The Amateur Softball Association of America or ASA sets the standards for bats used in softball, including bats for slow-pitch softball. Setting standards will is a way to ensure fair play as well as the safety of players. The ASA put the bats to the test and certifies them if it meets the standards, and update their official list whenever new bats are certified. They also have a list of bats that aren’t approved to prevent confusion.

The Bat Nerds provides a list of the best bats for slow pitch softball in the market to help you narrow down and make your search much easier. Moreover, the bats are ASA approved so you can be assured of the quality of the bats. Apart from a list, they also provide a very informative buyers guide to choosing the right and best slow pitch bats.

How Do you Spot an ASA Approved Bat?

There are certain symbols stamped on the bats to spot and make certain that the slow pitch softball bats you choose are ASA approved. Several bats carry the ASA 200 logo, a circle indicating that the bat is has met the standards of ASA. In the year 2004, the standards as well as the logo were updated. The 2004 logo has a Homeplate design and carries the words “ASA Certified 2004.” In 2013, they again updated the logo, the ASA shield, which is similar to the main logo of the association.

How Does the ASA Certify Bats?

The ASA apply a particular process to test and determine which slow pitch softball meet and pass the standards for fairness and safety. To put the bat to the test, the ASA fires a softball at the bat with a speed of 105 mph. They then measure the ball’s speed once hit by the bat. The ball should travel at 125 feet per second, around 85 mph, or less for the bat to be certified as good for usage in slow-pitch softball.

What Bats Should be Avoided?

To avoid questions and confusion on which bats have passed the specifications, the ASA has a record of bats that were at one point tested and certified however don’t anymore meet the standards. By means of random testing of certified bats, they are able to identify a number that fail the standards as a result of changes in their process of manufacturing or perhaps of other factors; hence the bats go in the non-approved list. They may display a certification logo, which were manufactured prior the certification being revoked by ASA. Do note that all slow pitch bat manufacturer that don’t obtain ASA certification, or those that don’t any longer qualify for certification, also manufacture bats that still meet the standards.