USSSA 2020 Bat Standard & Rule Changes
UPDATED 11/17/2022
USSSA has begun making bat stamp and standard changes that affect both Baseball and Slowpitch Softball. Please read carefully as they may affect you!
USSSA Has changed this 3 or 4 times now. Here is the Latest (11/17/22):
USSSA SLOWPITCH SOFTBALL
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Old USSSA Stamp: BANNED from ALL Tournament Play beginning 1/1/2023 These were made from 2012 to 2020 and meet the 220 lb compression testing. Manufacturers can make bats to meet the 220 lb compression standard but they can no longer have the USSSA Stamp. |
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Beginning with 2021 models USSSA is using the new 240 lb compression standard with the NTS stamp (Left). Moving forward 240 lb Bats are all that can be approved to have a USSSA Stamp on them. Note: In USSSA Conference play only bats with the 240 lb NTS stamp are Legal. |
What does this mean? Basically they are deadening their bats, but you can continue to swing your current bat! The new bats will have less pop than the old models with the 2012 stamp on them. The 2012 Thumbprint models allow a lower compression of 220 lbs as opposed to the new standard of 240 lbs or higher. Also 220 lb compression bats will still have to meet that standard to be legal for play and 240 lb compression bats will meet their standard to be legal for play. You have an advantage by swinging the older model bats.
What about NSA? Seeing as the NSA Standard is also the 1.20 BPF or 220 lb compression, will they be changing as well? No, NSA currently does not plan to adopt the 240 lb compression. They will continue to allow all 2012 stamped bats for the foreseeable future.
What about Other Associations? Currently One Nation, WSL & ISA also all plan to stick with the Current 1.20 BPF or 220 lb Compression Bats.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Ultimately it will come down to what the manufacturers decide to make. As 240 lb bats still meet the standards for other associations stamps (NSA, ISA) the manufacturers may decide to only move forward making 240 lb bats. Only time will tell at this point as to what they deem viable to make.
New USSSA Bat Stamp 2020/2021 - UPDATED 11/17/22
After saying the 220 models would be Legal Indefinitely USSSA has BANNED them from ALL Tournament Play beginning January 1, 2023, as they initially planned.
New USSSA Bat Stamp 2020/2021 - UPDATED 11/25/19
VIERA, FL (October 30, 2019) — The current approved 1.20 “Thumbprint” stamp for USSSA Slowpitch Softball bats will NOW be LEGAL for USSSA play Indefinitely (Previously until January 1, 2023). USSSA has decided to move back the legal use to give players a longer usable period for currently owned and manufactured bats.
Current stamp USSSA Bats will stop being produced by manufacturers no later than January 1, 2021. The New Stamp bats will have a higher starting compression and a higher passing compression of 240. This means you can use the current USSSA stamped bats with a lower failing compression of 220 for USSSA Indefinitely.
Original Statement
"After Much collaboration with our manufacturing partners, USSSA will be transitioning to a new bat testing lab. USSSA has formed a strategic partnership with NTS Chesapeake to validate bats for USSSA Slow Pitch and Baseball Programs. This partnership will provide our participation and manufacturing partners assurance that USSSA is dedicated to growth through game integrity.
In correlation with the new lab we will be rolling out new bat stamps to signify testing under the new Standards and Protocols developed by the USSSA Bat Committee. This process involved months of testing with current USSSA certified bats. Slow Pitch bats certified under the new standards will have an initial retail launch on June 1, 2020. Bats with the 2012 USSSA stamp will be grandfathered Indefinitely (Previously until July, 1 2021). On July 1, 2021, bats with a compression of 240 lbs or greater will be eligible for use on the field of play.
USSSA Baseball bat certification will also transition to NTS. There are no foreseeable changes to Standards in Baseball; however, there will be a new USSSA baseball stamp. There will be no grandfathering stop date on old stamp bats, as the new stamp will only denote the bat has been certified by NTS." - Brian Wegman
| DATE | USSSA TIMELINE |
| Sep 1, 2019 | New USSSA Bat Stamp: USSSA is transitioning their bat testing to a new facility, NTS Chesapeake. |
| June 1, 2020 | New USSSA Bats Launch: USSSA Bats that meet the New Standard will begin their initial retail Launch |
| JAN 1, 2021 | Stopping Use of Current USSSA Stamp: No Bats can have the current 2012 USSSA Thumbprint put on them after this date. |
| JAN 1, 2023 | Old 2020 USSSA Stamp: BANNED from ALL USSSA Tournament Play. Still legal for league play. |
| Current USSSA Bats Allowed Indefinitely: The current 2012 Stamp bats will continue to be accepted on the Slowpitch field of play! But no new 220 models can be approved for USSSA. USSSA Bats that meet the New Standard of 240 lbs and tested by NTS will be all that are approved moving forward. |
USSSA BASEBALL RULES
Sep 1, 2019
New USSSA Bat Stamp: USSSA is transitioning their bat testing to a new facility, NTS Chesapeake. There will be a New USSSA Baseball Bat Stamp in 2020 to denote which bats are tested by NTS. The bat standard is NOT changing, only the stamp and ALL Current Bats will be grandfathered in with no stop date.
What does this mean? You'll see a new stamp coming out on USSSA Baseball bats. Both the new and current stamp will be allowed in play for the foreseeable future. Ultimately there is nothing to worry about.
Jan 1, 2020
13u Division Receives a New Bat Limit: Beginning January 1, 2020 all 13u events and all Teams in 13u events must use a maximum of drop 8 (-8) bat with the official USSSA 1.15 BPF mark permanently stamped. All 14u events and all Teams in 14u events must use a maximum of drop 5 (-5) bat with the official USSSA 1.15 BPF mark permanently stamped.
What does this mean? 13u must now use a Drop 8 (-8), Drop 5 (-5) or BBCOR (-3) Bat. You CANNOT use a Drop 9 (-9) or lighter bat!
Penalty: (First Offense) If the Umpire discovers that a bat does not conform to USSSA Rule 7.01.C until a time during or after which the bat has been used in play, it shall not be grounds for declaring the batter out and/or ejection from the game. If the Umpire discovers that a bat has been used to put a ball in play and before the next legal pitch, the defensive team shall have the choice of the result of the play or the batter being called out and all runners returning to the base occupied at the time of the pitch. (Second Offense) If a team is found in violation of this rule a second time, then the manager shall be ejected in addition to the First Offense penalty.
