All bats in USA Softball Championship Play, except Seniors, must pass the ASA Bat Performance Standard. There are other types of illegal bats – a bat without a sufficient safety grip or a bat that has pine tar on the barrel are just two examples. After doctoring bats to gain an advantage, some players proceed to alter their external appearance. The latest updates on illegal softball bats can be found in this awesome article. To become certified, bats must pass tests conducted by independent labs, which is what BBCOR Certification and USABat Standard use. There are other types of illegal bats – a bat without a sufficient safety grip or a bat that has pine tar on the barrel are just two examples. Using altered bats can lead to severe injuries, especially to fielders and pitchers expecting the balls at slower speeds. Trending top illegal softball bats Products: What coach or organization are you thankful for. End-loaded bats expose softball players to significant risks and are considered illegal and invalid for use by the ASA and USSSA. Softball Points of Emphasis - 2020 By NFHS on August 28, 2019 softball. This period was termed the experimental phase in American softball history as several modifications were made on bats. Almost all softball leagues and tournaments will warn participants of the risks associated with cheating through the use of an illegal bat. JavaScript is disabled. Titanium was a massive hit as it allowed for faster hits of up to 103 miles an hour. Best illegal softball bats reviews and buying guides: Have a look at the top illegal softball bats in 2020. An elastic barrel translates to faster ball hits, which can win you games with ease. These are words you don't want to see associated with your favorite bat. However, the modifications only made the bats riskier as some bats could even achieve injury-causing velocities of up to 105mph. However, the ASA and USSSA continue to prohibit the use of doctored bats during play. If you want to use your bat for competitive or even amateur softball games, then you will need to purchase products from licensed dealers. Share . Although creativity and innovation are highly welcomed in softball, the use of bats that do not satisfy regulations can lead to penalties and even disqualification. RULING: This is an incorrect ruling. USA SOFTBALL BAT TESTING & CERTIFICATION PROGRAM . Players resulted to making bats hollow or even adding foreign substances inside the bats to increase overall hit power. Barrel shaving has been around for long and continues to plague the softball and baseball communities. Initially, not many people knew about the potential benefits associated with bat modification. Therefore, before making any purchases, it is prudent to take your time and check the official rules of your league. For instance, in the 1850s, hollowing out wooden bats became a common practice for baseball players looking to gain an unfair advantage over opponents. Reducing the overall thickness of your barrel wall makes your bat more elastic. Proceed to buy a bat once you are positive of its approval by the relevant body. In almost every competitive sport, rival teams tend to look for ways to outperform each other. Altered bats and non-approved bats are both types of illegal bats. End loading is a common practice that continues to be used by some softball or baseball players to gain an advantage over competitors. Illegal bats are those that aren`t approved for competitive or amateur play by relevant regulating bodies. Are CF7s gone now or am I not reading the. This provides an unfair advantage as the bat can exceed the labeled level of performance. The umpire rules the bat illegal and calls the batter out. This will ensure you observe the relevant softball regulations related to bats. For USSSA, the accepted exit velocity is 103 mph or under and ASA allows a maximum speed of 98mph. (1-5-1c, 7-4-2 NOTE) SITUATION 2: During the first inning, the umpire notices B3’s bat has a crack and it is removed from the game without penalty. Going Ballistic | An NCAA Champion Feature | NCAA.org. Companies such as Louisville Slugger altered the initial designs to make them less dangerous. A doctored or juiced bat is one that is physically altered to have enhanced features. You must log in or register to reply here. End loading is a common practice that continues to be used by some softball or baseball players to gain an advantage over competitors. As such, the bodies opted to set regulations based on specific lab-conducted procedures. In the 1960s, several amateur softball players were keen on determining the limits of softball bats. What does "1st strike" "2nd strike" etc mean? Several producers followed suit and titanium bats flooded the softball accessory market. Aluminum bats were preferred mostly due to their ability to make good hits. This led to the authorization of an exclusive set of bats that meet standard regulation. Banned. The increased exit velocity made titanium bats highly risky, especially since they increased the risk of injury. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Print. Some illegal softball bats are made from titanium, while others are either altered or damaged. The following are common bat doctoring techniques that are guaranteed to make your bat illegal. 2020 Non-Approved ASA Bat List . Before the list of illegal softball bats will be given, it is important to understand the role of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA). Then came the introduction of titanium to softball bats. The following are common bat doctoring techniques that are guaranteed to make your bat illegal. The tight regulation on bat usage leads to the question, what is a banned bat in softball? The Independent Softball Association (ISA) and the National Softball Association (NSA) also provide a list of approved bats.