Softball COR and Compression
Softballs are rated based on two metrics - Coefficient Of Restitution (COR - pronounced like core) and compression. COR represents how "bouncy" the ball is. The higher the COR, the more bouncy the ball is and, generally, the farther it will fly. COR is the percentage of reduction in speed for a ball bouncing off a wall. If a ball is thrown at a wall at 80 miles per hour and bounces off at 40 miles per hour, the speed has been reduced by 50%. The ball would be rated with a COR of .50 (referred to as a fifty COR ball). If your league plays with a .44 COR ball, the speed bouncing off the wall would be 35 miles per hour.
Softball compression is a measure of how hard a softball is. The higher the compression, the harder the ball, and generally, the farther it will fly. Compression is measured by how many pounds of force are needed to squeeze two sides of the ball in by a total of one-quarter of an inch. If a test shows that it takes 375 pounds of force to squeeze the ball by one-quarter inch, the ball is certified as a 375 pound compression ball. The ASA has only approved two levels of compression - 375 pounds and 525 pounds. 375 pound balls are softer than 525's. The ASA "rounds up" to assign the compression rating. For example, if the test shows it only takes 325 pounds of force to achieve the one-quarter inch squeeze, the ball will be rated as a 375 compression ball. This means your league may be playing with a ball rated as 375 compression, but it is really softer than a true 375 compression ball because of the "rounding up."
Testing has shown two main things as it relates to softball COR and compression and on-field performance. First, a change from a .47 COR, 525 pound ball to a .44 COR, 375 pound ball decreases performance by up to 6%. All other things being equal, this means that a 305 foot home run using a .47 COR, 525 pound ball would be a 290 foot fly out using a .44 COR, 375 pound ball. Second, reductions in compression have a much greater impact in on-field performance than reductions in COR.
As a player, you should also be aware that weather has an enormous impact on the compression of a softball. Studies have shown that when the temperature is 100 degrees, an average softball looses 200 pounds of compression as compared with the same softball at 60 degrees. This means that a softball that is a 525 pound compression ball at 60 degrees may play like a 375 pound ball at 100 degrees. In addition, clouds, rain, and humidity also affect the compression of a ball. 70 degrees and sunny creates lower compression balls than if it was 70 degrees and cloudy. Leather balls generally take on more moisture in rainy or humid conditions than synthetic balls. This will generally raise the compression and level of play up to a point, then performance will decline once the ball takes on too much water and becomes too heavy.
Keep these factors in mind when deciding which bat to use and when determining your approach for each at-bat. If it is hot and humid, it may be best not to try for a home run, but instead try for a base hit.
Miken NRG 500 Maxload
The Miken NRG 500 Maxload gets pretty good ratings for ASA play. It receives positive reviews for being a good all-around bat.
It is a 100% composite, endloaded bat. If you like balanced bats, this may not be the bat for you. Many people report these bats as weighing about an ounce more than the listed weight. You may want to go with an ounce lighter than you normally do.
Many reviewers noted the oversized sweet spot, indicating it is very difficult to mis-hit. The bat gets pretty good ratings for distance and does very well for pop and line drives.
Recommended for: ASA players who like endloaded bats and hit a lot of line drives, but would like some distance mixed in.
Most Common Benefits Listed (percentage of reviewers who mention):
- Great distance (42%)
- Huge sweet spot (26%)
- Hot out of wrapper (24%)
- Great for line drives (21%)
- Great pop (18%)
- Great feel (18%)
- Looks great (13%)
- Best ASA bat (11%)
- Has a "mushy" feeling when contact is made (17%)
- Not great distance (13%)
- The Freak 100 is better (13%)
Recommended for: ASA players who like endloaded bats and hit a lot of line drives, but would like some distance mixed in.
Approved by: All associations (ASA, USSSA, NSA, ISA)
Ratings: 98MPH, 1.20 BPF
Handle: Straight
Length/Weight Options: 34/25, 34/26, 34/27, 34/28, 34/29, 34/30
Average Auction Price (New): $230
Average Auction Price (Used): N/A
| Eastbay | $299 | |||
| batsbatsbats.com | $299 |
Find Miken NRG 500 Maxload on eBay
100 MPH Grandfathered Bats
Beginning January 1, 2008, no 100 MPH bats will be legal in ASA play. These 100 MPH bats were originally grandfathered in 2003 when the ASA announced it was changing its bat testing standards. All bats manufactured after June 2004 had to meet the 98 MPH standard. The following bats were grandfathered and allowed in ASA play even though they did not meet the new testing standard:
Easton Synergy2
Miken Freak
Louisville SB304 Response XXL Balanced
Louisville SB404 Response XXL End Load
Worth XPST4 Max PST
Worth WWSCA Wicked Composite Shell
Worth SBWKA Wicked Aluminum Shell
Be careful when buying one of these bats as you will only get to use them for 2007 under ASA rules.
2007 Worth Jeff Hall M798 Bat Review
The 2007 Worth Jeff Hall M798 softball bat is consistently one of the highest rated bats for ASA play. With the ASA banning all grandfathered 100 MPH bats in 2008, the Jeff Hall M798 is commonly thought to be the closest thing to the 100 MPH bats.
It is a 100% composite, half-ounce endloaded bat. If you like balanced bats, this may not be the bat for you. If you like endloaded bats and play ASA, the consensus is this is the right bat for you.
Most reviewers put the performance of this bat at slightly below a broken-in Freak or Synergy 2.
Recommended for: ASA players who like endloaded bats.
Most Common Benefits Listed (percentage of reviewers who mention):
- Hot right out of the wrapper (57%)
- Great distance (53%)
- Great ASA bat (53%)
- Great pop (43%)
- Large sweet spot (20%)
- Nice feel (17%)
- As close to 100 MPH bats as you can get (13%)
- More solid than the orange Mayhem98 (10%)
Most Common Weaknesses Listed (percentage of reviewers who mention):
- Some break at the bat's taper (20%)
- The Freak is better (17%)
- Stiff out of the wrapper (10%)
Recommended for: ASA players who like endloaded bats
Approved by: All associations (ASA, USSSA, NSA, ISA)
Ratings: 98MPH, 1.20 BPF
Handle: Straight
Length/Weight Options: 34/26.5, 34⁄27.5, 34⁄28.5
Average Auction Price (New): $225
Average Auction Price (Used): N/A
Eastbay $299 Worth Mayhem M7 98 Softball Bat
batsbatsbats.com $299 (free shipping) Worth 2007 Mayhem M798
Find Jeff Hall M798 on eBay
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Coupons
