Softball League - Were going to wood bats

[CNY Tim]

Just was informed my Tuesday night league will be going to wood bats, we use Thunder 375 .44 core softballs. Ordered a Brett Bros. Thunder SST 500 and a DBat Birch wood SMBT. Do you guys have any feed back on these bats? A couple of my buddies are looking at the Viper 360, does anyone own this bat and the above and care to comment.

Thanks

Tim

[maros91]

I know nothing about softball bats but Minnesota Amateur Baseball went to wood bats in 2002. Time of games went from about 3.5 hours to about 2.5 and even less. It went from getting jammed and hitting a HR to a can of corn to left. Plus in softball I am sure the pitcher is a little more safe with wood as the ball is not coming as fast off the bat. Any Joe Schmoe can pick up a softball bat and be good now going to wood bats it will take a little more skill.

[tisosy11]

Not a bad thing, but I'd miss that TING of cracking a big one!

[fisherdog19]

I know nothing about softball, but quite a bit on baseball bats. If you can find some bats made out of Maple, you may have an advantage, and save money. They are more expensive but much less prone to breaking than the bats of the Ash variety. They do not dent, splinter, or have the grains come apart through use like Ash either. It could be said that if you don't break it (it's most prone to breaks by hitting the ball of the end of the bat), you could go through a whole season with one, batting practice and all. Do some research on the web and you'll see what I mean. I've used them first hand professionally, and there is no comparison. Only difference is a smaller sweet spot, and slightly heavier than Ash.

[PierBridge]

I find this astonishing to say the least!

[fisherdog19]

Nice to see that I can still astonish someone, I thought I lost my touch

[CNY Tim]

Well first night with the wood and our team went extra's innings to get it done, the bottom of the eleventh 6-5. My line batting in the 5 hole, 2-3, 2 rbi, sac fly and intent walk. I like the D-Bat (birch) and Shane hit the Brett Bros. Thunder (maple/bamboo) with half trademark and broke it. Gonna see if BB will do something for me on this, it's not 30 days old..

[CNY Tim]

2nd game after our bye last week we won 14-2. Brett Bros. warranteed my Thunder and shipped me out a new one, very good customer service. The replacement Thunder however during the game last night after one of the guys hit it and you could see the stitch marks deep into the laminate but it still performed well. After going 4-4 with 2 bi's I went ahead an ordered another D-Bat birch just in case we break are primary also picked up a Louisville Slugger TPS wood. Were really starting to get the swing down on the wood bats as that's the most run's scored this season with it and were facing a tough team next week in the early tilt. One of our guys hit a stand-up triple with the metal wood.