Choosing the right fastpitch bat for a youth player is very important. The appropriate bat for a youth player will make them more confident in hitting, elevate their game and help them in developing into a great softball player.
Here we will go from reviewing bats from some of the best brands on the market and we will explain how to choose a perfect fastpitch bat for a young and developing player. We paid attention to all the things that are important in a quality bat: materials, balance, speed, comfort, etc.
With all the information in this guide, it will be pretty easy for you to pick the right bat. In this top 10 list are the newest and most technologically advanced models from great brands available on the market right now.
We have tested numerous best-rated bats from different brands with our little ones and here is a list of top 10 youth softball bats that performed the best.
Top Rates Youth Fastpitch Softball Bats
DeMarini Spryte
Designed as the ultimate light-swinging bat for youth players, the DeMarini Spryte comes in -12 weight drop and is more expensive than most other youth softball bats on this list, since this is a composite bat with a ton of technological features that will make it easier for a youth player to improve a swing. The Paradox Composite Barrel is one of the most responsive barrels that you can see on bats for youth players, and the D-Lite Composite Handle is here to reduce vibration. The swings with the Sprye are effortless, and if you are looking for a composite softball bat that will help you tremendously in upgrading your game, the DeMarini Spryte might be the one for you.
Louisville Slugger Nexus
The 2022 Nexus is a brand new fastpitch bat by Louisville Slugger designed and engineered specifically for youth players. Unlike many youth bats, the Nexus has a composite barrel, opposed to aluminum. This allows for a bigger sweet spot which will help tremendously in improving one’s game. The balanced swing weight that the Nexus has means that both contact and power hittest can use it. It also has a couple of great features which include the end-cap with the X-Cap design and the XCT Connection System that reduces vibrations. It is available in the -12 drop and has a beautiful blue/black colorway.
Feel free to read our in-depth review of the 2022 Louisville Slugger Nexus here.
Easton Amethyst
Easton’s amazing one-piece aluminum bat, the Amethyst, is an incredibly fast bat designed for youth players. With the Easton Amethyst, you get an affordable bat made from ALX50 military-grade aluminum that can vastly help in improving the swing.
The Amethyst features an ultra-light 29/32’ handle equipped with an All-Sports grip that provides optimal comfort which will give you more confidence on the field.
Easton Pink Sapphire
Easton Pink Sapphire is constructed from military-grade ALX50 aluminum so it has tremendous durability to last you years. It is very light and provides very easy swings which are great for youth players and it features a cushioned All-Sports grip for ultimate control. The price of the bat is unbelievable and that’s in a good way. Easton Pink Sapphire is a perfect bat for players who are looking to start in the game.
Mizuno F20 Finch
F20 Finch is made by Japanese company Mizuno which has been making sports equipment since 1906 and this model is made in collaboration with one of the greatest softball players ever and USA gold medalist, Jennie Finch. This bat puts its primary focus on giving the player comfort and power while hitting the ball. The Mizuno F20 is made of MZ-2200+ alloy which is very light and comes in this beautiful White/Rose Gold colorway.
Louisville Slugger Diva
The Louisville Slugger Diva, a new and updated model for 2020 is designed specifically for young beginners who are just starting in this beautiful sport. The new Diva is a light swinging bat, so youth players can feel the speed of the game and it is incredibly balanced also. The drop is 11.5 so it is recommended for players from the age of 8 to 12. It has this incredibly popping pink colorway so it will definitely stand out on the field and it is surely one of the best girls softball bats right now.
Easton Ghost Girl’s Youth Fastpitch Bat
Like the Easton Amethyst, the Ghost is made from one piece military grade ALX50 aluminum for getting that greater durability. It is very light which is great for young players to help them develop speed hits and we can tell you, the Ghost hits are fantastic. Easton Ghost features an ultra-thin handle and a comfortable grip so comfort is on a high level. It takes a bit of time to break in properly, but once you do, it performs very well, exceeding our initial expectations. The bat is also very inexpensive and worth surely every penny. The new Easton Ghost has a sleek White/Blue colorway that will surely stand out in the field.
