Are you familiar with bat sizes for different tournaments and their standards? Have you ever heard the terms BBCOR and USSSA bats? I hope so.
By the way, as baseball has a lot of rules, the baseball bats are also counted. In the beginning, such terms used to make me confused.
Different tournaments require different types of bats that are differentiated in length, weight, trampoline effect, and so on.
Along with such criteria, choosing the right bat is sometimes overwhelming. When it comes to BBCOR vs USSSA bats, the confusion needs to be clarified.
In summary, BBCOR bats are used in high school baseball play and college baseball play. On the other hand, USSSA bats are used as travel baseball bats, in the little leagues and youth baseball leagues.
BBCOR Bats Explanation
As a baseball fan or youth player, you might have heard about BBCOR bats or BBCOR certification. I am asking you, do you know what BBCOR actually is. Why is it used?
By the way, let’s talk about it and clarify the facts about BBCOR bats and standards.
What Are BBCOR Bats?
The term “BBCOR” is actually an abbreviated word. BBCOR stands for “Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution.” The BBCOR standard is used to regulate adult baseball bats in high school baseball and college-level baseball.
They use the standards to keep the metal bats’ performance the same as the wood bats’ by putting in some particular regulations.
Basically, BBCOR bats are limited to performing with a particular trampoline effect. The NCAA and NFHS set a particular range of trampoline effects, which is 0.50, that cannot be exceeded by the BBCOR bats.
The trampoline effect refers to the exit velocity of the bat when it contacts the ball. BBCOR trampoline effect is reduced so that it could not be so high for more pop.
BBCOR rules control the exit velocity of a BBCOR bat to keep the players safe from high-velocity balls.
The following states are maintained under the BBCOR rules:
- To make non-wood bats (aluminum, composite BBCOR bats, or a hybrid of alloy and composite) that perform almost the same as a wood bat.
- To reduce the hit statistics.
- To enhance the batting skills.
- To keep the players safer from high-velocity balls coming off the bat.
BBCOR Baseball Bats Standards
There are some fixed rules for the BBCOR standard. A BBCOR bat must follow the following standards. If any of them is voided, the bat will fail to acquire the BBCOR certification.
- The barrel diameter of the BBCOR bat must not exceed 2 5/8 inches.
- The maximum length of the bat could be 36 inches.
- The drop weight must be -3.
- The bat performance factor (BPF) must be under 0.5.
The drop in weight demands an explanation. Drop weight is also known as the length-to-weight ratio of baseball bats. It is represented with a number minus before it (like -3).
What does drop weight actually mean? It is the difference between the length and weight of the bat. For example, a bat lengthened 33 inches with a -3 drop weight refers to a bat weighing 30 ounces.
For the BBCOR certification, a bat must maintain a drop weight of -3. Otherwise, the BBCOR certification will be declined.
The BBCOr Baseball Bat Recognition
All metal BBCOR baseball bats must have a BBCOR-approved stamp on the bat. You will see a “BBCOR CERTIFIED .50” stamp near the start of the handle or on the taper.
Do you know what the stamp explains? I hope you remember the trampoline effect, which should be under .50. The .50 stamp show, that the bat has a trampoline effect that does not exit the BPF range of 50.
After reducing the trampoline effect, the metal bats now perform almost like wood bats. The hitting power is controlled and now gives less power automatically.
As a result, the batter must show his muscle power to get the maximum hitting power from the BBCOR baseball bats.
The Time When Needed for The BBCOR Certified Bats
As I mentioned before, you need a BBCOR-certified bat if you are a high school or collegiate baseball player. It is a must if you are in high school or college baseball.
Youth baseball tournaments are not mandatory and need BBCOR-certified bats for all age groups.
In some special conditions, like if you are in 12u to 14u, you will be allowed to use a BBCOR baseball bat.
And when you pass the age range of 14u, it is mandatory to use the BBCOR-certified bat for you.
If you are a high school or college-level baseball player or aged between 12 and 18, you can start practicing swinging with the best BBCOR baseball bats approved.
USSSA Baseball Bat Explanation
What Are USSSA Bats?
The term “USSSA” means “The United States Specialty Sports Association.” It is a nonprofit, volunteer-run sports regulatory body situated in Viera, Florida. When USSSA was first formed in 1968, it was named “The United States Slowpitch Softball Association.”
