After a few seasons of fastpitch softball (especially at the travel ball level) you realize you or your player needs a QUALITY pair of softball cleats.  When they were young they could get by with whatever cleats you could find on clearance at the local sporting goods store (and don’t act like you didn’t do that!).  But once they get serious about the game and are in constant motion and standing on their feet for 3-5 games in a day, then you realize you really need to look into getting the best quality cleat that you can get for you or your player.

Here at Softball Galaxy we hope to make your job a little easier by finding you the right pair of cleats without the hassle of searching through pages of cleats online.  Hopefully one of these great pairs will work for what you need!

BEST FOR YOUNG PLAYERS-

Under Armour Kids’ Glyde Rm Jr. Softball Shoe

100% Synthetic with a rubber sole and rubber molded cleats.  Perfect for the little ones out there learning the game.

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Nike Girl’s Hyperdiamond 2 Keystone Softball Cleat

A great low top cleat for the younger softball players.

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BEST FOR UTILITY PLAYERS (NON-PITCHERS)

RUBBER CLEATS – 

Under Armour Women’s Micro G Pursuit

Synthetic leather upper with mesh tongue for extra breathability.  Helps keep feet cool and dry all game long.

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New Balance Women’s Fuse V2 TPU Molded Softball Shoe

100% Synthetic with rubber sole and TPU molded cleats.  Uses innovative RevLite midsole that provides premium responsiveness and durability.  30% lighter weight than other foams with comparable performance.

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Mizuno Women’s 9-Spike Advanced Finch Elite 3 Softball Shoe

100% Synthetic with rubber sole and TPU 9-cleat design.  Also works great on artificial turf fields.

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adidas Women’s Icon Bounce TPU

Synthetic sole with Nubuck upper and perforated vamp for breathability.  Ironskin toe cap provides abrasion resistance in key toe drag area.  Molded Stealtrax TPU outsole plate is designed for baseball/softball specific movements and provides metal-like cleat performance and traction.

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METAL CLEATS – 

Mizuno Women’s 9-Spike Advanced Sweep 3 Softball Shoe

100% Synthetic with new and improved built in “toe protector”.  Reduced weight all the while providing enhanced durability. 9 spike.

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Under Armour Women’s Glyde ST Softball Shoe

Synthetic upper with synthetic sole.  Internal bootie construction provides sneaker-like fit and feel.  Abrasion resistant, 3D rubberized toe cap for maximum on field protection.  Die cut EVA sockliner built to reduce cleat pressure for enhanced underfoot comfort.

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adidas Women’s Icon Bounce

Nubuck upper with perforated vamp for breathability.  Ironskin toe cap providing great abrasion resistance in key toe-drag area.  Bounce cushioning for enhanced comfort and flex.

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PITCHER’S CLEATS –

Ringor Bandit 2.0- Pitching (METAL)

Light weight design.  Extremely durable, especially for pitchers.  7 Spike design.

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Ringor Dynasty Cleat (NON-METAL)

All leather uppers with TPU molded cleats.  Very durable.

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Dynasty 2.0 Turf

All Leather Upper with Studded Rubber Turf Outsole.  Extremely durable.

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Tuff Toe Pitchers and Catchers Cleat Guards

In love with the cleats you own?  Use Tuff Toe to protect them from the toe drag.  Saves money in the long run.

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 TURF CLEATS – 

New Balance Women’s Fuse V2 Turf Softball Shoe

Lightweight synthetic perforated uppers for breathability.  RevLite midsoles above a high traction nubby outsole for great grip.

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Mizuno Dominant AS (All Surface) Womens

True all surface shoe for maximum performance on real grass, artificial turf and all common indoor surfaces.

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Boombah Women’s Challenger Turf Shoes
PU Foam insole for all day comfort.  Rubberized skid plate on toe for extra durability.

 

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BETWEEN GAMES-

We know, we know…they’re not cleats.  But you don’t want to wear cleats all day at the tournament do you??

adidas Women’s Adilette Aqua Slide Sandal

Available in multiple colors.  Slip your foot onto the soft Cloudfoam footbed and relax!

