Category AI Visibility Report
Softballs AI Visibility Report 2026: Top Brands & Buyer Topics in AI Search
Data updated 2026-08-27 · 30-day window · ChatGPT · Google AI Mode · Google AI Overviews
≈4,753
Est. AI queries / month
14
Buyer topics monitored
10
Brands on the AI shelf
Key insights
- Over the last 30 days, GEOly monitored 14 buyer topics in Softballs across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews — an estimated 4,753 AI queries per month.
- Dudley leads the AI shelf with 16.8% of brand mentions, followed by Rawlings (14.1%) and Baden Sports (10.3%). The top three hold 41.2% combined — a concentrated shelf where challengers need a differentiated topic wedge.
- The highest-demand topic is “12 inch softballs” (top keyword “softballs 12”, ~880 searches/mo).
- AI answers lean on reddit.com most (29.9% of citations) — earning presence on these sources is the shortest path to being recommended.
Brands AI recommends most
Share of brand mentions across AI answers in the last 30 days (Share of Model).
| # | Brand | AI mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dudley | 1,023 | 16.8% |
| 2 | Rawlings | 856 | 14.1% |
| 3 | Baden Sports | 626 | 10.3% |
| 4 | Champro | 437 | 7.2% |
| 5 | Worth | 428 | 7% |
| 6 | JUGS | 194 | 3.2% |
| 7 | A.D. Starr | 191 | 3.1% |
| 8 | Wilson | 177 | 2.9% |
| 9 | DeBeer Clincher | 155 | 2.5% |
| 10 | Markwort | 142 | 2.3% |
What shoppers ask AI
Buyer topics monitored in this category, with estimated monthly AI queries and the top Google keyword behind each topic.
| Topic | Est. AI queries / mo | Top keyword | Search volume / mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 inch softballs | ≈1,221 | softballs 12 | 880 |
| Indoor softballs | ≈1,196 | indoor softballs | 720 |
| 44/375 softballs | ≈1,178 | 44/375 softballs | 260 |
| 52/300 softballs | ≈1,158 | 52 300 asa softballs | 720 |
| Fastpitch softballs | — | pgf softballs | 8,100 |
| 11 inch softballs | — | 11 inch softballs | 2,900 |
| Senior softballs | — | senior softball | 9,900 |
| USSSA softballs | — | usssa softballs | 40,500 |
| Pitching machine softballs | — | pitching machine softballs | 9,900 |
| Training softballs | — | training softballs | 1,600 |
| Slowpitch softballs | — | slow pitch softballs | 3,600 |
| Little League softballs | — | little league softball | 8,100 |
| Bucket of softballs | — | bag of softballs | 12,100 |
| 16 inch softballs | — | 16 inch softball | 3,600 |
Sources AI cites in this category
Root domains AI engines cited most when answering category queries in the last 30 days.
| Domain | Citations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| reddit.com | 257 | 29.9% |
| rawlings.com | 136 | 15.8% |
| dickssportinggoods.com | 134 | 15.6% |
| seniorsoftball.com | 55 | 6.4% |
| usasoftball.com | 43 | 5% |
| epicsports.com | 36 | 4.2% |
| usssa.com | 28 | 3.3% |
| littleleague.org | 18 | 2.1% |
Related category reports
FAQ
Which brands do AI assistants recommend most for softballs?
Over the last 30 days the top brands by AI mention share are: Dudley (16.8%), Rawlings (14.1%), Baden Sports (10.3%), Champro (7.2%), Worth (7%). Data from GEOly's continuous monitoring across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews.
How many people ask AI about softballs?
GEOly estimates ~4,753 AI queries per month in this category across 14 buyer topics, led by “12 inch softballs”.
Which sources do AI engines cite for softballs?
The most-cited domains are: reddit.com, rawlings.com, dickssportinggoods.com, seniorsoftball.com, usasoftball.com. Building brand presence on these sources is the most direct way to win AI recommendations.
Methodology
GEOly continuously runs category buyer prompts across ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews and records which brands are mentioned and which sources are cited. Figures aggregate a 30-day window; AI query volumes are modeled estimates from keyword demand and AI-adoption share. Data: GEOly MCP Server, updated 2026-08-27.
See your brand inside this category
GEOly tracks how ChatGPT, Google AI Mode and Google AI Overviews mention, rank and cite your brand against every competitor above — and what to fix to win the AI shelf.