USABat Frequently Asked Questions
Click here to learn more about High School Baseball Expanding Drop Weight Options Under USA BBCOR and USABat
What is happening with the USABat and BBCOR standards at the High School level?
The NFHS Rules Committee voted to adopt the newly named USA BBCOR performance standard and expand permitted bat drop weights in high school baseball to include USABat -4, USABat -5, and USABat -6. These bats will be permitted for use beginning in the 2028 season. Additionally, previously certified BBCOR .50 bats will be permitted for play indefinitely.
The following bats and marks will be permitted for play at the high school level starting the 2028 season:
- BBCOR .50
- USA BBCOR
- USABat -4, USABat -5, USABat -6
What is USABat -4, -5, -6?
Beginning in the 2028 season, NFHS (high school baseball) will allow USABat approved bats with a -4, -5 or -6 drop weight. Approved USABat -4,USABat -5, USABat -6 bats feature the USA Baseball certification mark and accompanying drop weight number on the bat’s taper. This classification establishes an equipment bridge between youth baseball and high school baseball, which has historically required an immediate jump to a BBCOR (-3) bat. This allows developing athletes the opportunity to swing a lighter bat before fully transitioning to a heavier drop weight.
Can USABats be used in high school play?
Yes. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has ruled that effective January 1, 2028, bats that are not made of a single piece of wood must be a USA BBCOR bat, a BBCOR .50 bat, or a USABat -4, USABat -5, or USABat -6 USABat.
Will players be able to hit a ball harder and further with a USABat -4, USABat -5, USABat -6 vs. BBCOR -3 bat?
A player may be able to swing a lighter USABat faster than a heavier BBCOR bat. However, that player would also have less mass and momentum behind their swing with a lighter weight bat. The science tells us that, all other things being equal, the mass of the bat has a more significant impact on batted-ball speeds than swing speed. So, a player swinging a lighter bat will generally achieve a lower exit velocity than they would with a heavier bat, even if they can swing the bat a bit faster. Both factors matter, but players will hit the hardest when swinging the heaviest bat they can manage.
What are the specifications for a USABat?
All USABats are held to a wood-like performance standard, meaning the bat’s coefficient of restitution (or its trampoline effect) mirrors a wood bat. Historically, USABats have been certified with a length less than or equal to 32″ and a barrel diameter less than or equal to 2 5/8″, with very few exceptions that are not eligible for high school play. Under current standards, no USABats can be manufactured with a length longer than 32”.
Do USABats perform differently than BBCOR bats?
No, both the USABat and BBCOR create a wood-like bat performance standard for non wood bats.
How will I know which bat to buy?
The following list states what USA Certified Bats are permitted at different levels of play. Note approved bats must feature a permanent certification mark on the barrel. Temporary labels, stickers, or decals are prohibited.
- Tee Ball
- USABat Tee Ball – Tee ball bat with the USA Baseball Mark & wording that states ‘Only for Use with Approved Tee Balls’
- USABat Youth – Youth baseball bats with the USA Baseball mark and tampering statement are also permitted for play.
- Youth Baseball
- USABat Youth – Bats with a USA Baseball mark are approved for play at any drop weight.
- Some divisions may allow USA BBCOR, but it is not recommended for youth players.
- High School Baseball
- USABat -4, USABat -5, USABat -6 – Beginning in the 2028 season, bats with a USA Baseball mark and a -4, -5, or -6 drop weight will be permitted for high school play.
- USA BBCOR – Beginning in the 2028 season, bats with a USA Baseball BBCOR Certified .50 mark will be permitted for high school play.
- BBCOR – Bats with a BBCOR .50 mark are permitted for play.
- College Baseball
- BBCOR – Bats with a BBCOR .50 mark are permitted for play through the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Starting January 1, 2029, only USA BBCOR bats will be permitted for play.
- USA BBCOR – Beginning in the 2028 season, bats with a USA Baseball BBCOR Mark will be permitted for play.
The following chart displays what is permitted vs what is recommended at different levels of play for USABat tee ball, USABat Youth, USABat -4, USABat -5, or USABat -6, BBCOR, and USA BBCOR.
Which NMOs and other organizations have implemented the USABat standard?
To date, the following organizations are participating
AABC
Babe Ruth Baseball/Cal Ripken Baseball
DYB Baseball
DBB Baseball
Little League Baseball
PONY Baseball
NABF
Dizzy Dean Baseball
NFHS
NCAA
What bats can be used in specific leagues and divisions?
