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Size: -9 Drop

The Case for the Drop 9 Fastpitch Bat: Softball's Most Overlooked Weight

 

Ask a fastpitch parent to name bat drops and you'll hear -10 drop and -11 drop all day. Ask a college hitter and she'll talk about her -8 drop. But mention the drop 9 and you'll often get a blank stare - which is a shame, because for a specific kind of hitter, the most overlooked drop in fastpitch is also the smartest buy on the wall. Consider this our closing argument on its behalf.

 

For anyone new to the term, drop is length minus weight, so a 33 inch, 24 ounce bat is a -9. Fastpitch drops run from -13 down to -8, and drop 9 lives in the advanced end of the range, squarely inside the drop 8 to drop 10 window that players 14 and older swing in lengths of 32 to 34 inches.

 

Exhibit A: The Gap Nobody Talks About

 

Most high school hitters swing drop 10s, and the strongest, most physical hitters eventually land on drop 8s. That leaves a full ounce of territory in between, and plenty of players live there. The junior who overpowers her drop 10 but loses her swing with a drop 8. The strong sophomore ready for more mass without a jarring jump. The varsity hitter who wants added power while keeping the bat speed that got her in the lineup. Drop 9 exists precisely for these players, and skipping over it means forcing a hitter into a bat that's either a touch too light or a touch too heavy.

 

Exhibit B: One Ounce Is a Bigger Deal Than It Sounds

 

Moving from a 33 inch drop 10 to a 33 inch drop 9 adds a single ounce, and that measured step is the whole point. Bat speed drives performance, so the goal is always the most mass a player can move without slowing down. A one ounce increase lets a strong hitter add momentum through the zone while her mechanics barely notice. It's strength training for her swing, not a shock to it.

 

Exhibit C: It's Legal Everywhere She Plays

 

Properly stamped drop 9 fastpitch bats are approved throughout high school and travel softball, including events sanctioned by USA Softball, USSSA, NSA, ISA, PGF and Alliance Fastpitch. Verify the certification mark against her league or tournament's rules and the case is closed.

 

The Verdict: Buy It Where They Actually Understand It

 

Because drop 9 is overlooked, plenty of shops barely stock it. Not here. LongballBats.com carries brand new drop 9 fastpitch bats from Easton, DeMarini, Louisville Slugger, Rawlings, Mizuno, Marucci, Axe Bat, Warstic, Dudley, Suncoast, Anderson Bat Company and Soldier Sports. If you've searched for the best drop 9 fastpitch bat, the best fastpitch bat for a strong high school hitter, or the best in-between fastpitch bat weight, this is the deepest drop 9 shelf you'll find.

 

And since 2016, with over 100 years of combined baseball and softball experience on staff, we've fit exactly the hitters this drop was made for. Tell us her size, her current bat and how she's hitting, and we'll tell you honestly whether drop 9 is her answer.

 

Explore our drop 9 fastpitch bats today. The drop nobody talks about might be the one she never stops talking about!

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