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We measure the swing weight of every fastpitch bat we test. Most of our data is completed on 32/22 bats. We’ve found fastpitch bats have a very close grouping of swing weights with a few exceptions. We also think swing weight is the single most important piece of information to determine our exit speeds.
A bat size chart is also a good place to start. But, remember, the stated weight of a bat is not the same as its swing weight. Bats with the same scale weight can be upwards of 10% different in feel.
We share our exit speeds exclusively with our email subscribers. The process of gathering and measuring swing weights is very involved. It requires
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Swing weights are not intuitive. That is, the idea of a swing weight isn’t naturally obvious. Many confuse swing weight with the scale weight. But, as we’ve proven elsewhere, scale weight and swing weight are not well correlated at the margins. That is, comparing the actual weight of bats stated to be 22 ounces won’t be a good indicator of how they swing compared to one another.
The balance point of the bat, on the other hand, is a decent indicator of how one bat swings compared to another. A layman’s way to determine which bat swings heavier maybe to see which bat has a balance point closer to the end cap. You can do this, roughly, by balancing the bat on your extended finger. Then mark the spot where it balances. Comparing those marks across similarly length bats is a good indication of how difficult they are to swing compared to another.
Updated December 3, 2020
December 3, 2020
By Brian Duryea | @BatDigest