News & Information — Bats

2020 Louisville Slugger Meta (-3) 2 ⅝” 33 in./30 oz. BBCOR Baseball Bat Update

UPDATED: 6:30PM EST MARCH 2, 2020

NFHS (High School) Has Now Also Banned the 2020 META 33 in/30 oz BBCOR Bat from Play Immediately 

The NCAA recently conducted additional testing of the previously-certified 33 in./30 oz. Louisville Slugger 2020 Meta (-3) BBCOR baseball bat. The conclusion of this additional testing resulted in the NCAA's removal of this specific model from its approved-for-NCAA-sanctioned-play bat list.

IMPACTED BAT MODELS

 

	SKU	Name	Full SKU name & impacted sizes
	WTLBBMTB32033	2020 Louisville Slugger Meta (-3) 2 ⅝” BBCOR Baseball Bat - 33 in./30 oz.	WTLBBMTB32033 - 2020 Louisville Slugger Meta (-3) 2 ⅝” BBCOR Baseball Bat - 33 in./30 oz.
	WTLCBBMP20V	Custom 2020 Louisville Slugger Meta (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat 33 in./30 oz.	WTLCBBMP20V - Custom 2020 Louisville Slugger Meta (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat 33 in./30 oz.
	WBL23630103033	2020 Louisville Slugger Meta GLD (-3) 2 ⅝” BBCOR Baseball Bat - 33 in./30 oz	WBL23630103033 - 2020 Louisville Slugger Meta GLD (-3) 2 ⅝” BBCOR Baseball Bat - 33 in./30 oz.

 

"To help minimize any inconvenience you may experience due to the NCAA's decision, we are offering immediate assistance to players and families who own the 33” model of the 2020 Meta (-3) BBCOR bat. Our team immediately initiated the process to ensure the quickest and most effective response possible. We apologize to all players impacted by this development and we are committed to getting an industry-leading bat back in your hands as soon as possible. Our customer service team is available to answer any questions you have about which bat is right for you. They can be reached at 1-800-401-7908 and via the online contact form."

 

NOCSAE Chest Protectors

As of Jan 1st, 2020 New Chest Protectors are Required for High School (NFHS)  Baseball and as of Jan 1st, 2021 required for NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Baseball.

No Changes are being made for Fastpitch Softball or Youth Baseball (Little League, Travel, USSSA, etc.)

NOCSAE Approved Chest Protectors will have the following logo on them.

 

Why is this change happening? Commotio Cordis.

Commotio Cordis is a syndrome that results from a blunt impact to the chest that leads to cardiac arrest.  It is a poorly recognized and under reported event that happens to healthy young athletes as a result of a low-energy (roughly a 40mph baseball), non-penetrating blow to the chest.

LEARN MORE

SHOP NOCSAE APPROVED GEAR NOW

 

NOCSAE Approved Baseballs

As of Jan 1st, 2020 New Baseballs are Required for High School (NFHS) Baseball Official Play. There are no changes to the Ball itself but it must have the NOCSAE Stamp as well as the NFHS stamp to be legal for play.

 

NCAA White BBCOR Bat Ban

As of Jan 1st, 2020 the NCAA is no longer allowing white bats in College Baseball. This is a safety concern that will allow pitchers to pick up the ball earlier off the bat—assuming its coming right back at him.

This white bat ban is NOT FOR HIGH SCHOOL (NFHS) or any other Sanctions, ONLY NCAA.

The rule applies to every bat. So, even older models will be retroactively made illegal.

Rule 1.12.b.7: Requires that the baseball bat barrel color between the 18-inch mark and the end cap (the hitting area) must be a color(s) that is predominantly contrasting to the color of the baseball.

Prohibited BBCOR Bat List Updated as of Feb 4, 2020. Check Here for More updates: NCAA Rules

Prohibited NCAA BBCOR Baseball Bats

 

USSSA 13u Bat Requirements

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.

Do you have a Warranty? Can you trust who you're buying from? The Manufacturers are cracking down extremely hard! So here are some easy things to look for to make sure you are covered:

 

Buy From Authorized Dealers

Make sure you are buying from an authorized dealer! If you buy your products from an unauthorized dealer the manufacturers will NOT honor the warranty!

• We are an authorized dealer for every brand that we carry!

How do I know if the Dealer is Authorized? Larger trustworthy brands will be authorized and often will have a list of who they are an authorized dealer for. To absolutely make sure you can contact the manufacturer directly and ask if the store you're looking to buy from is an authorized dealer.

 

Do Not Buy From 3rd Party Selling Sites (Amazon, eBay, Facebook, etc)

If you buy on a 3rd Party Site you DO NOT have a warranty! Including Amazon, Facebook, EBay, Walmart.com and others!

• Buying direct from the manufacturer on Amazon you will have a warranty.
• Buying from other Resellers you will NOT! Even if they are an Authorized dealer buying from an Amazon or Ebay etc page from them voids that Warranty!

Even if the dealer at the point of purchase tells you that you have a warranty the manufacturers will not honor it if your receipt comes from one of these places.

 

Warranty's Do Not Transfer

If you buy a bat from another parent, coach, etc the warranty does not transfer! The receipt has to be in your name! If it is someone on your team or that you know you might have to ask them to send it back on your behalf.

 

This is all crazy, but as we deal with the manufacturers on a daily basis we wanted to pass along the changes that have happened recently. We want to make sure that customers know what is happening and so they don't have issues if they have to send in a warranty claim.

If you do decide to buy from an unauthorized dealer or from a 3rd party site know that you are purchasing at your own risk!

We hope that this helps some of you and if you have any questions please contact us! We'd love to help as much as we can!

CONTACT US

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

	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.
	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

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.

Changes are coming for all of you playing Middle School Baseball in 2019. The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has made a ruling regarding the bats allowed in Junior High/Middle School play. They must either meet the BBCOR standard or have the USA Baseball stamp. Bats with the USSSA 1.15 BPF standard will not be allowed in Junior High/Middle School play. The changes were intended to begin in 2018 but they were postponed until 2019.

This information can be found on the MHSAA website about halfway down the page.

What do we recommend? If you can swing a BBCOR it is your best bet to get one as you will be able to use it for multiple years. In the past when 1.15 BPF bats were allowed it was beneficial to swing those as they have more pop. The difference between the BBCOR and USA Baseball bats is much smaller. If you cannot swing a Drop 3 (-3) we recommend a Drop 5 (-5) USA Bat as you will have to swing BBCOR (Drop 3) in 14 & Under travel play and in High School.

 

What are the Different Bat Certifications?

SHOP BBCOR Bats

SHOP USA Baseball Bats