Baseball Equipment

A first baseman's glove is larger and it has more padding that a fielder's glove. This is to get the most reach possible to catch wild throws. The padding is because the fielders are throwing the ball as hard as they can so that they can get the ball to first base before the batter reaches the base.

Note: Gloves are used by for Fielders - Pitchers, Infielders, Outfielders because they have fingers like a glove. Mitts are used by Catchers and First Baseman positions because they don't have fingers, like mittens.

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Information, Reviews and Rankings for over 50 Fastpitch Softball Gloves

Metal bats are made out of aluminum. They replaced wooden bats because too many wooden bats broke. Now wooden bats have started replacing metal bats in high schools because metal bats can hit the ball harder than wooden bats and cause more injuries.

BPF1.15 is a lab test for regulating small-barrel baseball bats used by 7-12 yr.-olds in Little League, Cal Ripken League, etc.

The large-barrel youth bats used elsewhere in youth baseball are not regulated by BPF1.15, or by any other bat testing standard.

BPF was originally invented to test slow-pitch softball bats in the mid-1990's.

BPF1.15 places an upper limit on a bat's springiness ("trampoline effect") as compared to that of a rigid wall, which equals BPF 1.00. Wood bats are virtually inelastic, with values of slightly more than 1.00. Small barrel youth bats are not supposed to exceed 1.15.

Validity of BPF1.15: Scientists consider BPF1.15 to be scientifically flawed as a test of a bat's springiness, and virtually useless at accurately predicting ball exit velocity, which is the prime metric of bat performance.

BPF1.15 does NOT measure or predict "how fast the ball exits the bat when hit", as some claim. BPF1.15 test results do not correlate reliably with field batted-ball speed according to Dr. James Sherwood, the head of the top baseball research lab in the U.S. (NY Times, 10/18/08)

Solid wood bats: Lacking a springy barrel, they generate batted-ball speed by clubbing the ball with their concentration of mass in the barrel (also called end-load, and scientifically described as a "higher MOI").

By contrast: Hollow non-wood bats compensate for less (overall) mass and end-load by gaining from: (a) their springiness, i.e., their barrels squish and rebound like a hand-held trampoline; and, (b) their engineered inertial qualities--their lighter overall weight as well as more evenly distributed weight (more balance, less end-load), which allow batters to swing hollow bats faster.

To put a cap on small barrel bat performance, BPF1.15 measures one factor (a), the springiness of hollow bats. BPF1.15 does not, however, take into account the other key factor, (b) the inertial qualities of hollow bats that enable greater swing-speed. BPF1.15 "ignores" swing-speed, and assumes that all types of bats can be swung at the same speed.

Further, in terms of predicting the (a) the springiness of small barrel bats under game conditions, BPF is defective. This is especially true for expensive high-end bats, for the following reasons:

1. BPF1.15 is conducted at an unrealistically low combined-ball-vs.-bat collision speed of 60 mph. High-end bats are designed to squish and spring-back optimally at realistic ball/bat collision speeds (for example, 50 mph pitch/50 mph swing = 100 mph) that occur in real games.

2. BPF1.15 is conducted on new bats that are not yet broken-in. Today's high-end bats--double-wall bats and carbon-fiber composite bats--have multiple walls and/or layers that do not propel the ball optimally until they are broken-in. (By contrast, the ASA softball bat test requires bats to be mechanically broken-in prior to testing.)

3. The BPF test protocol does not call for random compliance testing. There is no assurance that the performance of tested bats is representative of the performance of bats that are actually sold and used throughout the year.

4. The BPF1.15 lab test data has never been validated through field trials, which scientists consider to be a pre-requisite for legitimate scientific bat regulations.

For the above reasons, the BPF1.15 test does not accurately capture the barrel-springiness of small barrel bats in game conditions.

Until 2004, almost all small barrel baseball bats were relatively-inexpensive ($40-$150) single-wall aluminum bats. These are inherently limited in elasticity--bats get springier as wall-thickness is decreased, but thinner walls compromise durability. This limits single-wall bat designers. As a result, few single-wall bats can come close to testing at the BPF1.15 limit.

But recently-introduced high-end ($150-$250) multi-wall bats--double-walls, and multi-layered carbon-fiber composite models--are significantly springier, test much closer to the limit, and for the reasons cited above can surpass their tested values for elasticity when used in real game conditions.

To purchase a small barrel youth bat that has maximum springiness--and that very possibly will perform beyond the maximum allowable springiness--consumers should spring for an expensive double-wall or carbon-fiber composite bat.

To summarize: BPF1.15 does NOT measure exit velocity in the lab, does not reliably predict field exit velocity, does not account for swing-speed, and is imperfect at measuring and predicting a major contributor to exit velocity: the trampoline effect of modern hollow youth small barrel bats being used in game conditions. However, in the absence of BPF1.15, it it probable that many multi-wall small-barrel bats would perform even better than they currently perform. By comparison, youth large barrel bats are not subject to any performance regulations.

