4 Best Softball Bats for Slappers (#3 Will Blow Your Mind)

A slapper or slapping is often heard in the softball circles as it is a powerful tactic to be used on the field. What exactly is slapping, what makes a bat great for it, and what are the best bats for slapping? Well, that’s exactly what you will learn in this article.

Before moving on to the best bats for slappers, I want to make sure that you know what slapping is to understand why the bats found below are the greatest for it!

What Is a Slapper In Softball?

A slapper is often a left-handed or a very fast and capable right-handed softball player that slaps the ball to an optimal position during an at-bat. Slappers read the defense and slap the ball accordingly, so they can very easily get on the first base. They are considered secret weapons of softball teams.

So what exactly makes slapping so powerful? As the vast majority of slappers are left-handed, they can move forward while the pitcher is throwing and swing (slap) the ball to a position that is optimal at that moment. If the defense is close to the slapper, the ball is often slapped further and vice versa.

Slapping is like bunting, but it has notable differences, so it is a separate thing.

As the leftie is slapping, the first base is on their path when moving forward, making it very difficult for the defense to burn the player before reaching the first base.

This is especially true because they are left-handed, so the pitchers are forced to throw the ball in a more optimal position to slap, which is why slapping is so powerful. However, this isn’t easy for right-handed people, but it can be done nonetheless.

If you like to learn visually as I do, check out the video and the perfect explanation of slapping.

What Makes a Bat Good for Slapping?

Now that you know what slapping is, if you didn’t already, it’s important to know what features you would need for a bat to be above the average for slapping. As slapping is a minor part of softball, there aren’t many specific bats just for slapping. However, don’t get discouraged, as there are perfect bats for it nonetheless.

Great bat features for slapping include;

• Long barrel – With a long barrel, the slapper can reach better for any pitch as she has more reach. That’s why in general, a longer barrel is better in a bat that is good for slapping. Given that other factors are in order.
• Big sweet spot – This is one of the two most important things about a great bat for slapping. The bigger the sweet spot, the better. When a batter is about to slap, she will be moving when striking the ball, meaning that the accuracy isn’t as good. That’s why a big sweet spot will come in handy.
• Light & balanced weight – As the batter will move when slapping, she might need to adjust the position on the bat while moving, which requires as fast movement as possible. Also, a great balance on the bat is a bonus because it is much easier to slap.
• Consistent & controlled swing – Many people use a specific bat for power hits, slaps, and general swinging, which isn’t good. I recommend getting one bat that is also great for slapping, so you will get used to it to do controlled and consistent swings. This is one of the two most important things in slapping bats, in addition to the big sweet spot.
• Low post-impact vibrations – If a bat has post-impact absorption that is a great bonus. When you slap and miss the hit, it can and will sting a bit like the vibrations that travel on your hands is powerful. Thus, a bat with low sting vibrations is welcomed.

A bat with these features will do great when slapping or as great as the user’s skills are. It will be easier to slap well when compared to a short and heavy bat with a weight balance on the other end.

Now, it’s time to see what’s all the fuzz is about. Let’s bring out the bats!

Top 4 Fastpitch Softball Bats for Slappers

1. Best Overall: DeMarini CF Fastpitch Softball Bat

• Barrel length: 29-33″
• Sweetspot size: Massive
• Weight: 18-23oz
• Material: Composite
• Swing weight: Balanced

If you’re looking for the absolute best softball bat for slapping, there is no better than the DeMarini CF Fastpitch Bat. This bat is one of the few softball bats marketed and manufactured, slapping in mind.

With the option for -11 drop weight and a barrel length of 23-33 inches, you can select the right balance between the weight and length to find the optimal softball bat for slapping. When it comes to the weight distribution within the bat, it is as balanced, consistent, and control-oriented as they come.

Probably the best feature about this bat is the unbelievable sweet spot which makes hitting powerful swings very easy, and you won’t miss a slap unless your accuracy is far off at the moment.

Are there any other benefits? You bet! The DeMarini CF has a Type V connection, meaning it directs energy to the heart of the barrel rather than your hands. Thus, you can add more power to the ball and suffer less post-impact sting vibrations from missed hits.

