Bat Stamps

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Feb 7, 2014
547
43
I believe this has been discussed before... maybe someone can help me with a link or explain the logic to me.

Bat stamps certifying the specifications of different companies (USSSA, ASA/USA, and so on) ...correct me if I'm wrong, but it's about money right ? Every four or five years older bat models are deemed illegal so that you have to go and purchase a new bat ?
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
I am not sure why there are different organizations certifying bats, drives me nuts. Money grab or control not sure why.

My understanding is not too long ago bat manufacturers were slipping bats through the testing process by being hotter and hotter as they were used and the whole bat testing process needed to be reset. They even ban bats with thier new stamps, it is really just a probly, then it is good to use.

I would be pushing too if I was manufacturer.

LL baseball did something this year with bats, I think they require a new stamp on all bats in relatively short notice. Aluminum bat manufacturers must be dancing.

Core knows and my entire I think post probly should be removed.

(LL baseball did give them a little time, they just ignored them :) )
 
Last edited:
Feb 19, 2016
280
28
Texas
If you're a large enough entity to create a requirement that people have to pay you to get certified/licensed for, then you collect that payment.

If bat sales lag, you have concerns about safety, or the big bat companies want you to make it tougher on the smaller bat companies that they haven't been able to buy or crush, then reissue a new standard, collect more money, pass that on to the people who are forced to by new bats, and everyone is happy.

Don't get me wrong. It's a necessary control. In a void, bat companies will do whatever it takes to sell a bat regardless of safety or game integrity. I'm sure there are occasionally some good intentions mixed in, but it's about the money.
 
May 23, 2015
999
63
This is the exact reason why you'll never see wood bats in college baseball. No one can say "hey my maple is better than yours", but for some silly reason people believe it with composite of aluminum. Each sanction is a license and they get a royalty. ASA and USSSA have a grip on those licenses, so the others just fall in line and allow bats from the big boys. Liability is also a huge component. Serious injury or death is always in the back of the manufacturers minds when they set standards.
 

CoreSoftball20

Wilson = Evil Empire
DFP Vendor
Dec 27, 2012
6,215
113
Kunkletown, PA
Funny thing is, most people will think that the manufacturers push the testing and stamps and are the big bad wolf here...it is the associations that make your testing specs
and force the bat companies to comply or they cant sell bats for that association. Why? because the association requires a fee for every bat that passes and wants a "stamp"
of approval.
Is some of this for safety...absolutely. They needed standards or the bat companies would just go nuts and you would keep having bats being rocket launchers.
They tried to just dial the ball back, but the bats had to be tamed.
But there is very good coin made by ASA and USSSA for approvals...don't let it fool you. Not all about safety. But in this world, there are always alterior motives for
everything. The manufacturers get to sell more bats as well. So its like a little circle of money.
 

CoreSoftball20

Wilson = Evil Empire
DFP Vendor
Dec 27, 2012
6,215
113
Kunkletown, PA
My understanding is not too long ago bat manufacturers were slipping bats through the testing process by being hotter and hotter as they were used and the whole bat testing process needed to be reset. They even ban bats with thier new stamps, it is really just a probly, then it is good to use.

There was a manufacturer many, many years ago (no longer around) that falsely put ASA stamps on bats that in turn got in trouble. Pretty much played a part in ending the business.
You have to be old school to remember the company.

And the bat companies will try any technology to gain an advantage.
 
Last edited:
Feb 19, 2016
280
28
Texas
The really interesting thing in the Bat Stamp world right now, is difference between the USSSA and the USA Bat standards in the youth baseball space. There's now a "hot bat" league.

Also, the 2 1/4 bat in the youth baseball space is now a dinosaur. Both standards allow for larger diameter bats at younger ages. I'm curious as to how this will affect softball bats from an R&D perspective. I'm guessing that besides the top tier bats, a lot of softball bats were just tweaked or re-branded baseball bat designs. Now that money may be filtered more towards the large diameter designs, and small start up bat companies may not even bother.
 

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