"2 layers of tape" rule for bats

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by gsf23
I am a player and I umpired for ten years (ASA Certified)before I moved to an area that didn't have any softball so I've been out of it for a couple of years.

The rule I was refereing too and I don't remember it exactly because I don't have a rule book with me, but when it came to the handle on the bat, I remember something about the cone or flare grip being illegal unless it was permantly attached to the bat. I know that Louiville and Easton all have bat models that have tapered handles that are legal for ASA play.

Examples of a bat with a tapered handle that is legal for ASA play:
http://www.softball.com/prodimages/ST7Z.jpg
http://www.softball.com/prodimages/TECHFIRE.jpg

As I said before, I've been playing for about 15 years, umpired for ten, and I have always taped my bat the same way, never have I had an umpire tell me it was illegal.

[Edited by gsf23 on Jan 4th, 2003 at 04:51 PM]

ASA 3.1 THE OFFICIAL BAT
L. It may be molded, lathe, welded or permanently fashtened. A "flare" or "cone" grip attached to the bat will be considered altered. The know may be taped as long as there is no violation of this section.


ASA requires the knob to be concentric to the bat handle with a minimum diameter one-half inch greater than the handle diameter including the grip. The knob portion adjacent to the grip must extend at least one-eighth inch beyond the grip and be with 10 degrees of the perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

Hope that helps.