Balls

Baseballs and Softballs can get expensive. Bases Loaded is dedicated to supplying baseballs and softballs at the best possible prices in the nation. With one of the largest and most knowledgeable staffs around ready to answer any questions you might have about our products, you are sure to find what you are looking for.

Baseballs

Fastpitch Softballs

Training Balls

Slowpitch Softballs

Picking out the right baseballs and softballs can get confusing and expensive. Take the guess work out of buying balls with the experts at Bases Loaded. BL has been NorCal’s #1 spot for baseballs and softballs since 1997. Were passionate about helping teams, coaches and players find the right balls for tournaments, games and practice. Bases Loaded is your one-stop-shop for all of your baseball and softball needs. Bases Loaded experts are available 7 days week to answer any questions you may have about our baseballs or softballs, so stop by or give us a call and we will be happy to assist you.

While shopping for baseballs or softballs its important to keep in mind, who is going to be using them and how are they going to be being used. There is a big difference between practice balls and game balls. Educating yourself about what a baseball or softball is made with will help you make the correct decision on which balls to buy. This can save you time and money in the long run. We are going to take a look at how to shop for baseballs/softballs by breaking down who uses each type of ball and why they use it. We will be covering baseballs, fastpitch softballs, slowpitch softballs and finally training balls.

To most people, a baseball is just a baseball, in reality not all baseballs are created equal. There are a few factors that will contribute to a balls price and overall quality. Like the materials used to make it, the construction and safety. Baseballs are made up of a solid core, wrapped up tightly in string or yarn, then covered by a leather or synthetic cover that is sewn together using raised, rolled or flat stitching. The core of a baseball is made with cushioned cork, rubber or combination of both. Cushioned cores are the densest type of ball, featuring a solid cork core wrapped in a small layer of rubber. Premium baseballs used in upper divisions like the pros and college tournaments feature a cushioned core. Cork cores are used in high school and college level baseballs and will have less “pop” because they are not as dense as cushioned cores. They’re designed for the pop of a metal or composite bat. Low-quality balls feature a solid rubber core or a combination of rubber and ground cork. These balls are used in lower division or for practice. Windings are the thick layers of yarn wrapped around the core and are usually made with pure wool or a wool blend. Wool windings have a high compression and can quickly revert back to shape after being hit. Higher quality balls have more pure-wool windings while lower-quality balls consist of a wool blend usually mixed with cotton. The cover of a baseball is made using leather or a synthetic material like vinyl. Leather covers allow for better grip, improved performance and a longer life span. Leather is used on the highest-quality baseballs and is the most common style of cover. Less expensive balls will use a synthetic cover, cost much less, but can resist dirt and water allowing them to maintain color and shape. The seams hold it all together, they can be raised, rolled or flat. Raised seams are elevated above the surface gripping air currents as the ball travels. They are most commonly found at lower levels since higher seams improve accuracy. Rolled seams are featured on upper-division balls, like MLB, with a less distinct elevation making accuracy more difficult. Flat seam balls are designed for pitching machines or practice. Pro balls will have a cushioned core, premium wool windings, premium leather cover, rolled seams and are designed for wood bats. High school and college are designed for metal bats with a cork core, wool and cotton windings, high-quality leather cover and either raised or rolled seams depending on the level. Lower divisions use balls with rubber or hybrid cores, wool and cotton windings, leather and synthetic covers with raised seams. T-ball’s or Reduced Injury Factor balls use a full rubber core that’s soft to the touch for safety. RIF balls are used at the lowest levels of play for safety purposes or for training. Density on RIF balls range from level 1-5.

Softballs share a lot of the same properties as baseballs, prices of both will be dictated by the quality of materials used to make them. The price and quality of softballs are also influenced by two performance ratings, Compression Rating and COR Rating. Softballs are not soft the touch, they get their name because the core is much softer than a baseball, producing less bounce off the bat. The core of a softball is made with polyurethane, granulated cork, rubber or a combo of both and then wrapped with long fiber material called Kapok. A premium softballs will feature a polyurethane core and a high-amount of Kapok fibers. Covers can be made with natural or synthetic leather and will either be an optic yellow or white color. Yellow is preferred for competitive play while white is usually reserved for rec play. The seams of a softball can be raised for improved grip, or less elevated for a flat seam feel. Softballs come in three sizes: 10”, 11” and 12”. Your league and level of play determine ball size. All softballs are stamped with logos that indicate the appropriate level of play. Most leagues require one of three stamps: ASA, USSSA or NFHS. These stamps determine the balls COR and Compression Ratings. COR and Compression Ratings are the two biggest factors that determine what ball is used for games. Compression categorizes how safe a ball is. Compression is measured by the amount of force needed to compress a ball one-quarter of an inch. The higher the compression, the farther the ball with travel. COR Ratings or Coefficient of Restitution, denote the rate of speed the ball comes of the bat. Example: ball strikes bat at 60 mph’s, but travels at a rate of 30 mph’s off the barrel. The speed is reduced by half, the COR Rating would be .50. The higher the rating, the faster the ball rebounds off the bat. In general, younger fastpitch levels and slow-pitch softball will use lower rated balls or balls that rebound slower. Competitive slowpitch and upper fastpitch levels use balls with higher ratings, or balls that bounce off the bat faster. It’s always a good idea to check with your league or coach to confirm which softballs are cleared for use. Slowpitch softballs use the same ratings as fastpitch, as well as, all the same materials used to make them.

Training balls are a great way to improve your swing, fielding and arm strength. Bases Loaded carries a huge selection of training balls to help take your game to new heights. Hitters, the only way to get better is to go out hit! There is no substitute for hard work. But hitting a ball over and over and over off of a tee or soft-toss can get boring. Sometimes hitters need to challenge themselves or take a break from the norm with some competition. Bases Loaded has all the newest training balls to help improve your swing from load to finish. We have various sizes of whiffle balls for close quarter hitting, restricted flight balls for backyard hitting, weighted training balls that aid with proper finish and breaking-ball trainers that can help with off-speed pitch training. Infielders, BL has all the training balls you need to get better as well. We carry many different types of random rebound and reaction balls that improve first step reactions and foot work on ground balls. We also have balls to improve arm strength and accuracy. Pitchers are always searching for tools that will increase velocity, BL has all the weighted training balls you need to get your arm in shape or to increase arm strength and velocity, as well as, oversize balls for softball that help increase spin rate.

We always have the largest selection of baseballs and softballs on the West Coast. Bases Loaded is your one-stop-shop for everything baseball and softball. Take your training to the next level this offseason with training balls from Bases Loaded: The Baseball and Softball Superstore.

To play Baseball and Softball you need one key item, a ball. The Baseball has been around since the mid 1800's but didn't take the look and feel that we see today until the mid-1930's, and since then little about the Baseball has changed. Each Baseball features 108 red, hand stitched double stitches in its leather cover, and weights 5 oz. and measures in at 9" around. The Softball has taken most of its design directly from the Baseball, featuring 88 hand stitched double stitches and a leather or synthetic cover. While Baseballs and Softballs are generally the same many companies have tried to make what would be the standard ball for various leagues. Here at Bases Loaded we only carry the highest quality Baseballs and Softballs from Rawlings, Wilson, Diamond, Easton, Dudley, and Worth.