No matter which type of slowpitch softball league you choose to play in, the type of bat you choose will ultimately depend on your personal preference. Thanks to new technology, softball bats are now able to be tailored to your individual strengths. The key is to find that bat that will help you take your game to a new level.
So what are the best ASA/USA slowpitch softball bats available in 2023? When combining performance, durability, versatility and value, I believe that the following 4 bats would be the ideal choices for most hitters:
So what are the biggest differences when it comes to ASA bats in comparison to others? One of the main differences is what is called the Batted Ball Speed (or BBS for short) which is a measure of how quickly the ball will leave the bat and how quick it would look to a player on the field. For a bat to be ASA-approved it must meet the 98 mph standard. Other leagues like the USSSA allow for a quicker BBS of 100 mph.
Now that you know the main things to look out for, let’s look at the hottest ASA (now known as USA) bats for 2023.
Miken Freak Maxload
If you are looking for some serious power then the Miken Freak Maxload might be exactly what you are after. Fully approved for play in ASA leagues, this model has been also upgraded with some newer features for the new season. In past years this has been one of the hottest bats and I do not expect this year to be any different! After all, this one is endorsed heavily by one of the best names in the business: Kyle Pearson. See the video below:
So what makes the Freak 23 Maxload a power hitter’s best friend (besides the name)? Here are some of the features we feel will benefit a power hitter:
- Tetra Core Technology – Admittingly i’m not the most technical savvy when it comes to understanding how some of these bats are built, but I do know this technology is great for power swinging hitters. I’m not sure exactly how it works, but on the interior it uses tube with additional compression. This in turn increases the size of the sweet spot in the bat while still keeping it responsive.
- F2P Technology – More than likely your first reaction to this feature is “Huh”? F2P stands for Flex 2 Power and is a technology developed by Miken and used in many of their bats. I probably won’t explain this very well, but essentially it provides a hitter with better speed through the swing zone by focusing more on the flex region of the bat. This helps turn your swing around faster and make more contact on those 52 COR softballs.
- End loaded swing – Although the first two features were probably enough to convince you that this bat is built for crushing homers, there is one additional feature to note – the extra half ounce of weight added to the bottom of the barrel. Although end loaded bats tend to feel a bit heavier to swing when you make nice solid contact in your wheel house, you’ll quickly see the little extra pop it’ll provide.
Other than the features above designed more for power hitters, there are a few additional benefits including the comfortable handle, the great brand name backing, and perhaps most important…the backing from Kyle Pearson. At just under $300 – the Miken Freak 23 may be a bargain once you take some swings.
Demarini Ultimate Weapon
We just couldn’t make a best slowpitch bats list without including a model made by Demarini who many feel is the best company around for bats. This year, we are expecting that the Demarini Ultimate Weapon model will be a top seller for ASA (USA) leagues largely due to the fact that the model from last year was quite popular and from the specification sheets it looks like the model has been improved.
One of the main reasons for this models popularity is that it is more of a end loaded bat meaning that it will primarily help gap, and homerun hitters. This is primarily due to the high performance 12 inch composite end loaded barrel. The barrel features a single wall which has been used on quite a few Demarini bats over the past couple of years. It continues to be a favorite as it has been known to provide quite a bit of pop.
One item that is a bit newer is the SC4 alloy handle that has been applied to the Ultimate Weapon. This handle combines both of zinc and aluminum material to create a handle that should provide more durability and feel stiffer on the swing. This stiffness and resistance is what power hitters tend to look for as they’ll experience a better energy transfer right to the softball.
So in simplified terms, when you make proper contact, a softball should have a tough time staying in the park! Many players believe that 1-piece bats provide more power than 2-piece bats. Based on everything we have read about the Ultimate Weapon, this could hold true as there could be tremendous power potential in this one!
Axe Avenge Pro
In my opinion, one of the more underrated bats this year is the Axe Avenge Pro edition. And for good reason. Many players who have reviewed this model on various sites have indicated that it feels very hot and helps in hitting bombs all over the field. This isn’t the first year for the Avenge either. It was first created in 2017, and has been evolving ever since. Hopefully it keeps getting better and better!
With any Axe bat, the first thing you’ll notice is the curvature that differs substantially from what you see in most bats. In fact, Axe had someone perform a study to determine how effective their handles perform vs the regular ones you see. The results were quite remarkable in my opinion:
In summary, the study found that Axe bats:
- Increased Exit velocity
- Heighted launch angle
- More distance
What separates this model vs the Freak 23 above is the type of swing it provides. As opposed to more power from the Freak 23, the Axe Avenge features a balanced swing which is perfect for contact hitters. Balance swinging bats provide a consistent speed and feeling as opposed to their end loaded counterparts that are built a bit heavier in order to drive hits further.
One of the next greatest features included in the current version of the Avenge is what they call Tri-Flex Blastwall. This technology uses an advanced construction process around the barrel to provide more durability than other bats in this price range. As a contact hitter, there is a lot to like about this model!
Easton Rival (Best USA approved bat under $100)
The last model that we believe would benefit slowpitch players in an ASA league is the Easton Rival which is currently priced at under $100 making it an affordable option for all players. I believe this low price has resulted in it being one of the most purchased bats lately.
The Rival could very well be designated as a power hitters dream due to its construction and the pop it can produce. Constructed using Easton’s own ALX50 military-graded aluminum alloy, the bat promises to be light yet still remain easy to control. The ALX50 material is used for the entire bat (i.e. 1-piece) which is typically a characteristic that a power hitter looks for as the bat will feel more rigid and provide less forgiveness when making good solid contact. Lastly, the alloy promises to also provide a great level of durability allowing you to use it for numerous seasons without cracking or needing a new model. However if that does happen you still have a 1-year warranty period to take advantage of.
Another important feature that power hitters often look for is a nice fluid but heavier feeling swing weight. Although the heaviness may slow down the swing slightly, the extra power provided may just be the difference between hitting to the warning track or over the fence. The Rival features an end loaded swing meaning that your swings would generate more distance when hit properly. Depending on your strength, this model should give you plenty of distance and pop.
The final feature that we will highlight on this page is the use of All Sports batting grip. One of the worst feeling as a hitter no matter how good the bat may be is to not have a nice firm and comfortable grip on the handle. After all having an uncomfortable grip may not just be a deterrent to your game but could also cause injuries. This gauze grip should be sticky enough to allow for very little slipping during your swing so you can feel comfortable while knocking softballs all over the field.
Conclusion on the Best ASA / USA approved slowpitch bats
With over 3 million players, and over 200,000 teams the Amateur Softball Association (or ASA for short) is the most common governing body that you’ll need to ensure your bat is approved for.
You may be wondering how a piece of equipment is determined to meet ASA standards. The nice thing about this association is that they take great pride in protecting the game and ensuring its integrity is always met. By using a committee representing different players, coaches, and umpires, new pieces of equipment are constantly tested and analyzed to ensure that the aforementioned integrity is kept.
Well there you have it. We feel that we have outlined the top four slowpitch bat options available for softball players who need something that is ASA-approved. If you feel we’ve missed any or know of another model that we should highlight then please let us know. Thanks for stopping by!