bat question

[cmathews]

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?

[mbyron]

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.

[TwoBits]

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.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by TwoBits

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.

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

[nopachunts]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

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.

[CT1]

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

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

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

Length is NOT a ratio.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by CT1

Length is NOT a ratio.

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

[mbyron]

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.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by CT1

Length is 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.

[legend]

Originally Posted by cmathews

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?

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.

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by legend

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.

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

Aluminum or composite.

Rita

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Rita C

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

Aluminum or composite.

Rita

Not so in minors/majors.

In Juniors? Not per the rule book.

[legend]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

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

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by legend

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

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

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Not so in minors/majors.

In Juniors? Not per the rule book.

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...

Rita