USSSA BAT RULES
THE OFFICIAL BAT shall be round in cross section, straight in length, and
measure not more than 34 inches long including tape or other grip additions to the bat, and
not more than 2-1/4 inches in diameter at its largest part and its weight shall not exceed 31-
1/2 ounces, including tape or grip addition to the bat. The bat shall have a safety grip of
tape or some other material to facilitate holding the bat during the batter’s swing. The safety
grip shall be not less than 10 inches long, nor extend more than 15 inches from the
small end or handle end of the bat. Graphics, including BPF markings, must be permanent
and cannot be decals or any other method that can be easily removed or added to the bat.
A. THE BAT may be made of hard wood of one piece, or laminated from sections
of hard wood bonded together with adhesive in such a way that the grain
directions of all the pieces are essentially parallel to the length of the bat.
B. THE BAT may also be made of aluminum or other metals, fiberglass,
graphite, or a composite material. The bat may be made in pieces from different
materials but must have a closed barrel end and may be modular with interchangeable
parts, subject to additional safety and tampering requirements as set
forth in the standard USSSA Bat Licensing Agreement. The knob portion must
be welded, or mechanically attached to the bat. Only USSSA approved bats,
USSSA approved weighted bats, or USSSA approved bat weight attachments
may be used in loosening up. Nothing such as a donut or fan may be used when
loosening up.
C. Authorized bat manufacturers shall mark their products with the words
“Official Softball” or words to that effect. If the words “Official Softball” are
illegible or it is a Little League bat, the bat should be declared legal if it is legal
in all other respects. When a bat does not meet the specifications as defined, has
flat spots or pronounced dents, or if in the Umpire’s judgment, the bat has been
altered, the Umpire shall prohibit the use of the doubtful bat.
D. The performance standard for all non-wooden bats will be a Bat
Performance Factor (BPF) of 1.20, or less under the ASTM BPF test as applied
under the standard USSSA Bat License Agreement. A list of those bats licensed
and complying with this standard and therefore legal in USSSA play shall be
kept by USSSA and published and made available by means including, but not
limited to, the USSSAWebsite. Only bats on the published list will be legal for
USSSA play. In addition, no bat shall be legal in USSSA play unless it is marked
“USSSA BPF 1.20”; bats manufactured before January 1, 2004, are to be
marked “1.20 BPF” or BPF 1.20.”
E. A USSSA Director may at any time ask to inspect a bat that has been
brought into the location of a USSSA sanctioned event. The owner and/or user
may either:
a) Allow the Director to inspect the bat and reach a conclusion as to
whether or not the bat might be altered. If, after making the inspection, the
Director in his discretion decides that the bat might be an altered bat, the
suspected offending owner and/or user will be subject to Rule 7, Sec. 2B
and may:
- i.) Allow the Director to send the bat to the USSSA Altered Bat
Committee and/or Manufacturer of the bat for a determination as to
whether or not the bat is altered. NOTE: During the time of the examination
of the bat by the Manufacturer/Altered Bat Committee, the
USSSA, by the discretion of the USSSA Altered Bat Committee, may
suspend the suspected offending player pending the decision. If the
Manufacturer or the USSSA Altered Bat Committee determines that
the bat has been altered, the Altered Bat Committee may suspend a
first time offender for up to two years from USSSA play. For a second
time offender, any suspension may be up to lifetime.
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ii.) Accept a one year (up to life for second time offenders) suspension
from USSSA play with no right to appeal.
b) Withhold the bat from inspection and accept a one year (up to life for
second time offenders) suspension from USSSA play with no right to
appeal.
F. After examination of a bat to determine if it is altered, the bat shall be
returned to the owner. No owner and/or player altered bat suspensions will occur
unless the bat is determined to be altered.
G. If a Player withholds a suspected altered bat from inspection or refuses to
allow a Director to send the suspected bat to the USSSA Altered Bat committee
and/or manufacturer of the bat for a determination as to whether or not the bat is
altered, said Player and listed Manager and Coaches will be automatically suspended
and his/her team will be forfeited from the sanctioned event and placed
last in the standings.
H. If a Player submits a suspected altered bat, no awards will be given to
his/her team until the bat is determined to be legal. If the bat is found to be
altered, no awards or berth will be given and the team will be placed last in the
standings. Said Player and listed Manager and coaches will be suspended as stated
in the Rules and By-Laws.
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