SOFTBALL BAT COMPARISON CHART
Model | Drop weight | Handle | Handle-to-Knob | Barrel | Barrel Notes & Weight Distribution | Typical User |
-5 |
1" |
Long thin handle transitions in to a well defined metal style knob to rest hand on |
2-1/4" |
Slightly end-weighted but easy to swing due to weight makes it our most popular model for all |
MEN'S/CO-REC LEAGUE CONTACT HITTER Light for fast swing. Eases move from light metal bat |
|
-5 |
1" |
Standard size handle moderately flares in to enough knob to catch your hand. |
2-1/4" |
Very similar to SB3: just a tad of end-weight but easy to swing as light...just with a flared knob |
MEN'S/CO-REC LEAGUE CONTACT HITTER wants light bat but flared knob vs SB3's metal bat style knob |
|
-4 |
1" |
Standard size handle gently flares into a big enough knob to catch your hand |
2-1/4" |
Moderate length barrel and gradual slope make this a well balanced bat with some extra pop |
MEN'S LEAGUE GAP HITTER wants more pop but doesn't want the barrel weight of a power hitter's bat |
|
-4 |
1" |
Standard size handle in to big flared knob with just enough lip to catch your hand |
2-1/4" |
Long barrel for more hitting area is balanced out by the large knob, making it nicely balanced |
MEN'S LEAGUE GAP HITTER wants balance & bat speed. Big flared knob replaces SB4's traditional knob |
|
--3 |
1 1/16" |
Thick handle tapers steadily then flares slightly into enough knob to catch hand |
2-1/4" |
Long barrel is balanced out by thick handle giving reasonable balance for power hitter's bat |
MEN'S POWER HITTER with bigger hands wants max power without end weight of typical power bat |
|
-3 |
15/16" |
Quick taper from barrel to thin handle into a big flared cone-shaped knob |
2-1/4" |
Long barrel into thinnest handle makes SB5 end weighted for power and most popular power bat |
MEN'S POWER HITTER tapes up his metal bat knob so can't feel it. He wants barrel end weight to crush it |
|
NA |
1 1/2" |
Short really thick handle leads in to a well-defined knob to catch your hand |
2-1/4" |
VERY long barrel makes for one LONG sweetspot. Needless to say, it's heavy one! |
MEN'S POWER HITTER goes old school, wanting a heavy bat that has massive hitting area |
|
-5 |
31/32" |
Long thin handle transitions in to a well defined metal style knob to rest hand on |
2-1/4" |
Slightly end weighted barrel, similar to a typical female's metal softball bat |
FEMALE PLAYER 12+ for swing development or slow pitch play, with feel of her metal bat's knob & handle |
|
-5 |
1" |
Tad thicker handle than FP3 with knob that replicates taping it up |
2-1/4" |
Same barrel as FP3, so slightly end weighted making it like a typical female's softball bat |
FEMALE PLAYER 12+ doesn't want hand on bat's knob as w/FP3, but wants for same reasons as FP3 |
|
-4 |
31/32" |
Modern tapered handle slightly flares into knob to catch hand but not press on it |
2-1/4" |
Very evenly weighted barrel makes FP41 favorite for college users even though ounce heavier |
FEMALE PLAYER 18+ wants balance/feel of modern wood softball bat, with knob in-between FP3 & FP7 |
|
-8 |
31/32" |
Modern tapered handle slightly flares into a wide enough knob to rest hand on |
2-1/4" |
Like its big sister, the FP41, it's well balanced longer barrel makes for easy swing |
FEMALE YOUTH 11 & UNDER to develop plate discipline: level out swing & force use of legs/muscles |
|
-5 |
1" |
Long and thin handle into a defined knob |
2-1/4" |
Slightly end weighted barrel, creates a reasonable pop |
FRONTLINE SPECIALIST wanting a light bat with a defined knob. Max power for max control/speed to hit the low line drives |
|
-4 |
1" |
Standard size handle with tons of pop |
2-1/4" |
A little less end weighted than an OTL5 or OTL73, designed to punish the front line shots |
FRONTLINE SPECIALIST wanting balance to punish the front line, those learning to perfect the depth shot as well |
|
-4 |
1" |
Tapered handle into power knob that allows for hard accurate front line shots or touch shots down the court |
2-1/4" |
The well balanced barrel makes the OTL73 the most versatile OTL bat offered |
HYBRID HITTER who values balance, bat speed...and a big knob... to nail the 2/3 shots |
|
-5 |
1" |
Standard size handle into a moderately flared knob |
2-1/4" |
Slightly longer barrel with the end weighted feel of an OTL5 or OTL73 but lighter overall weight |
HYBRID HITTER who likes a moderately flared knob and a light weight |
|
-3 |
1-1/16" |
Thick handle into a flared knob with a larger contact zone makes for a perfect up-and-out home-run hitter |
2-1/4" |
Longer barrel that is end weighted like the OTL5 but slightly heavier than OTL4 or OTL73 |
BIG SWING, POWER HITTER counted on to crush it, a "grip and rip" style |
|
-3 |
15/16" |
Handle goes into a tapered "power" knob |
2-1/4" |
Longer barrel with a heavier and end weighted feel |
PURE POWER HITTER who tapes up their handle A LOT and for the long ball hitter that likes to stretch the court |
|
-8 |
15/16" |
Very long handle flares quickly to barrel and into knob with enough to catch your bottom hand |
2-1/4" |
Standard diameter barrel, about as long as the sweet spot |
SOFTBALL PLAYER doing tee work, soft toss, and to improve hand-eye coordination and muscle memory |