C77fastpitch wrote:I guess your saying bats wars don't exist? Each bat company tries to out do the other, and bats that have more bounce for the buck sale first. The ball threads have gotten smaller, bigger girls, bigger hands. Each ball company does the same thing the bat companies do, try to make the best ball. Many times this means a harder longer lasting ball. The companies who make bats and balls try each year to make their product a little better, not the same, that's J C Pennies. I can feel the difference in balls when I put them in my hand. I pitched in high school and college not that long ago, and believe me there is a different feel to the modern balls. The bats are incredible too, see the college home run race. Home run records are falling everywhere, and don't say the hitters are that much better, please! Companies are not going to give up their secrets, so the prove is common sense for the most part. I respect your opinion Slapperdad, it just too bad your wrong. SORRY!
The companies say the balls are the same, but they are not, ask a college pitcher.
Bat wars? What are bat wars? Yes slick marketing, Internet hype, (insert college elite hitter here) uses our bat, yea that happens, it's called marketing. Most companies that sell their wares to large audiences use this approach. Bottom line ALL BATS MUST PASS 98 MPH exit speed test, per ASA 2004 regs.
As far as home run records falling all over the place, you're sure it's the bats and balls? You don't think it has anything to do with, bigger, stronger athletes, who have better training, better conditioning, better weight traing, etc.?
I have no doubt that balls may well "feel different" different to a "college pitching expert" such as yourself. I will ask my DD's pitching teammates, but I suspect I already know the answer....probably something along the lines of, I don't know or I don't really pay attention.
Any changes you are feeling are most likely much less about performance and much more about cost savings for the manufacturer in the manufacturing process.
NCAA uses one specific ball, Worth NC12L12, .47 COR/400 Comp NAIA uses Worth NAIAFB, .47 COR/400 Comp, which as near as I can tell are the same ball with different lettering. In Indiana we use the Wilson A9011, .47 COR/375 Comp. I have Wilson A9011's from over the years I've coached and I see no distinguishable difference in the feel of them. Of course I was never a college pitcher, so...I realize I can't refute your opinion with my numbers and data and silly stuff like that. Perhaps since you're a college coach you could share the NCAA's findings from their ball experiment this past fall. I for one would love to know.
I can assure of one thing, at least in the case of the A9011, they are NOT longer lasting, and at about 75 bucks a dozen this year, they ain't any cheaper either.