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Meet Our Equipment Specialist!
Lauryn Bohac is our go-to for all things softball equipment. With over 25 years of softball experience, both as a player and coach, Lauryn has extensive knowledge on the evolution of the sport and equipment.
As a mother of two softball-loving daughters, she is keenly aware of the financial investment of the sport and loves helping others find the best equipment options for all budgets. Lauryn maintains business relationships with Easton, Rawlings, Marucci, Demarini, Mizuno, Louisville, Wilson, and many other reputable brands. She offers free shipping throughout the continental United States and provides manufacturer warranties for all products.
Lauryn takes great pride in delivering unparalleled customer service and providing top-of-the-line gear for athletes of all levels. She is more than just a softball rep; she is extremely passionate about the sport and is dedicated to empowering athletes to reach their full potential.
Need Some Help?
Lauryn can help with all of your questions regarding choosing the correct equipment, sizing, products within your budget, etc.
Choosing the Right Equipment
Softball is not a “one size fits all” sport. Glove and bat sizing play a crucial role in individual player performance. There are several factors to be considered before investing in new softball equipment.
Parents and players often believe that the age and player size are the biggest factors to consider when choosing equipment. While these are important elements -- especially with bat sizing -- glove sizing and type is largely dependent on the fielding position of the player.
Gloves
The glove chart below is just a standard glove chart and my own personal recommendations on sizing.
Catchers’ mitts range from 30” – 34”. This is the only glove where player age really needs to be considered. Due to the difference in ball size, players aged 7 to 10 years old should be using 30 – 32” gloves, while players 11 years old and greater should be using roughly 32 – 34” gloves.
First base mitts tend to run from 12” – 13”. These gloves are very similar to the catchers’ mitt, except that they are longer and do not have as much padding. First baseman mitts are built for scooping throws out of the dirt. They are stronger than a standard glove so the fingers of the gloves do not bend back like a regular fielders glove. It is typically recommended that first baseman gloves start being worn around age 10 or older because it can be difficult for the younger girls to close the bigger glove.
Middle infielders (2nd and shortstop) are recommended to use 11.75” – 12” gloves. A glove any bigger than 12” can impede the players ability to quickly transfer the ball. The shorter glove has a shallow pocket which allows for the players to successfully make those quick transfers (in and out of glove).
Third base gloves truly comes down to preferred player preference between 11.75” and 12” with the shallow pocket which allows for quick transfers.
Outfield gloves range from 12” – 13”. These gloves are built larger in size with a deeper pocket allowing players to hang onto those diving catches and snags above the fence.
Pitchers benefit from using 12” or 12.25” closed web gloves. The closed web allows pitchers to hide grips on the ball preventing the other team from anticipating their pitch.
Glove Break-In:
Any top quality glove will always require a break-in period. Players will not be able to purchase a new glove and immediately take it to play in a game. I highly recommend following the ASO break-in method. It is effective and breaks the glove properly, allowing the player to mold the glove to their hand. There are also break-in service companies out there that can assist with the break-in process.
Another important factor in glove preservation is how the player stores the glove. All gloves should be stored with a ball in the pocket of the glove, especially when in the players bag. Storing the glove with a ball in the pocket keeps the pocket formed to the ball. Otherwise, you run the risk of the glove flattening, which is what we call the “pancake” glove.
Bats
Fastpitch bats are made of either aluminum or composite. The difference between the two:
Aluminum bats are very durable and lightweight, providing a stiffer feel than composite bats. However, they lack exit velocity compared to composite bats. Aluminum bats are a great option for 6u players, but as they grow into their swing which is roughly 8u, I highly recommend the rewarding composite bats. That leads us into the benefit of composite bats.
Composite bats offer greater performance at the top end with larger sweet spots and reduced vibration that minimizes sting on the hands from miss-hit balls. The ball comes off the composite bat significantly hotter than an aluminum bat.
The “DON’T’s” with Composite Bats:
Composite bats should not be used during cold weather season. Composite bats should also not be used in batting cages on machine (dimple balls) at any point. The likelihood of them cracking is high when hitting in cold weather and on machine balls.
Drop/Weight:
The drop of the bat is technically the weight. The “drop” is the difference between the length of the bat and the weight of the bat. For example, if a bat is 30” in length, and weights 20oz, then the drop is -10.
Although there are many different ways to measure for the bat length, the perfect solution is picking it up and swinging it. Finding a good starting point can be pulled from charts and knowledge of coaches, but swinging the bat itself will always get you where you need to be without the headache.
This is a rough chart on sizing. I do not recommend going and buying a bat in these specific sizes without your player actually swinging it.
