats. With that terminology on our tongues, let’s take a look at the terms used to describe and evaluate the hitting sticks offered by today’s leading manufacturers like Easton, Mizuno, Rawlings, Miken, and DeMarini.

Softball Bat Length, Weight and Materials

Let’s start with the obvious terms regarding dimensions. A fastpitch softball bat is measured in terms of length and weight. Back in the day, the wood bat you used in little league probably had a one to one ratio of length to weight – a 30 inch bat usually weighed about 30 ounces. Today’s advanced materials that include not only aluminum but composites like aramid (brand name Kevlar), that are very light relative to weight. Today, a typical 32 inch softball bat will weigh about 22 ounces, producing a -10 ratio, meaning it’s 10 less ounces than it is inches. Such ratios produce greater bat speed, the major component of power. Common lengths range from 31 to 34 inches, while weights extend from 20 to 27 ounces. The grips of today’s best fastpitch softball bats or made either of rubber for cushioned comfort, or of high-density, high-stick composite for better feel.

The Sweet Spot

Now, moving to the specifics of bat performance, the first term to know is “sweet spot.” Golfers understand that this is the area of the club that will produce the optimum results of contact. A large sweet spot in a fastpitch softball bat means that even slightly miss-hit swings will still produce plenty of pop. Larger barrels will generally have a larger sweet spot.

The next term is “line drive,” which we all know means a rope coming off the bat. The line drive measurement is really a reflection of the first term, sweet spot. The larger the sweet spot, the higher the percentage of struck balls will be line drives. The term “distance” is self-explanatory. Good design and superior materials mean that the same hitter will get more distance out of some bats than others. The terms “feel” or “sting” are interchangeable, and reflect the level of vibration transmitted through the bat to the hands upon contact. The more the hit is displaced throughout the bat, the less sting, or the better the feel. Good bats will let you know whether you made good contact without making you pay for it with sore hands. Feel is often enhanced with specialized grips or a narrower than usual handle that allows more palm and finger to bat contact.

Softball Bat Strength

The “strength” of a fastpitch softball bat usually refers to the thickness of the bat wall. Lighter materials can be thicker, without adding weight which reduces bat speed, and thicker walls typically deliver more power, which any hitter welcomes. Finally, “durability” or “toughness” applies to the longevity one can expect from a bat. Better materials will last longer without cracking, warping, or breaking. When shopping for your next piece of lumber, it is helpful to understand the terminology the reviews and product descriptions are employing, even if it’s not made of wood.

You’ll be looking to go deep more often with a bat that puts that potential in your hands every time.  Thin-handle design puts the weight where it can do the most good – right in the extended, high-impact barrel.

New innovations in construction give hitters greater options, so finding the bat with the right feel, the right weight to length ratio, and the right barrel dimensions has never been easier. If you’re looking for a narrow, ultra-light bat made for placing the ball exactly where you want it, choices abound. If where you want to place that high compression ball is 15 rows deep, more robust bats are available for 2010 at weights that will allow you to generate excellent bat speed. As you prepare to put up great numbers this season, here are 10 of the best new bats on the market for you to consider carrying to the plate in 2010.

Top 10 Softball Bats for 2010

1. Demarini CF4 Fastpitch Softball Bat
2. Easton SRV4B Synergy Speed Fastpitch Softball Bat
3. Louisville Slugger FPXM 2010 Mendoza Composite Fastpitch Softball Bat
4. Miken Epic MFEHT Fastpitch Softball Bat
5. Mizuno 2010 Frenzy 2 -10 Fastpitch Softball Bat
6. Easton CV12 SCR1B Fastpitch Softball Bat
7. Miken MV-1 Balanced Slowpitch Softball Bat
8. Louisville Slugger Triton FPXT8 Composite Fastpitch Softball Bat
9. Easton Stealth Speed-10 Fastpitch Softball Bat
10. Mizuno 2010 Frenzy Fastpitch Softball Bat

Do You Have a Favorite Bat in 2010?

Share it below in the comment section! We love hearing from our readers.