Bat

Softball is a team sport that is considered a direct dissident of baseball. There are two types of softball fast pitch - a defensive and pitcher oriented version wherein the pitcher is allowed to pitch underhand with maximum speed and no arc restrictions and slow pitch - an offensive and striker oriented version wherein there are arc restrictions. In fast pitch softball the bat may be no more than 34 inches (86 cm) long, 2.25 inches (6 cm) in diameter or 38 oz. (1 kg) in weight. Also, the 'drop' of a bat (length of the bat minus the weight of the bat) must be no more than 12. Certified bats are bats that comply with ASA (Amateur Softball Association), or ISF (International Softball Federation), and can be used in professional and official games. Bats are made of hardwood, metal, or any of the several other approved materials, including the recently made composites. There are many certified manufacturers of bats such as Akadema, Catapult, Easton, Bombat Sports, Nike, Miken, Grover, Worth, etc. Today manufacturers are increasingly using modern composites to make bats so as to limit vibration, increase strike efficiency and improve the swing of the bat. Some of the composites used by different manufacturers include CNT (Carbon Nanotube Technology) composite, X-1 (multiple layers of aerospace grade graphite and S-glass fibers embedded on an epoxy resin), titanium composite, liquid metal finish with alloy composite, magnesium alloy composite, etc. Today, bamboo is also used in the making of bats. Bats are available in all sizes and prices so as to meet one's requirement and budget. Scandium-aluminum-magnesium alloys are also used, for example the Quad Max EST makes use of the Cyro Treated form of the scandium-aluminum-magnesium alloy.