Legal Safety Grip?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Speaking ASA

Referring solely to the handle, is this bat legal with the safety grip applied as it is here?

Softball Bat

[BretMan]

I'll say no because the grip itself is only 8" long, not a minimum of 10".

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by BretMan

I'll say no because the grip itself is only 8" long, not a minimum of 10".

Better check your rule changes.

[BretMan]

Or the calendar- it's still 2011!

[NCASAUmp]

I would say no, not legal.

In my interpretation of the safety grip rule, the 10"-15" (6"-15" in 2012) measurement starts from the safety knob, not simply where the tape happens to start.

[okla21fan]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I would say no, not legal.

In my interpretation of the safety grip rule, the 10"-15" (6"-15" in 2012) measurement starts from the safety knob, not simply where the tape happens to start.

agreed.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Or the calendar- it's still 2011!

Okay, you got me. For the purpose of this question, let's refer to the 2012 ASA rules.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Received an e-mail today from member NUS concerning my question.

He agrees that over the past couple of reworking of the rule defining the bat the wording which would require one end of the safety tape/grip to abut the portion of the bat defined as the safety knob.

He suggested this would be addressed next November.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Received an e-mail today from member NUS concerning my question.

He agrees that over the past couple of reworking of the rule defining the bat the wording which would require one end of the safety tape/grip to abut the portion of the bat defined as the safety knob.

He suggested this would be addressed next November.

So, in other words, not legal?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

So, in other words, not legal?

Correct, just that if challenged, we (umpires) have nothing to back up that position at this moment.

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Correct, just that if challenged, we (umpires) have nothing to back up that position at this moment.

Actually we have the rule that empowers umpires to rule on anything no specifically addressed in the rule book. No one seems to ever read that rule.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Actually we have the rule that empowers umpires to rule on anything no specifically addressed in the rule book. No one seems to ever read that rule.

That would be true if the location of the safety grip were NOT mentioned in the rules. But it is, so that option would not apply. Hopefully, now that the NUS is aware of the wording lost over the past couple years, there will be a clarification.