ASA Wooden Bats

[NCASAUmp]

During your pre-game equipment inspection, the team presents a wooden bat that they say they would like to use. It appears to be brand new, and it meets all of the requirements of Rule 3-1 with one exception: no 2000 or 2004 stamp.

Do you allow it?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

During your pre-game equipment inspection, the team presents a wooden bat that they say they would like to use. It appears to be brand new, and it meets all of the requirements of Rule 3-1 with one exception: no 2000 or 2004 stamp.

Do you allow it?

NCASAUmp:

Why wouldn't you allow it?

MTD, Sr.

[NDblue]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

During your pre-game equipment inspection, the team presents a wooden bat that they say they would like to use. It appears to be brand new, and it meets all of the requirements of Rule 3-1 with one exception: no 2000 or 2004 stamp.

Do you allow it?

Yep. Don't think I've seen any wood bats on the banned bat list. If it says "OFFICIAL SOFTBALL" on it, I'm letting them swing away. I also don't think ASA certifies wood bats so there wouldn't be a stamp on it anyways.

edit to add: Rule 3 -1 makes an exception for wood bats. They don't need an ASA approval stamp to be used.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by NDblue

Yep. Don't think I've seen any wood bats on the banned bat list. If it says "OFFICIAL SOFTBALL" on it, I'm letting them swing away. I also don't think ASA certifies wood bats so there wouldn't be a stamp on it anyways.

edit to add: Rule 3 -1 makes an exception for wood bats. They don't need an ASA approval stamp to be used.

ASA does, in fact, certify wood bats.

And the 2010 rule book does not state that there are any exceptions to wood bats.

[NDblue]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

And the 2010 rule book does not state that there are any exceptions to wood bats.

I was going on memory. Apparently they've removed the exception wording in that rule. I still don't think I'm going to stop anybody from using a wood bat if it says "OFFICIAL SOFTBALL" on it.

[Tru_in_Blu]

Originally Posted by NDblue

I was going on memory. Apparently they've removed the exception wording in that rule. I still don't think I'm going to stop anybody from using a wood bat if it says "OFFICIAL SOFTBALL" on it.

Perhaps you were thinking of the NFHS exception?

1-5-1-d
...Bats made entirely of wood are permitted and need not bear an ASA mark.

[NCASAUmp]

My thoughts on the matter:

I don't think wood bats are any more dangerous than an approved Freak 98. In fact, I think that their performance is typically just above that of an Easton Hammer.

However, the letter of the rule is clear: all bats, regardless of whether they're composite, metal or wood, must meet the qualifications of ASA Rule 3-1. If I think it's pre-2000, it doesn't need the stamp. Otherwise, it must have the stamp.

And since ASA is certifying wooden bats (such as the Viper), I believe that further reinforces the argument that ASA does not view wood bats any differently than composite or metal bats.

[NDblue]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Perhaps you were thinking of the NFHS exception?

1-5-1-d
...Bats made entirely of wood are permitted and need not bear an ASA mark.

I've never done NFHS so I'm not thinking of their rule. I did find where I read it pertaining to ASA rules. http://downloads.asasoftball.com/abo...dated_FAQs.pdf