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Teva Women’s Original Universal

Available in multiple designs.  EVA foam footbed cushions and supports for all day comfort.

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FUNKYMONKEY Women’s Comfort Slides Double Buckle Adjustable EVA Flat Sandals
Lots of designs to choose from.  Padded and countoured footbed.  Adjustable wide straps for perfect fit.

Sometimes it’s just outright impossible to find the right gift for that special person in your life. Add the fact that it is for an athlete (or in this case a softball player) then it can just get plain aggravating to keep searching for the perfect gift. SoftballGalaxy.com has decided to step up and help you find just the right birthday or Christmas present for that amazing athletic girl in your life. Make sure to scroll to the very bottom so that you don’t miss out on our list of favorite stocking stuffers as well!

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RIP-IT Defense Pro Softball Fielder’s Mask with Blackout Technology
RIP-IT is quickly becoming the number 1 mask seen at every softball tournament we attend and there is a reason. These girls barely even know the mask is on and yet it still provides loads of protection in this fast paced sport. They are also available in YOUTH models as well for the younger girls.

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Charles River Apparel Pack-N-Go Wind & Water-Resistant Pullover (Reg/Ext Sizes)
If you are accustomed to playing tournaments every weekend then you know that eventually you will end up in the rain. Let your softball players have a way to get out and move from tent to tent with this awesome, portable Water-Resistant pullover and she will surely thank you!

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AKASO Brave 4 4K 20MP WiFi Action Camera Ultra HD with EIS 30m Underwater Waterproof Camera Remote Control 5X Zoom Underwater Camcorder with 2 Batteries and Helmet Accessories Kit
Action cameras are all the rage right now, however there are so many options and many of them a sub-par cameras. That isn’t true of the Akaso. After our team going through two other non Go-Pro action cameras we finally found this one and have been happy ever since. Let your players use them for fun, or if they want mount them to a fence and let her be able to go back an relive her highlights (or errors) in games played.

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DeMarini 2020 CF (-11, -10) Fastpitch Bat Series
The CF line of DeMarini bats are just plain sweet bats. Lot of pop, longevity and backed by a great company make these bats desirable to many girls. Just make sure you are getting the right size for your player and if possible let her demo swing the bat if available at a shop local to you.

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DeMarini Voodoo Rebirth Backpack
If rolling bags aren’t favored by the softball player in your life, then we highly recommend the Voodoo Rebirth Backpack. One of the highest rated bags out there and for good reason. It provides room enough for 2 bats, helmet, shoes and even a fleece lined pocket for her phone and valuables. Please note this bag will probably not work if your player needs a bag to hold all her catchers gear. Available in multiple colors.

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GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker Portable Folding Rocking Chair
Give her the gift of comfort with this amazing rocking chair. We all know days are long at tournaments and there can be lots of waiting for the next game so we really think your player will thank you for this sturdy portable rocking chair. The icing on the cake is that while she’s playing maybe you can borrow it while she’s not able to sit in it!

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AOMAIS GO Bluetooth Speakers,Waterproof Portable Indoor/Outdoor 30W Wireless Stereo Pairing Booming Bass Speaker,30-Hour Playtime with 8800mAh Power Bank,Durable for Home Party,Camping(Black)
For a mid-sized bluetooth speaker (about the size of a shoe box) this speaker is great! The sound from it has great highs and lows so whenever she wants to pump herself and the team up this will perfectly handle the job.

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Anker PowerCore 10000, One of The Smallest and Lightest 10000mAh External Batteries, Ultra-Compact Portable Charger, High-Speed Charging Technology Power Bank for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and More
We’re so lucky to have our girls involved in sports since you see so many kids out of shape from being addicted to the electronics in their lives. However, a full day at the field can still bring that phones battery down and for safety reasons it’s a great idea to have a way for them to charge up their phones. This power bank can charge the phone up multiple times so it’s great for her to carry to the weekend tournaments.

