Choosing the right bat means knowing your league’s certification requirements. At Diamond Sport Gear, our Baseball & Softball Bat Certifications Guide explains the major standards—USA, USSSA, BBCOR, NSA, and SSUSA—so you can swing confidently and legally. Each certification regulates bat performance, barrel flexibility, and power output to ensure safe and fair play. Whether you’re hitting in youth baseball, fastpitch softball, or slowpitch tournaments, our guide helps you understand what the stamps mean, which bats qualify, and how to select the right one for your level of play.
What does BPF mean? Bat Performance Factor (BPF) is simply the increase in the liveliness of a ball hitting a bat compared to throwing a ball against a solid wall. For example a 20% faster rebound = a BPF of 1.20. The major baseball and softball organizations have adopted the BPF standard to determine whether a bat is legal for play.
BASEBALL BAT CERTIFICATIONS
- BBCOR (0.50 BPF): Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution. This certification is the standard that regulates the overall performance of adult bats used by high school and collegiate players. BBCOR measures the trampoline effect of the bat. BBCOR bats are only made in a drop 3 (-3) or minus 3 and have a 2 5/8" Barrel. Search available BBCOR Certified Baseball Bats.
- USSSA (1.15 BPF): Bat Performance Factor measures how fast the ball comes off of the bat. 1.15 is the standard for travel baseball bats. Includes 2 1/4" Barrel, 2 5/8" Barrel, & 2 3/4" Barrel bats. Search available USSSA 1.15 Certified Baseball Bats.
- New NTS Stamp (2020): Nothing is Changing with the Current Standard and Both Stamps are LEGAL! There is nothing to worry about the new stamp simply denotes the new bats that are tested at the NTS Facility.
- USA Baseball (Little League): Effective on January 1, 2018, Little League Baseball will adhere to the new USABat standard. NO bats previously approved for use in Little League Play (Junior League Baseball and below) will be permitted to be used in any Little League game or practice, or other Little League function, event, or activity. USA Baseball believes that a wood-like performance standard will best provide for the long-term integrity of the game. The new bats will be designed to perform much like wood and BBCOR bats. USA Baseball bats can be 2 5/8" Barrel or smaller. For more information read our New USA Baseball Standard post. Search available USA Baseball Certified Bats.
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INK DOT (Wood): An ink dot on a bat certifies that the wood is MLB grade. Often MLB-quality wood bats are bone-rubbed, which is the process of making a bat denser by compressing the wood. Search available MLB Ink Dot Wood Bats.
FASTPITCH SOFTBALL BAT CERTIFICATIONS
- USA (ASA) / NSA / USSSA: Bats that meets USA (ASA)'s 98 MPH certification and the Bat Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.20 for NSA and USSSA. Almost all Fastpitch softball bats meet both standards. Search available ASA / NSA / USSSA Certified Fastpitch Bats.
- ASA Has changed their name to USA. Both Stamps are Legal and will be the USA stamp moving forward.
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ASA Only: Bats that only meet the ASA 98 MPH standard and NOT the 1.20 BPF standard, including the Easton Ghost.
SLOWPITCH SOFTBALL BAT CERTIFICATIONS
- USA (ASA) (98 MPH / ASA Only): There are two different standards for ASA for Slowpitch and Fastpitch softball governed leagues. The traditional 2004 98 MPH certification that can be found on All Association (ASA / NSA / USSSA) bats and the ASA Only 2013 certification. All association bats will perform at about 98 MPH while the ASA Only bats will preform at about 100 MPH. Search available All Association Slowpitch Softball Bats or ASA Only Slowpitch Softball Bats.
- NSA (1.20 BPF): Bat Performance Factor for Slowpitch softball governed leagues. Bat Performance Factor (BPF) is simply the increase in the liveliness of a ball hitting a bat compared to throwing a ball against a solid wall. For example a 20% faster rebound = a BPF of 1.20. Search available NSA Slowpitch Softball Bats.
- USSSA (Thumbprint or 220 lb Compression): Bat Performance Factor for Slowpitch softball governed leagues. Bat Performance Factor (BPF) is simply the increase in the liveliness of a ball hitting a bat compared to throwing a ball against a solid wall. For example a 20% faster rebound = a BPF of 1.20. Search available USSSA Slowpitch Softball Bats.
- UPDATE 11/17/22: BANNED from USSSA Slowpitch Tournament Play starting 1/1/23. Still Legal for USSSA League Play. As of September 1st, 2020 Bat Manufacturers can no longer make USSSA bats to this Standard. They must meet their new 240 NTS Standard. 220 lb Bats have more pop than 240 lb compression bats!