Baseball Gear Guides
A Guide to Baseball and Softball Bat Certifications
O C T 29, 2023
In this article, we’ll cover:
- Baseball Bat Certifications
- Fastpitch Softball Bat Certifications
- Slowpitch Softball Bat Certifications
- Bat Certification FAQs
Although baseball bats might look the same at a surface level, bats also include differing certifications for various leagues. One way leagues regulate bats is through Bat Performance Factor (BPF) which is the increase in liveliness when hitting a baseball versus throwing a baseball against a wall. For example, the higher the BPF is, the faster the ball will come off of the bat.
BBCOR
BBCOR bats are used by players who play high school or college baseball. BBCOR itself stands for “Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution” and all bats with this certification will perform at a max level of .50 BBCOR. All BBCOR baseball bats will also feature a -3 drop weight. For example, if a BBCOR bat is 32 inches in length it will also weigh 29 ounces. Check out our full selection of BBCOR baseball bats to find the perfect bat for you.
USSSA
USSSA baseball bats will cover all youth baseball ages from 5 to 14 years old. Unlike BBCOR bats, USSSA baseball bats must have a maximum 1.15 BPF in order to be USSSA certified. With USSSA bats covering such a wide range of ages, different drop weights are provided with these bats and depend on the league and tournament the player is participating in. Shop our full selection of USSSA baseball bats to find one that fits your play.
USA Baseball
The final bat certification that is featured on baseball bats is the certification for USA Baseball. Just like USSSA bats, USA Baseball certified bats cover an age range of 5-14 years old. However, USA Baseball-approved bats use a similar performance standard to that of a wood baseball bat. Short paragraph on the USSSA certification. USA Baseball has created this standard in an effort to provide long-term integrity to the game. Get ready for your season and shop our full selection of USA Baseball bats.
USA fastpitch softball bats are formerly/also ASA approved as ASA has changed their name to USA. Although this can be confusing, both stamps are legal for play in USA (ASA) leagues. These bats will meet USA (ASA)’s 98 MPH certification standard in order to be legal for play. Shop our full selection of USA (ASA) fastpitch softball bats and gear up for your season!
NSA
Just like baseball bats, NSA softball bats will also adhere to BPF standards. The maximum BPF prevalent on NSA bats to be legal is 1.20. A 1.20 BPF will increase the liveliness of a ball hitting a bat by 20%.
USSSA
USSSA fastpitch softball bats, like NSA, will feature a 1.20 BPF in order to be legal for play. Just like NSA bats, the 1.20 BPF USSSA bats will also increase the rebound of the ball off the bat by 20%. Check out our full selection of USSSA fastpitch softball bats here.
The USA/ASA 98 adheres to the standard that all bats will perform at about 98 MPH. This means that no bat shall have an exit velocity greater than 98 MPH upon contact with the softball.
USA/ASA Only
Along the same lines as the USA/ASA 98, the USA/ASA Only certified bats will adhere to a standard of 100 MPH. Furthermore, all bats with this certification will not provide exit velocities higher than 100 MPH upon contact with the softball.
NSA (1.20 BPF)
NSA (1.20 BPF) certified bats will have a Bat Performance Factor of 1.20. This means that the ball will not rebound more than 20% faster once contact is made with the bat.
USSSA (Thumbprint or 220 lb Compression)
The USSSA (Thumbprint or 220 lb Compression) certification also relies on a Bat Performance Factor in order to be certified. Bats with this stamp have a BPF of 1.20 as well and will not rebound more than 20% faster once contact is made with the bat.
USSSA (240 lb Compression)
The USSSA (240 lb Compression) certification has higher compression than the USSSA (Thumbprint or 220 lb Compression) certified bats. This means that the 240 lb Compression certified bats will have less pop than the 220 lb compression bats. Although both certifications have a BPF of 1.20, the compression will affect how the ball comes off of the bat.
1.21 BPF
The 1.21 BPF certification is mostly used in senior slowpitch leagues such as SSUSA. These bats have a slightly higher BPF of 1.21, as compared to 1.20, which will have a slightly higher rebound upon contact with the ball.
Are NSA and ASA the same?
No, NSA and ASA adhere to different standards in order to be certified. NSA relies on a BPF of 1.20 or lower to be certified while ASA bats must have exit velocities less than 98 MPH or 100 MPH depending on which ASA certification. However, it is possible that a bat can be both NSA and USA/ASA certified.
What does 1.15 BPF mean?
1.15 BPF refers to the Bat Performance Factor that these particular bats must be under. A 1.15 BPF means that these bats will rebound 15% faster or less upon contact with the ball.
What does it mean if a bat is BBCOR certified?
If a bat is BBCOR certified, it means that these bats are approved for high school and college baseball. Furthermore, BBCOR stands for Bat Ball Coefficient of Restitution which has to do with how fast the ball trampolines off the bat.
What does BBCOR certified 50 mean?
The .50 on BBCOR certified bats means that if a ball is thrown at 100 MPH, a stationary bat will rebound that ball at a maximum of 50 MPH. BBCOR certifications came into effect in 2011 in an effort to increase player safety by minimizing the trampoline effect of bats.
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