Youth Leagues & National Member Organizations (NMOs)
Approved Bats: All USABat drop weights are legal for play in the leagues and divisions listed below.
- AABC
- Nolan Ryan, Pee Wee Reese, Gil Hodges, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente division tournaments
- Babe Ruth & Cal Ripken
- Tee Ball
- Cal Ripken Baseball
- Babe Ruth Baseball (13-15)
- DYB & DBB
- DYB Baseball
- DBB Baseball
- Little League Baseball
- Tee-Ball Division
- Minor League Baseball Division
- Little League Baseball (or the Major Division)
- Intermediate (50/70) Division
- Junior League Baseball Division
- PONY Baseball
- Shetland 6u
- Pinto 8u
- Mustang 10u
- Bronco 12u
- Pony 14u
- NABF
- Rookie Division 10u
- Freshman Division 12u
- Sophomore Division 14u
- Dizzy Dean Baseball
- 6 year old division
- 7 year old division
- 8 year old division
- 9 year old division
- 10 year old division
- 11 year old division
- 12 year old division
A full list of certified bats for these leagues can be found here.
High School & Collegiate Leagues
Approved Bats: Beginning in the 2028 season, bats approved for these leagues are as follows:
- NFHS – High School
- BBCOR
- USA BBCOR
- USABat limited to -4, -5, and -6 drop weights
- NCAA – College
- BBCOR (permitted for play until January 1, 2029)
- USA BBCOR
Starting July 1st, 2027, USA Baseball will host a full list of certified USABat -4, USABat -5, USABat-6, and USA BBCOR bats at USABat.com.
How is the USABat standard different from the BBCOR standard?
Both USABat and BBCOR bat performance tests are based on the coefficient of restitution from a bat-ball impact. The scale of results is different, however, since they use different test balls and test speeds. The testing difference is necessary to address the various levels of play in the respective age groups. That said, the two standards establish similar performance limits for bats.
The performance of BBCOR and USA Baseball [youth] bats are nearly identical (within about 0.005 BBCOR). The primary difference between the bats is USA Baseball bats do not have the -3 drop weight restriction. The lighter USA Baseball [youth] bats are easier to swing (particularly for developing hitters); this can result in higher batting averages, but not higher hit ball speed. The lighter USA Baseball [youth] bats will produce slightly lower hit ball speeds than the BBCOR bats. Since USA Baseball [youth] bats can be produced in a -3 drop weight, and would be nearly identical to BBCOR bats, we see no reason why BBCOR and USA Baseball’s [youth] bats could not be combined in play for leagues choosing this option. However, we note that mixing BBCOR and USA Baseball [youth] bats increases the range of player ability using these bats. Rules ensuring players of comparable ability are on the field will lower the likelihood of an advanced hitter putting an inexperienced pitcher at risk. — Dr. Lloyd Smith and Dr. Alan Nathan
Why use a wood-like standard for metal and composite bats?
USA Baseball’s national member organizations believe that a wood-like performance standard best provides for the long-term integrity of the game. The USABat standard does not have a drop-weight limit, so young players can use bats made with light-weight materials.
Why not just use wood bats?
The national member organizations asked USA Baseball as the national governing body to take the lead in this process to establish a new standard. Many other national governing bodies set and enforce standards for the equipment in their respective sports. To that end, USA Baseball established a Bat Study Committee of leading scientists and conducted theoretical modeling, field testing and lab testing. The committee shared its findings with the national member organizations, who then endorsed the new USABat standard.
Why is USA Baseball involved?
The national member organizations asked USA Baseball as the national governing body to take the lead in this process to establish a new standard. Many other national governing bodies set and enforce standards for the equipment in their respective sports. To that end, USA Baseball established a Bat Study Committee of leading scientists and conducted theoretical modeling, field testing and lab testing. The committee shared its findings with the national member organizations, who then endorsed the new USABat standard.
Who were the scientists on the USA Baseball Bat Study Committee?
- Alan Nathan, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Illinois
- Dan Russell, Ph.D. Professor of Acoustics at Penn State University
- Glenn Fleisig, Ph.D. Research Director of American Sports Medicine Institute
Are wood bats allowed in leagues that require USABat?
