bat question
 

Hi guys,
Football basketball guy here just looking for a little clarification.

The -3 designation for aluminum bats, is intended to make bats perform more like wood correct?

My son plays in a youth league (13-14) yr olds. Not sure of which rule set, most like a modification of some other set. However it apparantly says that in order for a bat to be legal it must have the -3 designation.

If a kid came to the plate with a wood bat with out the -3 designation, would you allow it in the game or throw it out because it doesn't say -3?

Non-wood bats can be much lighter than wood bats of the same length. So the ratio restriction limits how fast a given player can swing a bat of a given length. So, yes, that's somewhat to make it more like wood: but the BBCOR and BESR standards are more about performance than the ratio.

The penalty for an illegal bat is that the batter is out. If detected before the batter entered the batters box, we simply disallow the use of the bat. If the batter gets a hit with an illegal bat it's a little more complicated.

Speaking FED rules, the -3 rule applies to bats "not made of a single piece of wood". See rule 1-3-2c.

There are no restrictions on weight to length ratio on wood bats.

If your sons league is governed by Little League International the bbcor rating is only required on composit bats. Those ones must be -3 with the bbcor stamp on them. All other aluminum bats are legal, provided they comply with the proper barrell deminsions and drop requirements. However you may want to inquire with the local league to see if they have implemented their own league by-laws regarding the bats.

If it's one piece of wood, play on.

The BBCOR is for all bats not made of wood for Little League International rules

Aluminum or composite.

Rita

It depends on what level of LL you are in. You are correct for the age specified in the OP but it isn't that across all of LL.

If you are majors or below the non-wood bat must have a BPF rating of 1.15 or lower - no drop limit - 2 1/4" max diameter. Bats with a composite barrell must be on the approved composite bat list at the LL web site.

If you are in juniors (13-14) composite bats must be BBCOR. Other non-wood are 2 5/8" max diameter and have no drop limit

If you are in seniors and above (14-18) ALL non-wood bats must be BBCOR, 2 5/8" max and -3 drop max.

thanks
 

Thanks guys and gals for all the responses I will inquire more tonite...in the mean time my sons coach told him to take a wood burner and burn -3 in his bat LOL....This morning I told him, it is kinda funny and all, but if I was and umpire that wouldn't allow a wood bat without the -3, then wood burning it wouldn't make a difference LOL...

And if it was my son, I would be personnaly telling his coach, that is the last time I want you to suggest to my son to do something that may circumvent the rules of the game he is participating in. JMO.

Not so in minors/majors.

In Juniors? Not per the rule book.

Thank you Rich, she is incorrect bbcor has nothing to do with the 9-12 year old age groups

Yes, not for minors/majors. But we weren't talking about that age group.

I don't know where I was looking when I looked it up before I posted. But you are correct. For Juniors, it's only the composite bats that must be BBCOR.

For Seniors, (we have no Juniors in our league this season) the rule is all bats not wood must be BBCOR, -3. Aluminum or composite.

I really don't understand where people get the idea that wood bats are under the same rules. It's clear enough in the rules.

Oh wait, I guess I'm expecting people to read the rules...:eek:

Rita

We weren't talking about that age group.

9-12 have BPF 1.15 and composite barrels must be on the approved list.

I misread before i posted. Juniors, only composite bats must be BBCOR. Seniors, all non-wood must be BBCOR.

Rita

No offense ... and it's not usually just you... but is anyone else tired of this kind of snittery?

Question: If X and Y and Z happen, then is BR out?
Answer: Yes.
Snit: Not always! If X is not true, and something else happens that is also not in the OP, then BR is NOT out.

Come on.

I don't have a problem with it in this case. Dealing with the misunderstandings in LL that we come across, it is important that the answer is clear.

Rita

Rita and I have been internet "friends" for many many years on various boards. She's caught me in muisunderstandings also.

What we both want to do is make sure everyone understands the rules.

In this case there was an implication that the LL Junior rules were the overall LL rules while in fact the LL bat rules vary by level. We should always make an effort to get things straightned out so the lurkers don't go away with a misunderstanding. It'll save some future grief at a game somewhere.

EXACTLY!

Rita

Check the FED rule book, I was thinking 36" was the maximum length of a one piece wood bat.

Correct as per 1-3-3.

Length is NOT a ratio.

Of course, neither is the restriction. –3 is a differential, not a ratio. :)

I know, and when they say way to rake it, it doesn't mean they batted with a rake. (or fixed the field for that matter either).

Years ago I had a maple bat that was a 35-29. You don't see that everyday. That little extra weight toward the end gave it some good pop at a very light weight. Less weight=more bat speed. The best of both worlds.

There's no differential limit for wood bats because they tend to limit themselves. A bat that's too long and too light (less than –3) is likely to break, which is not an advantage for the batter.

Correct. Sometimes the bat maker will come across a one of a kind billet.

Not the house itself. It's an inanimate object and doesn't eat anything - or scare them away for that matter. :D

LL coaches read the rules? Fat chance, lol! :D