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Rawlings Liberty Advanced Finger Shift 12.5 Inch RLA125FS-15WNS Fastpitch Softball Glove
This is such a beautiful, performing glove that there isn’t a softball player out there that wouldn’t love it. If it’s time for a new glove in her life then we highly recommend the Liberty Advanced series gloves. Don’t forget to make sure you get the right size for her. If you are looking for a quality glove for a younger players (since the Liberty advanced doesn’t go into the smaller sizes) then we recommend looking at the 11.75″ Rawlings Liberty Advanced Fastpitch Softball Glove Series for infielders.

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Precision Impact Softball Squishies: Heavy-Duty Lightweight Balls for Softball Hitting Training (8-Pack)
If your player does a lot of practice at home then this makes a great training ball that won’t go far which especially useful when space is limited. Bright colored so as not to lose them and surprisingly durable for the soft-ish feel on these balls. They are unlike any practice ball we’ve ever used and we love them!

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Invincible Fitness Agility Ladder Training Equipment Set, Improves Coordination, Speed, Explosive Power and Strength, Includes 10 Cones, 4 Hooks and 3 Loop Resistance Bands for Outdoor Workout
Just because the holiday season is usually the off-season, doesn’t mean that training is over. In fact, this is the best time of year to tackle agility and speed training. With an agility ladder, cones, hooks and resistance bands you will have everything you need for your own training sessions on cool sunny days in the backyard.

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MacGregor Infield Training Glove
Another great training tool to use in the off-season and during the season. This is a must have for infielders to work on their “glove to throw” transition.

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Varo ARC Bat Training Weight, 12oz, for Softball (Jennie Finch Edition) – Barrel Feel – Improve Your Batting, Barrel Speed, and Develop Swing Mechanics
Leave the old batting donuts in the bag and start using this great bat training weight. With much better fit around the bat and better weight distribution, the Varo ARC will end up being a much used and liked training item.

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Rukket 7×7 Baseball & Softball Net | Practice Hitting, Pitching, Batting and Catching | Backstop Screen Equipment Training Aids | Includes Carry Bag
Rukket has quickly grown as the go to name is sports backstop and hitting nets. The reasons are simple. Great quality and fairly priced as opposed to some of the other overpriced nets. This 7×7 net will give months and months of backyard practice opportunities.

Bioamy Running Speed Chute Resistance Parachute 56 inch Powerchute Umbrella Training Sprint Power Soccer Trainer for Runner, Football, Soccer Drilling
These Resistance Chutes are perfect for a mixture of speed and strength training. This is a good resource for improving acceleration, muscle endurance, and direction adjustment.

 

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Bose SoundSport Free
Looking for the perfect earbuds/headphones for the athlete in your life? Look no further than the SoundSport Frees. Being completely wireless gives your athlete the ability to work hard and jam out at the same time. With up to 5 hours of play time on each charge you can expect them to last the full duration of even the longest training sessions.

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Under Armour Sideline 64 Ounce Water Jug
Carry your liquids in style with this Water Jug. Softball players know the value of having hydration available at all times and not having to worry about running out. With this large 64 Ounce Jug she will stay hydrated the entire game.

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G-Form Elite Batter’s Elbow Guard
When you’re in an age group where the pitching has progressed to throwing heaters, then an elbow guard can take some of the scariness out of those wild throws. Available in multiple colors and engineered to provide full elbow coverage without hindering the swing, these guards are well worth the investment.

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EASTON Z5 Batting Helmet with Softball Mask | Junior | Solid Color | 2019 | Dual Density Impact Absorption Foam | High Impact Resistant ABS Shell | Moisture Wicking BioDRI liner
When it comes to helmets there are so many options out there, however the Z5 holds it’s own when it comes to comfort and protection. Available in multiple colors.

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Girl Softball Silhouette Sticker, Softball Quote Wall Decor, Softball Pitcher Decal, 34″X36″ Black
What girl wouldn’t want this in their room? Seriously! This is just an awesome sticker with a softball themed quote that your player can decorate their room with. We think this would make any player happy!

