One piece vs. Two piece bats

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Dec 3, 2012
127
0
Missouri
I am pretty ignorant when it comes to bats. Can you all tell me what the hitting difference is between a one piece ANC a two piece bat? My daughter is currently using a two-piece DeMarini but she's becoming quite a power hitter. Should we look for something else? She will turn 11 in January and be playing both 10u and 12u this spring/summer. Any suggestions/advice is greatly appreciated!
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
An advantage to a 2pc bat is the connection between the two acts as a buffer and will dampen the vibration to the hands on a miss hit (off the sweet spot), and some bats will flex at the connection and in the handle if its composite, in an attempt to offer more bounce or trampoline effect at contact. This is advertised to add footage on well hit balls. That's great if she is wanting to add a little extra punch, but at a gamble of breaking more easily. If she's a stronger girl with power, the extras are not needed. For me... I like one piece bats just because there isn't a vulnerable spot to possibly break or come loose. A rocketech or techzilla will perform well in all temperatures, and no worries of a break. (Both are all metal one piece bats)
JMHO, James
 
Last edited:
Jul 19, 2012
69
0
The 1 or 2 piece bat question really addresses a few different issues:

1. Flex in the handle of a 2-piece bat helps generate bat speed or whip. It will help a weaker or slower swing speed hitter. A 1-piece bat typically flexes less and allows the stronger hitter to transfer that energy directly to the ball.

2. The 2-piece bat also filters 'feel' or vibration on a mishit ball. This is OK in a game situation however, 'feel' is a great thing in taking batting cage hacks. That 'bad' feeling allows the player to know when she is not striking the ball well. It will feel 'bad' until she learns to keep her hands in tight and get the barrel to the ball. Eventually she will figure it out. I have seen cases where this makes a drastic difference in a players swing over a season.

3. Durability. Historically the 2-piece bats have been less durable and more prone to snapping, cracking and loosening at the junction betweeen the handle and barrel. Not sure this as prevelant as is was a few years ago. My daughter (18u) has been using the same drop 8 Xeno (black) 2-piece bat for a year. She hits 4-5 times per week. Approx 100-200 swings each time. No issues at all.

4. Cost. Typically 1-piece bats are marginally cheaper.

My daughter just switched to a drop 9 inch longer (34) 1-piece bat which I believe has made her practice swings more focused. She knows when her 'turn' and hand position are not just right. She is now (past month) hitting the ball more consistently on the barrel and keeping her hands in tight.

Of course, the above is largely opinion however, I've been around this softball thing for a long time. Heck I'm old.
 

CoreSoftball20

Wilson = Evil Empire
DFP Vendor
Dec 27, 2012
6,215
113
Kunkletown, PA
Pipes gave the best differences. The diff between 1 and 2 piece bats really isnt the amount of sting, because the main point to hitting is to "barrell" the ball...so no bats should be stinging when hit right. And also, 2 piece bats dont really break any more than 1 piece bats. True that on 2 piece bats, there is more to "go wrong", they arent prone to more breakage.
The difference is more in personal feel. The 2 piece bat is made to give the batter much more whip that 1 piece. Yes, the advantage of a 2 piece bat did allow the slower swing speeds to get more power, but many power hitters have really started to enjoy the 2 piece bat. All personal feel really.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
If you DD is becoming a power hitter, I would get her a good -9 end loaded bat and not worry too much about the one piece vs. two piece construction.
 

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,468
Members
21,443
Latest member
sstop28
Top