A tracer end cap is made from a lightweight composite which increases the batting speed without forgetting powerful performance.

If you are looking for the best overall fastpitch bat for slapping with a great balance between fast swing speed and powerful hits, i sincerely recommend the DeMarini CF bat!

2. Personal Favorite: Easton Ghost Fastpitch Softball Bat

• Barrel length: 30-34″
• Sweetspot size: Large
• Weight: 19-25oz
• Material: Composite
• Swing weight: Balanced

The Easton Ghost Fastpitch Bat is my personal recommendation as I have the most knowledge about it. This bat is very good for slapping, but it is incredible with everything else too!

When it comes to slapping, this bat has drop weight options ranging from -8 to -11, and if you are looking for a bat for slapping, the higher the drop weight (lower weight), the better. Also, the bat length range is longer than usual, which further helps your slapping.

This is a composite bat, meaning it needs to be broken in. Anyways, once it has properly broken in, you won’t find many bats that come close to this bat’s pop, power, and speed. It’s quite frankly just incredible.

Other features include double-barrel construction, which is a great combination of feel and sound in addition to the pop. A large sweet spot, a two-piece connection between the handle and barrel, and a Hyperskin grip will be cherry on top of the cake.

However, this bat isn’t the most durable on the market, so if you are looking for a bat for many years to come, I suggest looking at the other three bats on this list. If you are more concerned about performance, the Easton Ghost is what you need.

I highly recommend the Easton Ghost if you want to ultimate performance that a bat can offer, in addition to great features for slapping.

3. Innovative Design: Louisville Slugger Meta Fastpitch Bat

• Barrel length: 30-34″
• Sweetspot size: Massive
• Weight: 20-25oz
• Material: Composite
• Swing weight: Balanced

If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, yet you want it to be perfect for slapping and everything else on a softball field, look no further than the Louiseville Slugger Meta!

The first thing that needs to be mentioned about this bat is the VTX connection system between the handle and barrel. Its innovative design allows an independent movement between the handle and barrel, creating the best possible feel and pop. This bat is truly comfortable to use as the post-impact vibrations are minimal, and the power is simply the highest quality.

The barrel itself is made from mash composite, so it needs to be broken in, although many people have reported that this bat is hot out of the box, meaning that it will perform very well even when it isn’t broken in. So, imagine what it can do father the initial 200 swings.

So what makes this bat so good for slapping? The swing weight is balanced, making it great for all player types. The sweet spot is as massive as it is in the DeMarini CF, the end cap enhances performance, control, and swing speed, and the grip focuses on tackiness and comfort!

The only conside about this bat is the price as it is the most expensive one on this list. However, the features may be worth it, depending on your budget.

If you want the ultimate bat with the latest technology, the most powerful pop and huge sweet spot, and hate sting vibrations, the Louiseville Slugger Meta is definitely for you.

4. Also Consider: Rawlings 2020 Quatro Pro Fastpitch Softball Bat

• Barrel length: 28-33″
• Sweetspot size: Large
• Weight: 17-22oz
• Material: Composite
• Swing weight: Balanced

The final bat in this list is the Rawlings Quatro Pro Fastpitch Bat. This bat has the lowest weight option and shortest bat length on this list, so if you want an incredibly fast swing speed or are accustomed to shorter bats, this might be the one for you.

When it comes to slapping with the Quatro Pro, all the features match the optimal requirements. The weight distribution is end-loaded, yet its feel is very balanced for an end-loaded bat. This means that it is easy and consistent to use, yet it will generate huge amounts of power.

The sweet spot on this bat is large, and when you mix that with the fast swing speed, it makes one hell of a combination. Other features include vibration reduction that will protect your hands from sting vibrations, approval for Asa, Usssa, Nsa, and other leagues, a beautiful design, and a great price for a bat like this.

I highly recommend the Rawlings Quatro Pro Bat if you are looking for a shorter, lightweight bat with a large sweet spot and a lot of power without the need for anything super special.