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Fastpitch Eye Chart Youth Short Sleeve T-Shirt

With a modern, but sporty look and quality Bella + Canvas material with this t-shirt your player will definitely not mind wearing it to the ball park!

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There’s Nothing Soft About It 26″ x 36″ Wall Tapestry

Let them decorate their walls with this really cool 26 inch by 36 inch wall tapestry!  They will love it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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• STOCKING STUFFERS –
• (Pitcher Only) Club K Spin Right Spinner Fastpitch
• iSplack Colored Eye Black
• Bluegrass Decals K1072 Softball Girl Batter Batting Heartbeat Lifeline Decal Sticker
• Kenz Laurenz Softball Headband Set – Leather Seamed Headbands Yellow Red Stitching, Softball Post Earrings, Softball Titanium Necklace, Softball Bow Hair Ties
• Grip-N-Rip Bat Grip Taper
• Vulcan Bat Grip
• Lexol Leather Conditioner and Leather Cleaner Kit, Use on Car Leather, Furniture, Shoes, Bags, and Accessories, Quick & Easy Two-Step Regimen, 8 oz Bottles, Includes Two Application Sponges
• Franklin Sports MLB Gator Grip: Baseball Rosin Bag
• Champro Reaction Ball
• Prohitter Batters Training Aid

 

Whether it is the end of the season, a coach’s birthday, or Christmas you may end up needing some ideas for great gifts for an amazing coach. Don’t just grab the first thing you see. Put some thought into it. They have sacrificed their time and patience to coach an amazing group of girls and it’s time you show your appreciated with a well thought out gift. We at SoftballGalaxy.com can hopefully help push you in the right direction with some of these tried and true gift ideas.

Softball Coach Home Plate Plaque

This Softball Coach Home Plate Plaque would please any coach with all the autographs of the ones they coached through the seasons.

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Sportybella Softball Coach Keychain

This Softball Coach Keychain makes a great little add on to any coaches gift set.

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Coach Wood Word Silver Pen Ready to Autograph
Another great way to collect the autographs from all the players to gift to a great softball coach.

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Sports Illustrated Print Magazine Subscription

Let your coach keep up to date on everything sport related with one of the most wanted magazine subscriptions available in the sports industry.

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Timex Full-Size Ironman Endure 30 Shock Watch

Many people have opted for not wearing sport watches and use their phone instead, however think of how easy it is on a coach to not have to continually be pulling their phone out of their back pocket when checking the time.

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The Coldest Water Bottle Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Hydro Travel Mug

Everyone focuses on the players staying hydrated, well let’s not forget about the coaches.  Cool and classy looking, this highly rated bottle would make any coach grin.

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ICEMULE Pro Insulated Backpack Cooler Bag

Their hands are full of buckets of balls, bats, and bags.  Make the trip to and from the field a little easier on the coach with this great cooler bag that you wear as a backpack.  Any coach would be pleased to own this since it’s gonna make their lugging ice cold drinks much simpler.

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GCI Outdoor FirePit Rocker Portable Folding Low Rocking Chair

We’ve all seen them, but have you used one of these awesome chairs yet?  They are great and any coach would be happy to lounge around between games on this comfy rocking chair.

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Naipo Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager Foot Massager with Heat

Practice after practice, game after game.  The coaches get tired and sore just like the girls they coach.  If you’re not getting them a massage gift card, then this is the next best thing and they will surely appreciate this nifty massager.

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Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser & Essential Oil Set

Coaching can be stressful and mentally exhausting.  We’ve all heard and maybe experienced the power of essential oils and aromatherapy.  Here’s a complete highly rated set that can be used to calm them and help them enjoy relaxation once they get home.

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Personalized Wood Beer Caddy with Bottle Opener and Magnetic Bottle Cap Catcher

If your coach likes to pop a cold one (whether it be a Root Beer, or a local IPA) then they would most likely love this great looking, personalized bottle caddy with opener.

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AOMAIS GO 30W Waterproof Portable Indoor/Outdoor Bluetooth Booming Speaker

Who doesn’t love a good sounding speaker rocking out your favorite tunes?  From the ballfield to the house, this rugged little speaker will make any music lover excited once paired with the music streaming from their phone.