Rawlings Eclipse
Like most of the youth softball bats, Rawlings Eclipse is constructed from one-piece alloy and it is designed with fast, easy swings in mind. The bat has a lot of pop and a good sweet spot for a youth bat. Eclipse is also very durable because the barrel is quality made. The Eclipse is a fantastic option for developing youth players to help them step their game up. Rawlings really outdid themselves on this one, we highly recommend it. Rawlings Eclipse comes in -12, -13 drops and is ASA/USA, USSSA, NSA, ISF, ISA approved.
Easton Topaz
Easton Topaz is a gorgeous girl’s softball bat that comes in a -10 drop and two colorways: white/pink/blue and white/pink/teal. With the Topaz, as with many other Easton youth softball bats, you can expect aluminum (ALX50 military-grade) construction, which is durable and also, very lightweight. Like the Amethyst, Easton Topaz also has an ultra-thin handle equipped with an All-Sports grip. This is a great bat if you are working on your swing, as it is balanced, and its great construction will help you perfect your swing before you go pro!
Louisville Slugger Quest
The Slugger Quest, like the Louisville Slugger Diva is made from one piece aluminum, constructed with swing speed in mind and is recommended for young players who are just starting to play. The Quest has amazing energy transferred on contact which will help youth players to elevate their game. Swing weight is ultra balanced, meaning it provides better control and easier swings. The bat comes in -12 drop and is USSSA, ASA, ISA, ISF, NSA approved. Overall, the Louisville Slugger Quest is an amazing bat for youth hitters.
How to Choose a Youth Fastpitch Softball Bat – Buyer’s Guide
The path to being a great softball hitter begins with picking a fastpitch bat that perfectly fits you. There are several things that are important in choosing the right bat like weight, length, drop and construction.
Length
The right length of your fastpitch bat is essential. Too long and the bat speed will drop, too short and you will give pitcher an advantage. The most popular and right way to measure the length of a bat is the following: place the bar knob at the middle of your chest and extend your arm fully; if your fingertips align with the end of the barrel, bat size is perfect. If you can’t touch the end, it’s too long so you must get a shorter bat; if your hand extends way past the end of the barrel you should get a lengthier barrel.
Weight:
Many people make a mistake and choose a bat that is too heavy. You should choose a bat weight that is comfortable when swinging; a good way to test your bat’s weight is to extend your arm, hold it to your side and hold the bat on the grip. If you can hold the bat like that for 30 seconds without problems, that bat’s weight is appropriate for you.
Drop:
Drop is a number that represents a difference between length and weight of a fastpitch bat. Smaller number drops indicate a heavier bat and a bigger number indicates a lighter bat. Don’t make a mistake and choose a bat with a way too small drop for you, it may be too heavy. Drops on softball bats usually go from -13 to -8, with -8 being the heaviest.
| Age | 4-6 | 7 – 11 | 12 – 14 | 15 and above |
| Drop | -11, -12, -13 | -10, -11, -12 | -10, -11 | -8, -9, -10 |
Best Brands For Youth Bats
DeMarini is a company founded in 1989. and they produce some of the finest softball bats on the market. They also produce other sports equipment like baseball bats, gloves etc.
Mizuno is a company founded in 1906. in Japan and is producing equipment for all kinds of sports. They have an exclusive collection with Jennie Finch and produce one of the best bats on the market, the Mizuno F21 Titanium.
Easton is producing some of the hottest bats and equipment for softball for years now and also have some of the best and most advanced softball technologies for a softball bat. The Easton Ghost Double Barrel is their most popular model.
Louisville Slugger is one of the most popular softball brands. They are producing equipment for baseball also, and they have an amazing tradition of over 120 years. One of the best softball bats on the market right now is their model, the Louisville Slugger LXT 2021 model.
If you are interested in softball history, feel free to check our most interesting facts about softball.