Composite bats are not allowed cause they are to powerful. They must be BB core bats which reduces bat power when the bat makes contact with the ball.

Corked bats will provide more power and are banned in MLB. Interestingly, MythBusters (the television program) found that corked bats perform worse than solid wood. It is possible that they missed some crucial controls.

Wood: Wood softball bats are very rare but are slowly regaining favor with softball enthusiasts who would rather hear a whack and not a ping when the bat meets ball. A wood softball bat is bottle-shaped and can weigh between 32-35 ounces (around 8 ounces heavier than an aluminum bat). Traditionally, wood bats have been made from ash. However, ash is light and soft and bats made from ash tend to splinter and dent fast. Wood from maple, oak, and bamboo is also used for these bats. Maple is harder and its grain is denser as compared to ash, making it less susceptible to splintering and chafing. Bats made from Chinese bamboo are the closest wood bat equivalent of an aluminum bat. Bamboo is extremely light-weight and ha a tensile strength higher than that of steel.

Aluminum: The increased research and engineering in the science of bat making has resulted in high-tech aluminum softball bats that can cost upward of $300. Aluminum bats are lighter thereby enabling batters to generate greater bat speed and control. They are stronger and more durable than wood bats and they do not break; however, they may dent or crack over a period of time. Aluminum bats are available in different alloy and weight combinations. Light aluminum alloys that are thinner are more resilient and provide a larger hitting zone or "sweet spot". Aluminum bats are made in single-layer and double-layer combinations; double-layer bats are used by the power-hitters.

Graphite/Titanium lined: Aluminum bats are lined with graphite or titanium. These light, durable, and strong materials are added to aluminum bats with thin walls in order to make the bats lighter. Lighter bats help batters to generate more power in their swing. Bats lined with graphite or titanium have a greater hitting zone or "sweet spot". These materials are shock-absorbent as well and aid in reducing the shock felt when a stroke is mistimed.

Composite materials: Bats made from composite materials such as carbon, glass, or Kevlar are light weight, rigid, and sturdy. Composite materials enable bat manufacturers to incorporate varying strengths and stiffness in different parts of a bat. The result is a bat with stiff bat handles for greater control, low stiffness hitting areas for better performance and reduced shock, and differentiated swing weights. Bats made from composite materials have a large hitting surface with a more pronounced "sweet spot". However, the extreme velocities at which the ball rebounds off the bat can pose a safety hazard to the pitcher who has to react in a very limited time.

No. Most people do because gloves reduces the vibration sting off of the bat, and they provide better grip than bare hands.

gauntlet

Not sure with youth size, but catchers mitts made with mesh backing are usually the lightest weighted

rawlings

Heck no a rawlings is in no way better than a Wilson i have a Wilson a2k and in my opionon no glove in this world besides maybe a akadema would even come close to the amazing Wilson.

rawlings are good but Wilson are great

In warm wet conditions leather will decompose in several years. In dry conditions leather will remain unchanged for hundreds of years.

A separate mask and cap can be used if both mask and cap are made by the same company and both are NOCSAE certified.

composite combat to be specific

Plastic is what the outside of a golf ball is made from. The inside is made completely out of rubber.

The number on the bottom of the bat is the lenght. 30 is assumed, so the number is for the 2nd number in length.

For example if the bottom says 2, the length is 32

If the bottom says 4, the length is 34.

The speed of the ball that comes off of a aluminum bat is faster than that of a wooden bat. The intention of the MLB would be to create a safer playing environment for the players (mainly the pitcher in mind) so they can have enough time to react to the ball once hit.

We live in Northern Delaware and the middle school teams, including parochial and private schools follow the rules for High School. These rule allow a drop of -3 on any non-wooden bat. So my answer is to check with your middle school and see what rules they follow.

.302 is good. 302 is the greatest in history

In a way baseballs are recycled in the MLB because when a baseball gets dirt on it the umpire throws it to the bat boy who places it in a bucket of baseballs which are going to be used for next games batting practice.

can u use a -3 aluminum bat in 13-15 babe ruth league play?

You can't go wrong. But Akadema has best gloves for your money.

hopefully the demarini CF5 is definitely in consideration in the company. They wouldn't make a CF4 if the CF3 wasn't good, right? So since the CF4 is great, they will definitely make a CF5!

Here it is a video review of the Demarini CF5 bat http://www.youtube.com/user/homerunmonkey#p/u/1/i70G-0LM2Bo

The speed of sound is about 350 m/s (about 400 yards/second). If you are 400 yards away from the batter, then it could take about 1 second for the sound to reach you in the more distant stands. Light takes less than one millionth of a second to travel the same distance.

On TV, it depends on how far away the microphone is from the batter as to how noticeable the delay is. They usually have their microphones fairly close to the field and batter so you don't notice the delay as much on TV.

Source: wikipedia