How Is a Baseball Cleat Different From a Softball Cleat?
Baseball and softball are similar games with minor differences in field measurements, rules and equipment. One of those differences is in the cleats used to play the games. The games require different types of cleats, but not at all levels of the sport.
Other People Are Reading
-
Purpose
-
Playing baseball and softball requires sudden movements, both forward and backwards and even sideways. The fields the game is played on can be muddy or slick. The combination of movement and field can lead to injuries; that is why players where cleats. The cleats on the bottom of athletic shoes allow a player to get traction to run and dig into the field in order to stop.
Types
-
Cleats are made of molded plastic (or rubber) or metal. Plastic cleats are the most common design. They are strong and provide plenty of stability. They can also be worn on and off the field without problem. On the other hand, metal cleats are essentially metal spike on the bottom of the shoe. They tend to be more expensive, but they offer better construction than plastic cleats.
-
Differences
-
Baseball cleats are metal cleats. They are worn by professional and serious baseball players who need the extra gripping ability of the metal spike over the plastic stud. Softball cleats are almost always molded plastic cleats.
Length
-
The length of the studs on the cleats can and should vary depending on the type of surface you play on. Harder fields require shorter cleats. Half-inch cleats are a considered a good length for cleats on adult shoes while children's cleats should have shorter studs.
When Difference Doesn't Matter
-
In youth baseball and softball leagues, metal cleats are not allowed for safety reasons. This means for youth sports there is no difference between baseball and softball cleats. They will all be plastic cleats. Metal cleats don't start being allowed in most cases until high school, college and professional baseball.
-
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Bob Bobster