Basically, the organization started to expand its attachment to other sports too. So, logically, it changed its name to “The United States Specialty Sports Association.”
USSSA sets rules for different youth leagues that they must follow the rules. There are also particular rules about the bats that are used in USSSA leagues. The USSSA set rules for USSSA bats in 2005.
Now, what is a USSSA bat? The bats that USSSA approves and that are made by an approved bat manufacturer are known as USSSA bats. USSSA bats are basically used in leagues with an age range of 5 to 14 years.
Unlike BBCOR bats, there are no such restrictions that BBCOR has. USSSA baseball bats are allowed more bat performance factors, big barrel bats, and different drop weights.
In youth, travel baseball, or senior baseball leagues, USSSA baseball bats are allowed and preferred for them.
A baseball player who wants to participate in the USSSA baseball leagues must use a USSSA baseball bat as well.
The following tournaments organized under the governance of USSSA.
- Elite World Series
- Elite World Series Qualifiers.
- Elite World Series 8U
- Elite World Series 9U-12U
- Elite World Series 13U-14U
- USSSA World Series
- A World Series.
- AA World Series.
- AAA World Series.
- Global Sports World Series.
- All American Games.
USSSA Bat Standards
A USSSA baseball bat has a higher bat performance factor than a wood baseball bat or BBCOR bat. As a result, the composite and metal bats (aluminum bats, metal hybrids, etc.) under USSSA approval give more power and advantages than BBCOR bats compared.
By the way, the USSSA baseball bats have particular standards and requirements. USSSA baseball bat standards are given below.
- A USSSA bat must have the “1.15 BPF” stamp on its taper.
- The maximum barrel diameter could be 2 ¾ inches.
- The length of the USSSA bats must be at least 29”.
- It must be manufactured by a USSSA-approved manufacturer.
- The drop weight must be -5, -8, or -10. OR,
- Be a BBCOR-certified bat. OR
- Be a wood bat.
The Way to Recognize a USSSA Bat
USSSA bats don’t have the same restrictions as BBCOR baseball bats. The bat performance factors measure is one of the most important facts that are different for USSSA bats from the BBCOR ones.
The allowed PBF, or bat performance factor, for the USSSA bats, is up to 1.15. So, all USA bats must have the BPF under 1.15 pass in the end.
By the way, do you know all USSSA bats must pass the BBCOR certification before being legalized for USSSA bats? Ultimately, after passing the test for BBCOR certification, a USSSA bat goes under the test for qualification as a USSSA bat.
After being certified for USSSA certification, the bat must have a stamp of “1.15 BPF” on its taper.
The stamp must be permanent and implemented by a manufacturer-approved by the USSSA.
When Do I Need USSSA Bats?
As the name shows, you must use a USSSA-approved bat in the USSSA leagues. The leagues include youth leagues and little leagues.
USSSA bats have several advantages over BBCOR bats.
As BBCOR bats are not allowed in little leagues for several restrictions in their rules, USSSA bats are the solution for those leagues.
So, you will find USSSA bats approved for all little leagues around America.
When you need a trampoline effect for a faster exit velocity, the USSSA bat is the perfect choice for you. The bat performance factor measure the speed of the balls that exit the bat after contact.
Comparison Between BBCOR VS USSSA Bats
Firstly, switching to metal bats from wood bats has several legit reasons. Composite and aluminum bats are lighter than wood bats. They are also more durable as well.
But, metal bats have more power than wood bats, which means they are controlled by different sporting organizations.
So, what are the differences between BBCOR vs USSSA bats?
BBCOR bats are restricted to.50 BPF, whereas the USSSA bats are more versatile in this case. The USSSA authorities set a BPF of up to 1.15 for the USSSA bats.
Even the best baseball bats in BBCOR have much less pop and exit velocity than a USSSA bat.
Also, a bat with a -5 or -8 drop weight and big barrels produces more power hitting and gives better performance.
By the way, when you are getting ready for high school-level baseball, there is no way to use a USSSA bat in the leagues. The player needs to be prepared with a bat-ball coefficient along with a -3 drop weight.
Ultimately, USSSA bats are the best and must for the youth baseball tournaments, little leagues, travel baseball, and senior leagues, which are governed under the USSSA rules.
So, USSSA bats are more beneficial to use in youth leagues for more power generation. They are intended to allow youth players to swing with ease. And, the BBCOR bats are a must for high school and college players.
