Monday, June 21, 2010

Buying softball made easy

Softball is very much similar to baseball, with differences like a larger ball is used and the pitches are low when compared to the high ball delivers in baseball. It is a team game and requires more coordination. Possessing ideal softball equipment is as important as your practice session to win a game. Today, you can find a variety of softball equipment at discounted prices. There are softball gears for beginners as well as experts. Depending on which category you fall, you can pick softball gears from the nearest sports shop or order them from an online sports store.
Softball bats have to be selected with a lot of care, beginners should use lighter bats and experts can go for heavier ones for better shots. The lighter the bat the better you can practice swings. Moreover, lighter bats prevent injuries while on the field. The height of the bat should be the length of the distance between your heel and your waist. Take the guidance of your coach while selecting a softball bat. Another factor to consider while buying a bat is, what material is used in the construction? Wood, aluminum, graphite, and titanium lined bats are manufactured, hence check out which will suit you the best. The barrel size, bat taper, and the grip of the bat should also be analyzed before investing in one.
As said earlier, the size of the softball is larger than a baseball, but weight less. However, there are measurements that one has to stick on while choosing a ball for softball game. The circumference should be 12 inches and 11 inches. The inside of the ball is made up of polyurethane mixture, cork, and rubber. The ball is encased within a leather layer, which is yellow or white in color.
Softball gloves have to be chosen based on the position you take while on the field. Outfielder wear wider gloves and infielders wear smaller gloves, the former for catching the ball and the latter to throw the ball quickly.

Softball cleats are divided into two, detachable and molded. Detachable cleats, as the name goes, have removable spikes. They can be replaced with other studs depending on the playfield. The studs come in three forms, rubber, metal, and plastic. Metal is preferred for hard field, whereas, rubber and plastic studs are used for playing on turf. The molded cleats have studs made of rubber or hard plastic and cannot be removed from the outer sole. They require very less effort for maintenance.
When you decided to take on a serious softball game, then you cannot miss out protective gears. Exclusively to ensure safety of baseball and softball enthusiasts on field, helmets, shin guards, face braces, and knee caps are made available in any sporting goods store.

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