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NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000 Amp 12V UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter

Coaches put a bunch of wear and tear on their vehicles and a common issue is having your battery fail.  That is the last thing you want when packing up for a weekend tournament.  Give the coach peace of mind with this great little jump starter.

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Cuisinart CGG-180T Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill

Coach may be tired of eating the same old concession stand food tournament after tournament.  How about let’s switch it up for them with this great portable gas grill.  They will quickly fall in love with being able to cook their own food when away from home.

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Bob’s Burgers Car Window Sun Shade Visor

Not a fan of the hit TV show Bob’s Burgers?  Doesn’t matter.  This sun shade visor perfectly will crack up everyone that walks past the coach’s vehicle at the games.

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Costa Del Mar Blackfin Sunglasses

Sunglasses.  It’s an essential for anyone at the ball field.  Why not get a great looking pair for that top coach in your life?

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GoPro HERO 7 Black
If the GoPro HERO 7 is over budget but you still want to gift an action camera then check out the very highly rated, yet more affordable AKASO EK7000.

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$50 Amazon.com Gift Card in a Mini Envelope

Also available in other amounts like $25, $100, $150 or custom amounts.  For when you’re just not sure what to get that amazing fastpitch softball coach.

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Here are some ideas that are FREE (or close to it)

• Cook the coach and his family a nice dinner and bring it to their house
• Throughout the year keep up with some of the sayings that your coach, team mates, and parents have said whether it be funny or serious.  At the end of the season put them all together in a Quote Book along with photos for the coach.
• Use some simple video editing software or apps and make your coach a Highlights Video collage from everything recorded during the season.
• Have all the players make their own Thank You notes written directly to the coach.
• Lend a helping hand to your coach by doing chores or around-the-house tasks that would lighten their workload.
• Have all team mates sign a softball with their autograph and number.

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When girls hit the 7, 8 and 9 year old range they can really start benefiting from a decent bat. With all the options on the market, how is one to know what bat is better than the rest? We here at SoftballGalaxy.com have decided to narrow down the field a bit for you.

Just to make it clear, we firmly believe that the best way to find the right bat is by swinging it. If your interested in a bat you see on here, try and find somewhere local to demo the bat before purchasing it.

When buying your 8U daughter a new bat, you first need to decide what size and type of bat she should be swinging.  There are a few things you need to consider when looking for the right softball bat.

-Length
-Weight
-League Association
-Bat Type (Material)
-Length

When buying a bat, if you get a bat that is too long it can sometimes be very difficult for your child to swing. On the opposite end, you don’t want a bat that is too short for your child either. A good rule of thumb to remember is that a child under 60 pounds will usually do best with a bat between 26″-29″ and a child over 60 pounds will do best with a bat between 28″-32″. For a child just starting out, if they are in the 3′-3’4″ height range then 26″ is a good starting length for their first bat. For every 4-5″ that they grow, you should add 1″ to their bat length.

Weight

After you have figured out the proper length bat for you child, the next thing you should consider is weight of the bat. A bat that is too heavy will cause a much slower “draggy” swing with poor control that results in bad contact or all out strikes. When looking at bats, you will notice that many bats won’t show the actual weight but instead will show the drop weight. The drop weight is the difference between the length of the bat and the weight of the bat. In other words LENGTH – WEIGHT = DROP WEIGHT. For example, a bat that is 27″ and a weight of 17oz would have a drop weight of -10. For 6U and 8U players you will most likely be looking at bats with a (-13.5)-(-10) drop with the consideration that their bat is between 24″-29″.

League Association

Every league has their own rules regarding what is and isn’t allowed pertaining to equipment. When it comes to bats, the manufacturer stamps the bats with the logo of whatever certification that bat has. If you’re not sure if the bat you’re looking at is approved for your league then you should check with the coaches or read the league’s rule book to make sure the bat you are considering is allowed before purchasing it.