Yes. Solid, one piece wood bats are approved for use under USABat with or without the USA Baseball Certification Mark. Multi-piece and composite wood bats must feature the USA Baseball Certification Mark to be approved for play.
How are USABats certified?
Bats must undergo performance testing and receive a final approval from USA Baseball to receive USABat certification. A bat maker’s first step in this process is to produce a bat design sample and submit it to the Washington State University (WSU) Sports Science Lab for performance testing. Submissions that pass USA Baseball’s Performance Test Protocol become eligible for certification. To clarify, this means the bat has been performance tested in a controlled lab setting to confirm that it performs at a wood-like standard. The bat maker must then send a sample of the same design to USA Baseball for final approval of graphics. USA Baseball’s certification gives the bat maker rights to manufacture the same design for retail sale that passed testing at WSU with the graphics that were approved by USA Baseball as well as add the USA Baseball mark on the bat’s handle. All approved bats are added to the USABat Approved List at USABat.com.
How does a bat decertification happen?
In order for USA Baseball to ensure the integrity of the USABat standard, USA Baseball reserves the right to compliance test any bat on the USABat approved bat list at any time. Compliance tests are undertaken to ensure that production bats sold at retail meet the USABat standard and are identical to the bats submitted by the manufacturers during the initial certification process. In the event of a compliance test, select bat models are purchased at retail and tested at the Washington State University Sports Science Lab using the original certification test process. If the test reveals the bat model being sold at retail does not comply with USABat performance and design requirements, the bat is deemed noncompliant and the decertification process begins.
What does bat decertification mean?
Bat decertification means that production bats being sold at retail of a previously approved USABat model are not in compliance with the USABat standard. To clarify, the USABat standard requires that bats manufactured for retail sale match the design that was initially certified by USA Baseball in both performance and design. Once a bat model has been decertified, it is no longer approved for play in leagues that have adopted USABat and subject to league rules concerning the use of illegal or unapproved bats.
When is a bat decertification announced?
USA Baseball is obligated to announce a bat decertification once compliance testing has been completed and USA Baseball receives conclusive evidence that a bat model is not compliant with the USABat standard.
Why not wait until the end of the season to announce a bat decertification?
Both USA Baseball and the bat manufacturer are obligated to announce a bat decertification once compliance testing has been completed and after USA Baseball has conclusive evidence that a bat model is out of compliance with the USABat standard. The use of a noncompliant bat in leagues that have adopted USABat compromises the integrity of the standard and creates an uneven playing field across youth baseball. Therefore, in order to maintain integrity with the performance metrics set by the USABat standard, noncompliant bats must be decertified and removed from play immediately.
What happens if my bat is decertified?
If a previously approved USABat is decertified, the bat manufacturer is obligated to provide consumers with relief and to take any other steps necessary to make such parties whole. USA Baseball will post information on how to contact the bat manufacturer at https://usabat.com/decertified-bats/ in the event a USABat is ever decertified.
Why are certain bat lengths decertified and not others?
For certified bats, each model length is typically designed and produced slightly differently than the others. Because of this, individual lengths and drops of a USABat are classified as unique designs and subject to bat certification separately. It is possible that certain bat lengths could be found to be out of compliance under the USABat standard while the remaining lengths and drops of the same model family are still design and performance compliant.
Does the standard impact Tee Ball?
Yes. Under the USABat standard, certified tee ball bats feature the USA Baseball mark and text which reads ONLY FOR USE WITH APPROVED TEE BALLS.
What bats are recommended for coach pitch and machine pitch leagues?
Both tee ball bats and standard youth bats featuring the USA Baseball certification mark are recommended for coach pitch and machine pitch leagues. Coach pitch and machine pitch leagues that permit the use of USABat tee ball bats should only use approved low compression baseballs. A full list of approved low compression baseballs can be found here: https://usabat.com/approved-tee-balls/
We have compared the performance of tee ball bats using tee balls and youth baseballs. Low compression tee balls reduced bat performance by 0.04 BBCORR (a substantial amount). Further, the dynamic stiffness of tee balls is a factor of 10 lower than youth baseballs. The reduced stiffness will correlate to lower impact force, and the reduced COR correlates to lower hit ball speed. Both factors will significantly reduce the likelihood a player is injured if they are hit by a ball. As hit ball speed depends much more on the bat speed, than the pitch speed, these trends would also hold true for tee balls used in coach pitch games. — Dr. Lloyd Smith and Dr. Alan Nathan
