How to Decide What Ball to Use in a Softball Tournament
Softballs are made in a wide variety of ways, and differ dramatically in terms of how they will react when struck with a bat. When choosing a ball, there many factors to consider, including the size of the field, the level of play and the tournament's rules. A lot of thought and research can go into the selection of the right ball for one of the two main types of softball games: slow-pitch softball and fast-pitch softball.
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Instructions
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Making a decision
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Consider the compression, core and cover of a softball. Compression is the most important factor when rating a softball. If a ball has a high compression, it will be harder. A softball will travel farther if it is harder. The core of a softball will determine the rate at which a ball will bounce back after being hit with an object, in this case a bat. Softballs are made with different covers. Rain can affect the cover (and performance) of a softball.
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Keep in mind the size of the fields that will be used for the tournament. If the tournament will be played on fences with shorter fences, a less lively ball probably will be preferred. If the fields are bigger, or have no fences at all, then a livelier ball may be more desirable. Home run rules are also used in most slow-pitch softball tournaments. Home run rules limit (or completely ban) the number of times a ball may be hit over a fence. If the fences are short, and you use a lively ball, it will make it difficult for the hitters to keep the ball in the park.
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Consider the quality of the hitting for the teams that will be participating in the tournament. Teams are classified on many levels, and vary greatly in terms of their hitting abilities. Placing teams with lots of power on fields on short fences won't work, unless the object of the tournament is to hit one home run after another. Similarly, consider the quality of the fielding in the tournament. Using a lively ball with teams that don't field the ball well can be dangerous, especially for the pitchers and infielders.
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Keep in mind what bats will be allowed in the tournament. The national softball organizations have lists of bats they allow, and a list of bats they have banned. If your tournament is sanctioned by one of these organizations, the simplest thing to do is to follow their bat guidelines. The various bats will react differently with the various balls, making the subject even more complicated. Look at the national organization websites to obtain help in gaining information on bats and balls. There are also many other websites that rate the bats and balls, and how they interact with each other (See Resources).
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Decide what kind of softball tournament you want to hold. Do you want a tournament with a "juiced'' ball that will result in lots of hitting? Or do you want a ball that is less lively, which usually will keep the scores lower, and make it easier for the fielders?
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Tips & Warnings
Do not necessarily take ball manufactures at their word. Any business wants to promote its own product, and sometimes a ball may be livelier than advertised. There are various websites and organizations that rate softballs, as well as bats. The above guidelines apply to both slow-pitch and fast-pitch, but the selection of a ball is more complicated in slow-pitch because of the wider variation in the fields and rules.
If you use a less-lively softball, be prepared for complaining by some players. If a player does not hit well, the easiest thing is to blame the ball. Women and girls play with a smaller softball than men.
