Softballs - Compression

I have searched but not able to find informaion about preferred compression for softballs for the different organizations. For women's fastpitch NSA has COR .47 and max compression of 400 or 525. First, does one ball outlast another? Is one used more often in TB, how about HS? Does NSA usually use one and AAU use something else?

I hate to drop $100+ on balls that are not used.

Thanks!

 

Different tournaments will use different balls even within the same sanctioning body. Some TD's like to use the hotter balls (higher compression) because they like to see balls going over the fence. For your practice balls, I don't know that it matters too much what compression you buy. FTR, these are the "official" values from the various rulebooks. Also note this background information (from http://downloads.asasoftball.com/about/pdf/ASA_Bat_Ball_Certification_Program_Overview.pdf):

Through lab research and field testing, ASA has learned that a change from a .47/525 ball to a
.44/375 ball will decrease overall bat and ball performance on the field by approximately 5-6%.
ASA has also learned that reductions in softball compression can have a greater effect than
reductions in COR in decreasing overall bat and ball performance in the field.​

ASA:


The 12-Inch Fast Pitch Ball.

​

The white cover or yellow optic cover, redstitch 12-inch ball (all men’s and boys play may have white cover, whitestitches) with a Ball COR of .470 or under and a Ball Compression of 375.0 lbs or under shall be used in the following ASA play: men’s and women’sfast pitch, men’s and women’s master fast pitch, men’s senior fast pitch, and boys and girls 12, 14, 16 and 18-under fast pitch.​

ISA:​

All softballs will be approved optic yellow solid

core balls with a C.O.R. of no more than .47 stamped on the ball. [compression not specified].​

​

​

NFHS:​

0.47 COR, compression 375 lbs. max​

NSA:​

MAXIMUM C.O.R. shall be .47. Maximum Compression for NSA

softballs is 400 pounds or 525 pounds. Directors have the option as to
which compression and which C.O.R. are to be used.​

​

​

NCAA:​

Maximum COR (coefficient of restitution): .47

Maximum compression: 350 ±50.​

USSSA:​

Compression: 330 +/- 45#

COR: 46.25 +/- 0.75​

​

​

 

I have to teach some of my girls what a softball is , in all seriousness.....thanks for the info, i will get the ones that are least reactive

 

Thank you JefferMC. This is GREAT information. I knew there was no one answer, but I certainly understand more than before.