SOFTBALLERS will be going old school when the season opens next month as they ditch metal bats for heavier wooden ones.And organisers hope the change will end the all-too-prevalent slugfests, where the ball spends most of the time out of the park, and instead bring back some of the skill.

Summer Softball League president Greg Carey said the change had been given a great deal of thought after being kicked around for a couple of years.

This year the wooden bats will be compulsory in the men’s division.

“We think that is going to make the game more competitive. It will force teams to become better hitters rather than just a collection of sluggers. It is too easy to hit it with the metal bat.

“One of the problems is Bernard Park is very small. And with the metal bats every team is full of guys who can hit the ball over the fence.

“We put limits on them in the past but it doesn’t seem to stop them doing that. This was an idea proposed a couple of years ago and this year we felt we would try and see how it works.”

Already the concept has been debuted by top teams Sea Venture and Tuff Dogs in the Winter League in one game as an experiment.

“Very positive things were said. The key to that game was nobody hit a home run. We are looking forward to doing it the whole season,” said the 32-year-old Carey who is also used to the newer lighter bats.

“I am sure some guys will start hitting the ball out but not anywhere near what we had in the past.”

A shipment of the old style bats has already arrived but Carey has yet to have a practice.

“It must be 20 years since I have used a wooden bat. I would expect there is a bit of learning process to get comfortable.”

It could become a more tactical game as the power switches from the mighty hitters as home runs become a rarity rather than a common occurrence.

Sea Venture and Tuff Dogs who dominated the Winter League will again be favourites in the summer session however Hit and Sit and E&Y, who Carey plays for, could also force themselves into the reckoning.

Action starts on June 4 with play week nights and Sunday nights while Fridays and Saturdays have been given over to a youth league.

A men’s division and four coed divisions are the likely breakdown and players interested in signing for a team are urged to call Carey on 335 5697 and he will put you in touch with a side.

He said places often became available as people leave for their summer holidays. The league is expected to run until the middle of October.