BBCOR bats have been used in college and high school baseball for three full seasons, but there is still quite a bit of buzz about its introduction.
“What is BBCOR and what does it stand for? Why was the BBCOR standard created? Do I (or my player) need a BBCOR bat? Is this a BBCOR certified bat?” These are all common questions that we receive at JustBats.com, and we’d like to help clear up any confusion you may have.
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BBCOR stands for “Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution.” This standard regulates how much energy is lost during the bat’s contact with the baseball. The higher the number a bat registers in the test, the more trampoline effect it has. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) decided that 0.50 would be the maximum value a BBCOR bat could achieve; which is only slightly higher than that of a wood bat. All BBCOR certified bats must also have a barrel diameter no greater than 2 ⅝”, a length to weight ratio no greater than -3 and a length that does not exceed 36”.
BESR, the previous bat performance standard, is a ratio that compares the incoming pitch speed to the speed of the ball coming off of the barrel. Division I college baseball statistics indicated increasing offensive performance, particularly in the Home Runs and Runs Scored categories. Also, the safety of pitchers was brought into question with the ball leaving the bat at such high speeds. The BBCOR standard reduces those batted ball speeds up to 5% from the BESR standard. Bats with composite barrels are also subject to an ABI (Accelerated Break-In) test to ensure that at their peak performance, they still meet the BBCOR standard.
All bats used in leagues that follow NFHS and NCAA rules must meet this BBCOR certification. The older divisions of major Youth baseball organizations (Little League, USSSA, PONY, Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken, and Dixie) may also require the use of a BBCOR bat. Some of these divisions include players that are currently in High School and players who will begin High School in the next year or so (i.e. 11-14 years old). Because of that age range, BBCOR may only be a requirement if the barrel is made of a composite material. Senior League/Youth Big Barrel models, with alloy barrels, could still be used in these divisions. This is where the majority of the confusion stems from.
You can find each division’s specific bat rules located on the organization’s web page, and if you have any question as to what the bat requirements are for your Youth league, a quick call to your league representative will eliminate any doubt.
All non-wood BBCOR certified bats will carry this mark:
If you're not sure a particular bat is BBCOR certified, you can always reference Washington State University's list of NCAA certified baseball bats which can be found on this page.
(WSU's Sports Science Laboratory is the official certification facility for the NCAA.)
*Wood bats that are made from one piece of solid wood, excluding Bamboo, will not require a BBCOR certification mark for NCAA and NFHS play. Wood bats that are constructed from a combination of woods, contain composite materials, or are made of Bamboo, will require the BBCOR certification mark.
Senior League/Youth Big Barrel models that carry the USSSA BPF 1.15 mark (pictured below) are not BBCOR certified.
Still having trouble deciding if you need a BBCOR bat? Want some help selecting the best model for your hitting style? Feel free to contact one of our bat experts via phone, chat or email. Our toll free number is 866-321-2287, and any of our team members would be more than happy to answer your questions.
If you have a picture of you tearing it up on the diamond with your own BBCOR bat or if you’ve made a video bat review, we’d love to see it! The best submissions every week can win a $25 JustBats gift card.
