EASTON AMETHYST -11 FASTPITCH SOFTBALL BAT
The Easton Amethyst -11 youth softball bat will help your young star shine like a gem on the field! Crafted in a striking purple design, this lightweight and easy-to-handle bat is perfect to help young hitters square up more pitches and swing with confidence. The ALX50 alloy material gives you a durable, forgiving feel that makes practice a breeze. In addition, the ultra-thin handle helps with barrel control and comfort. Available in seven lengths. The Easton Gem series is a perennial favorite in youth softball, and the Easton Amethyst -11 fastpitch softball bat is no exception. Get yours today!
The following are tips and tricks to take care of your bat and make sure that you properly break it in for maximum performance. At the end of this post there are some illegal break in procedures that you should absolutely avoid. Some stores and websites offer to roll or shave a bat. We do not recommend this as both are illegal and can result in multiple issues for you.
BAT CARE
- Rotate your bat 1/4 turn each swing to distribute the hitting surface evenly
- Limit the bat to individual use.
- Do not use in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Do not store the bat in extremely hot or cold temperature areas. It takes about 4 hours for a bat to reach the temperature that it is in. You can use the bats in colder weather as long as they are stored in warm places.
- Do not use the bat to hit the dirt off of your metal cleats
- Use regulation leather covered baseballs and softballs. Avoid the dimpled cage balls. It's best to keep an old bat, wood or a cheaper alloy for practice.
- Do not hit waterlogged balls
- Routinely check your bat for any damage
BREAK IN
- Aluminum / Alloy bats do not require a break-in period. These bats are ''hot out of the wrapper'' and can be used in a game right away.
- Composite bats may require a break-in period. If you feel your bat is not at optimal performance out of the wrapper, we recommend about 50-100 swings either off of a tee or by soft toss with a 1/4 rotation of the barrel after each swing. Some bats will require more break in, and others less but please remember composite bat life spans are directly related to how many impacts it receives. Each "Break In" hit takes away overall life of the bat! Once broken In, we recommend that you save you bat for Game Use Only.
Illegal Break In Services: Why Rolling Bats or Shaving Bats is Illegal and the Ramifications. Learn More
We recommend starting with a length based on a player's height and weight as seen below. These charts simply serve as a starting point. As far as the best weight, it will vary from player to player depending on one's personal preference, age, hitting style, bat speed, and strength. Typically we recommend the longest and heaviest bat that you can swing without losing bat speed or affecting your swing. The FEEL of the bat will be the most important factor. You have to make sure it feels right to you. The more you like it the more confident you will be at the plate!
HELP DECIDING BETWEEN TWO SIZES
- Longer/Heavier Bat: Will be better for players that are growing but can cause a dip in their swing. Also it moves the sweetspot of the bat further away from the player which can cause more miss hits. For a growing or younger player that can handle the heavier bat without issue compared to the lighter, it is best to go with the longer/heavier bat.
- Shorter/Lighter Bat: Will give far more control of the bat, and keep the sweetspot closer to the player. They can always adjust in batter's box. The down side for growing players is you might have to buy more bats over time. Tony Gwynn, one of the greatest batters in MLB history and a grown man who weighed well over 200lbs, used a 32 ½ inch bat the majority of his career. It is not always better to just keep sizing up.
Most Popular Length by Age
| AGE | 5 to 7 | 8 to 9 | 10 | 11 to 12 | 13 to 14 | 15 to 16 | 17 & Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LENGTH | 24-26" | 26-28" | 28-29" | 30-31" | 31-32" | 32-33" | 33-34" |
Bat Sizing Chart
|
WEIGHT (Pounds) |
HEIGHT (Inches) |
|||||||||
| 36-40" | 41-44" | 45-48" | 49-52" | 53-56" | 57-60" | 61-64" | 65-68" | 69-72" | 73"+ | |
| Under 60 | 26" | 27" | 28" | 29" | 29" | |||||
| 61-70 | 27" | 27" | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | ||||
| 71-80 | 28" | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | ||||
| 81-90 | 28" | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 32" | |||
| 91-100 | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | |||
| 101-110 | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | |||
| 111-120 | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | |||
| 121-130 | 29" | 30" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 32" | 32" | 32" | ||
| 131-140 | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 32" | 32" | ||
| 141-150 | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | |||
| 151-160 | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 32" | 33" | 33" | 33" | ||
| 161-170 | 31" | 31" | 32" | 32" | 33" | 33" | 33" | |||
| 171-180 | 32" | 33" | 33" | 33" | 33" | |||||
| 181 & More | 33" | 33" | 33" | 34" | ||||||
If you need some help please Contact Us or come into the store and we will size you for a bat. While bats can have the same measurements they often feel different and it's beneficial to take some swings with them at the store.
If you are local, check out our Diamond Demo Program to find a bat to fit your swing!
IMPORTANT BASEBALL BAT RULES
Baseball unlike Fastpitch Softball has certain Drop (Length-to-Weight Ratio) requirements per age group. It is important to keep track of these as there is a certain point over 4 years where you have to have a different drop each year. If you can swing the heavier earlier without hurting your swing it can be beneficial.
- 12 & Under (12u): Any Drop
- 13 & Under (13u): Must be a DROP 8 or Heavier
- 14 & Under (14u): Must be a DROP 5 or Heavier
- 15 & Under (15u): Must be a BBCOR (Drop 3)
- High School (Regardless of Age): Must be a BBCOR (Drop 3)
LENGTH-to-WEIGHT RATIO
The ''DROP'' as some may call it, or the number with the MINUS in front of it is the LENGTH-to-WEIGHT ratio. This defines the difference between the length of the bat in inches and the weight of the bat in ounces. The larger the number, the lighter the bat.
Thank you for your interest in shopping with us. Here are a few of our shipping guidelines:
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Shipping is Calculated at Checkout based on Delivery Location
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Orders placed after 2:00 pm EST will be processed the following business day.
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All Dates and/or Days shown at checkout are estimates and are not guaranteed delivery dates.
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UPS Shipping Days are based on Business Days (Saturday & Sunday are not included). That means Next Day Orders Placed before our Friday 2pm cutoff will NOT be delivered until Monday.
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We ship Monday thru Friday.
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Pick Up In Store: You can always select Pick Up In Store if you don't want your order shipped. We will pull your order and have it waiting for you upon your next visit!
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We ship to the contiguous 48 States. Unfortunately we do not ship internationally or to P.O. Boxes.
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UPS currently ONLY Guarantees NEXT DAY Shipping. They do not guarantee 2nd Day or Ground Shipments based on shipping estimates.
- You will receive tracking information via email as soon as we have your order boxed up and ready to ship!
Bats MUST BE in the Wrapper to be Eligible for Return. Our Return policy lasts for 30 days. If 30 days have gone by since your purchase, unfortunately we can’t offer you a refund or exchange. To be eligible for a return, your item must be in its Original Packaging, Unused and in the same condition that you received it. READ MORE
