All of the reviews on this page are by players, coaches and parents. Individual preferences will differ, so feel free to e-mail me with your reviews.

Bats:

There are so many bats out there. They all promise that your kid will hit like a champion.

Better distance, more pop... The bottom line is that YOUR daughter needs to find a bat that

she feels comfortable with.

What do the numbers mean? Bats are listed by length and then weight. They have a "drop" of

either 9, 10, or even 11.5. The top number is the length. Lengths vary from 29 inches ( for the

beginning player playing 8 U or 10 U) all the way to 33 or 34 inches.  The second number is the

weight which can range from 19 oz. to 34 oz or higher. The general rule is that your daughter

should swing the heaviest bat she can without losing bat speed. One test a coach taught me is

to have your daughter hold the bat in her lead hand. She should hold it out straight for 30 seconds.

If she can hold the bat out straight for that long without the bat head dropping, it is find for her.

I don't know how accurate that is. I still think your kid needs to swing the bat.

BAT REVIEWS:

Anderson Rocket Tech : 

This review is about the 2007 version. Definitely, people will tell you that the 2004 was the

hottest bat.  Players that I know who use it say it has great pop! However, the "end loaded" feel

(meaning that the end of the bat is slightly heavier) bothers some players.  The bat has a quick

break in. NOTE: Anderson has a great policy for replacing broken bats.  Their warranty stands up.

LOUISVILLE CATALYST:

This review is about the ORANGE -10 drop bat. Players who use this bat love it. It has a balanced

feel and has good pop. My daughter uses this bat and really loves it.

EASTON STEALTH:

The players I know use the white version of this bat. They tell me that the pop is awesome.

However, the durability of this bat has been questioned. I have heard many tales of bats breaking.

Plus, some have questioned EASTON's efficiency in replacing the bat.

SYNERGY:

Any version of this bat seems to favor the hitter who wants the longest bat possible with the

lightest weight. Players who I know that use this bat are mainly line drive hitters or slappers.

Shoes :

Tanel 360 - My daughter is a pitcher and she loves these shoes! The circular cleat pattern on the sole helps her pivot, plant, run etc. without putting strain on the knee. These shoes are also comfortable and light. The current pair is holding up well in the toe of the drag foot, which can often be a problem. I have found the service from this company to be excellent!

Tanel 360

Training Devices:

Finch Windmill - The Finch Windmill was designed by Doug Finch, father of USA pitcher Jennie Finch, as a strenthening device for the arm and shoulder. It is good for use by softball pitchers for their pitching arm, but also for conditioning for other sports as well. I know several pitchers who use it on a regular basis and are very pleased with the increase in endurance and strength in their throwing. The windmill costs about $300, but it is well worth it if your daughter has made a long term commitment to pitching. It is also a great buy for a team! Personally, my daughter's speed has increased

6 mph since beginning use this winter.

FINCH Windmill

Turbo Slot Batting Gloves : Turbo Slot batting gloves are different than normal batting gloves in that they have a small "cushion" or pad on the inside of the thumb that forces the batter to hold the bat in the right position for hitting. Three or four of the girls on our team had them and liked them, saying that the pad on the thumb also prevented sting. Turbo Slot says that the gloves improve power. While my daughter likes the gloves, I am not sure you can say they have improved her power. I believe you can find other gloves on the market that are just as good as these at a lower price. Look for a batting glove that is comfortable and prevents sting.

Nokona Gloves : Nokona makes gloves for softball and baseball. My daughter uses the buckaroo series which is made out of kangaroo leather. She has had it a year and she loves it. It required no break in time and has worn well. It was a bit pricey (about $150.00), and we even had it emboidered with her name ( it was a Christmas present.) I suggest this glove for the serious travel player. Your daughter's position , age and size  will determine the size glove you will need. My daughter pitches and plays outfield, so she uses a 13 inch glove.

Expect to pay for any good glove. Even a basic glove of good quality will cost you 50 to 70 dollars. To break in a glove, go to the "sandallady" website. She has great information on gloves and breaking them in.

You can get Nokona gloves at any of the softball equipment sales sites I have on my links page.