Softballs

It depends on your league’s sanctioning body. Slowpitch softballs are stamped for a specific organization, like SPN, SBQ (Softball Québec), USSSA or USA Softball, and each organization sets its own ball specifications. Check your league’s rules, then choose a ball with the matching stamp. Shop all softballs.

The Worth Hot Dot is the most widely used slowpitch softball in Canada. It’s available in SPN, SBQ, USSSA and USA Softball versions, plus an 11" SPN version, sold individually, in 4-packs or by the dozen.

The 12" softball is the standard for adult slowpitch and fastpitch. 11" softballs are used in many youth and women’s divisions, depending on the league. Worth offers both sizes in models like the Red Dot and Hot Dot SPN, and Louisville Slugger makes 11" balls like the 11A and 11SY.

COR (coefficient of restitution) measures how lively the ball is off the bat: a higher COR, like .47 or .52, means a livelier ball than a .40 or .44. Compression, in pounds, measures how hard the ball is: a higher number means a harder ball that travels farther. Leagues set the COR and compression they allow, which is why these numbers are printed on the ball, like on the Dudley SB12 COR .44.

Fastpitch softballs are typically optic yellow with raised red seams, for better visibility and grip when pitching at high speed. Slowpitch softballs come in white or yellow and are built to the specs of slowpitch organizations. Always use the ball approved for your game, and pair it with the right fastpitch bat or slowpitch bat.

Yellow softballs are easier to see against the sky, the fence and under the lights, which is why they’re standard in fastpitch and popular in many slowpitch leagues. White balls are still used in some slowpitch leagues. Choose the colour your league requires.