Bat Type (Material)

There are 3 main types of softball bats, when it comes to the material they are made out of. Alloy bats, Composite bats and Hybrids bats which are basically a mix of the two with the handle being composite and the barrels being alloy. Here we will show a few pros and cons of each material to help you decide which bat will work best for your child.

-Alloy Pros
Usually much less expensive than composite bats
Ready to use at purchase, no break in required
Often outlasts a composite bat since they usually don’t crack (instead they dent). A composite bat is unusable once cracked.

-Alloy Cons
Alloy usually has a smaller sweet spot and less pop than a composite bat

-Composite Pros
Less sting on your hands from mis-hit balls due to the reduced vibration in these bats
Larger sweet spot and more pop than an alloy bat

-Composite Cons
Bats require a break-in period
More expensive than alloy bats

– Hybrid Pros
Usually cost less than a full composite bat
No break in period
Less sting and vibration due to the composite handle
Longer barrel life than a composite (due to the barrel end being alloy)

-Hybrid Cons
Costs more than a full alloy bat
Handle can be susceptible to cracking

Below you will find our 5 favorite bats for the 8U age group.  In the end one of the main decision makers should be your daughter. What bat does she like? What feels good to her? What bat looks the best to her? If she walks up to the plate with confidence that the bat she carries is going to help her get a great hit, then it just may do that. She may not need any of these bats below. Let her swing her friend’s bats and see which one feels good to her. Bring her to the sporting goods store and let her swing some. Ultimately, she should be the big deciding factor in which bat she ends up with.

1. Demarini Bustos

The Demarini Bustos is great 2 piece bat put out by one of the best bat companies in the market. One great thing about this bat is you’re not going to break the bank for a bat that has a proven track record. The Bustos shows up in a lot of kids bat bags for the reason that they just love these very light drop 13 bats that get the job done! Another plus is that with the composite handle there should be less sting at contact, and we all know how important that can be to some of these little ones!

2. Dudley Lightning Lift (not to be confused with the Dudley Lightning Lite)

The Dudley Lightning Lift showed up on our very own doorstep this spring, and boy have we loved it so far! The Lightning Lift is another drop 13 bat (so extremely light), however unlike the Bustos the Lightning Lift is 100% composite. With an XL Sweetspot paired with the lightness of the full composite bat you get an amazing bat at a price point much lower than the other full composite bats that made our list.

3. Mizuno Jennie Finch

The Mizuno Jennie Finch is what we would consider the budget bat of the bunch. It’s a one piece MZ 2200+ alloy design in -13 drop. You can scour forums and message boards and see that many parents swear by this bat. We would not hesitate to recommend this bat to someone not quite ready to spend $100 or more on a new bat. Now you can use all the money you saved for very valuable batting lessons instead!

4. Demarini CFX

 

 

 

 

If you’ve ever been to any 8U tournament it’s almost guaranteed you have seen the CFX being used. It’s truly one of our favorite bats here at SoftballGalaxy.com. If you have a daughter with a great swing and you seriously want to get the best out of her efforts, then look no further than the CFX. The pop, the balance, the durability…what more could you ask for. We HIGHLY recommend this bat to the girls that take softball seriously.

5.  Louisville Slugger LXT

The Louisville Slugger LXT seems to be the best alternative to Demarini’s CFX if you’re looking for a high end 8U 100% composite bat. This is one of the other bat’s you will definitely see around 8U softball tournaments and for good reasons. The LXT is an extremely balanced bat that comes pretty hot out of the wrapper.  In our opinion it’s not the “prettiest” bat out there.  One of our daughters actually avoided this bat due to the fact she didn’t like the way it looks.  Does that mean less performance?  Absolutely not, but remember…they are the ones carrying it to the plate under pressure and if they don’t feel 100% happy with their bat then it could actually affect their outcome.  Despite that, this bat is still one amazing bat.

We all love a funny, witty or even touching meme.  Here at Softball Galaxy we’ve come up with quite a few softball meme’s, picture quotes and images, but we’ve also borrowed a few.  Enjoy our favorites and continue to check in as we plan to add more in the future!  Don’t forget to check our Facebook Page where we enjoy sharing them there as well!