In terms of an illegal bat, USSSA bats cannot be used in high school and collegiate baseball.
But, you see, the USSSA bats have several more advantages over the BBCOR bats.
By the way, a better baseball hitter would benefit more with the bats. That is why you need more practice. If you want precise provent tips, you should go through the guide on “How to Be a Better Baseball Hitter.”
What Are USA Baseball Bats?
You will find the USABats and BBCOR bats are almost the same. The trampoline effect is the same with the same bat performance factor and hit speed. Also, the barrel diameter is up to 2 5/8 inches.
But the particular and primary difference you will find in the USA baseball bat rules is the drop weight.
The most significant distinction is the drop weight. USABats have no such restriction with the drop weight of -3. It could be more, as per what is required. So, the USABats could be lighter than the BBCOR bats.
As result, you can swing your USABats faster than even the best BBCOR bat. But, in a long run, the USABats will produce slightly lower hit ball speeds, which is negligible.
Want to compare the USA and USSSA baseball bats? You may check out the post on “USA Vs USSSA Bats | Which One Is Right For You?” for a detailed explanation and comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do BBCOR bats have less pop than BBCOR and USSSA bats?
Yes, BBCOR bats have less pop than USSSA bats. It is because the USSSA bats have a higher BPF than BBCOR bats. BPF is one of the most significant differences between these two.
By the way, the more popped bats are in the hands of less powerful hitters (young players). So, the chances of injury are less here than on the BBCOR. BBCOR bats are mandatory comparatively bigger players in high school and collegiate plays where there is the chance of injuries from more pop.
2. Is BBCOR legal in the USSSA?
Though the youth level leagues do not allow BBCOR bats, BBCOR is generally allowed at the 13U and 14U levels. This is because these age-level players are already in high school and play high school-level baseball,l where the BBCOR is mandatory.
Otherwise, BBCOR bats are not allowed in USSSA baseball leagues.
3. Why are USSSA bats illegal?
Actually, USSSA bats are not illegal in all tournaments. They are just forbidden in high school and collegiate baseball as they have more pop.
The main objective of BBCOR bats is to ensure the safety of the players from the off-ball bats. The USSSA bats have more pop, and they are intended to injure the players.
So, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) deemed the BPF for BBCOR bats for safety issues. As a result, players need to show their physical ability to generate powerful hits.
4. What are the all-baseball bat certifications?
The following is the list of all baseball certifications for different baseball leagues.
Baseball bat certification:
- BBCOR (0.50 BPF)
- USSSA (1.15 BPF).
- New NTS Stamp.
- USA Baseball (Little League).
Fastpitch Softball Bat Certifications
- USA (ASA)/ NSA/USSSA (1.20 BPF).
- ASA Only (98 mph).
Slowpitch Softball Bat Certifications
- USA (98 mph/ ASA Only).
- NSA (1.20 BPF).
- USSSA (Thumbprint or 220 lb. compression).
- Indefinitely Legal for USSSA Slowpitch Play.
- USSSA (240 lb. compression).
5. Can you use two-piece bats under the BBCOR standard?
Two-piece metal bats are allowed under the rules of BBCOR standards. Even though the BBCOR certification was set, many baseball experts thought two-piece bats would not be helped by the BBCOR standards.
But, leading baseball manufacturers were able to produce two-piece metal bats that also met the BBCOR standards.
Final Verdict
There are many associations for baseball in the USA. Among them, USSSA, the NCAA, and the NFHS are among the most important ones. They control the rules and regulations for USSSA and BBCOR certifications.
There are several differences between BBCOR vs USSSA bats. As for the rules, there are also different rules and regulations for meeting the criteria of these rules for BBCOR and USSSA bats, respectively.
Picking up the right bat for the age group of baseball players demands proper information be clarified about BBCOr and USSSA. I hope this guide will help you pick the right standard bat for your own aspects.
Summing up the things, USSSA baseball bats cover all little and youth leagues, whereas the BBCOr bats are a must in high school and collegiate baseball.
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Hello everyone. My name is Jason Butler, and I live in California, America. I was a professional AAA Minor League Baseball player. I lost my chance of playing MLB for injury issues, but I did not lose my love for baseball. I attended the coaching training program and am now working as a coach in a small school in San Diego.
I always love to share my experience and knowledge if that can help you. Play baseball, and stay fit.