I assume you mean1/4" of foam, and not one foot four inches.
With all due respect, you're leaving something out. I have hit a 52 out with a DVS1 in a swamp in south GA, so either you play with a bunch of composite queens, or a bunch of fat guys that forgot how to run the bases during the 44 cor era.
These guys that are getting forced out at 2nd and 3rd, are they really slow? Are you talking about bloops where they forget to go half way? If these are ground balls cleanly through the holes, then your guys are horrible. Either you're exaggerating or your team's baserunning is horrible.
The whole sea level argument works against you. Classic M's would be horrible in the heat at sea level.
Guys are getting forced at 2nd and 3rd on well hit balls to LF/LC. Our OF's are in their mid 20's and have excellent arms. The plays are close, but the fact that the young guys can play in more now gives them more opportunities to make throws on balls hit right at them. It happens once or twice a night, which seems like a lot to me. The better hitters are adjusting and hitting liners to RC/RF. I am not complaining about the plays, I think that a renewed emphasis on OF speed and arm strength is good for the game.
Yes, I meant 1/4". I also checked my BP bag and noticed the Evil's are definitely softer than the Thunders. I know that during BP, I hit out more Thunders than Evils (325' fence 6' high). I always liked Evils before, and can't say I have seen enough of other 52s to make a fair comparison.
I hear all the stories about how great the 52s are, and I'll admit that I have only been playing for a little over 30 years now and even though most of the guys I played with have won major tournys, I haven't because I didn't want to take that much time away from family every weekend. So, maybe you are correct in your implied assumption that I am fat, old and maybe even suck. The truth is, I don't get to hit as often in games as the other teams have taken to walking me if we have a runner and an open base, so my hitting experience is limited. Heck, I might even be going blind for all you know or better yet, maybe I just like exaggerating to get a rise out of the the "real" softball players.
The simple fact is that the 52/300 ball effects every aspect of the game. The ball is lighter which allows the wind to effect it more whether it is pitched, thrown, or hit in the air. It effects how you run the bases. It effects outfield defense and thanks to the new improved hops, infield defense. It effects hitting and creates an even bigger need for "wind awareness". Of course, the main benefit is weeding out the "composite queens" and players who don't have true hitting skills as well as giving the young, fast OFs a more significant role in the game.
I have seen my share of shaved bat liners that are dangerous, and I was once accused of picking up an opposing player's bat and busting it open against a pole to prove a point (although there was no video evidence and the bat was shown to be shaved, resulting in the player's banishment from that league). I am all for getting rid of shaved bats.
I am not arguing that the ball isn't safer, I am sure it is. Of course, if we all started playing kickball, it would be even safer and there would be less grass to cut, less equipment to buy and it would be more inclusive to all socioeconomic and skill levels and there would be less benefit for staying in good shape, lifting and taking some time to practice. Our quality of life would skyrocket and world peace would reign.