BAT Requirements
(Updated: FALL 2023 / SPRING 2024)
Starting January 1, 2018, a new bat standard (USABat) was introduced and utilized by a number of organizations, including Dizzy Dean. For our 2022 FALL season and our 2023 SPRING season, Buckhead Baseball (BB) will allow the use of some of the bats that fall under the USSSA rules as well as bats that conform to the new USABat standards. Solid wood bats are legal but Bamboo bats must be BBCOR, USA or USSSA stamped.
What does this mean? By current BB rules, bats must be 2 1/4” barrel size and must carry the USSSA 1.15bpf certification stamp. Under the new standard, 2 1/4” OR 2 5/8” barrel size bats with the USA Baseball stamp will also be allowed (this began on January 1, 2018). The new USABat bats are in stores now - the stores have been in the process of phasing out of the 2 1/4” USSSA 1.15bpf bats.
What is NOT allowed? NO bat should be used if it dented, cracked, modified or misshaped. Modifications include machine rolling, shaving or artificially warming the barrel.
Bats that have a 2 5/8” or 2 3/4” barrel AND a USSSA 1.15bpf stamp will NOT be allowed in the TB4 / TB5 / 6YB/ R / A / AA / AAA Leagues.
NEW: Buckhead Baseball WILL ALLOW the 2 5/8” and 2 3/4” USSSA 1.15bpf barrel bats in the MAJORS LEAGUE ONLY! Bats must not be included on any Perfect Game, USSSA OR Training Legends banned, withdrawn and/or non-compliant bat list.
A current list of these bats as of 11/23/21 is below and is subject to change:
Marucci Cat5 MCB2 33/30 BBCOR (not likely to be used by BB players)
Nike BT0636 CX2
2015 Demarini CF7 (-5)
2015 Easton XL1 (-5)
2016 Demarini CF8 (-5)
2016 Demarini CF8 (-8)
2016 Demarini CF8 (-10)
2017 Demarini CF Zen Balanced (-8)
2017 Demarini CF Zen SL 2 3/4" (-10)
2017 Demarini CF Zen Zero Dark 2 3/4" (-10)
2017 Demarini CF Zen - Balanced (-5)
2017 Demarini CF Insane - Endloaded (-5)
Demarini Custom 2017 CF Zen 2 ¾” (-10) (30/20 model only)
Demarini Custom 2017 CF Zen Balanced (-8)
Louisville Slugger Blue Meta Composite (33/30 model only)
2018 Dirty South Kamo BB KA 8 (30/22, 31/21, 32/22, 31/23, 32/24 only)
(Easton) Ghost X (30/20 only - USA Baseball Marked)
Can my child use the same bat he/she used in 2023 Spring in the 2023-2024 Fall/Spring season? Yes
Can my child use the NEW 2 5/8” USABat in the 2023-2024 Fall/Spring season? YES – this bat was allowed as of January 1, 2018.
If we want to buy a big barrel bat for the 2023-2024 Fall/Spring season, what does it need to be? For all leagues, parents can purchase a new 2 5/8” USABat. For MAJORS ONLY, parents can also buy a big barrel (2 5/8” or 2 3/4”) USSSA 1.15bpf bat.
Please see the chart below to help you with the specifications going forward. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at bats@buckheadbaseball.com. BB will continue to monitor both the evolution of the new USABat bats and Dizzy Dean regulations, as well as the future bat requirements, as needed.
|
BARREL SIZE |
BAT CERTIFICATION STANDARD |
CAN I USE AT BB? |
|
2 1/4” |
USSSA 1.15bpf |
Yes |
|
2 1/4” |
USABat (new standard) |
Yes |
|
2 5/8” |
USABat (new standard) |
Yes |
|
2 5/8” |
USSSA 1.15bpf |
Majors League ONLY |
|
2 3/4” |
USSSA 1.15bpf |
Majors League ONLY |
What is the procedure for the use of an illegal bat? The intent of this bat rule is to provide safety and integrity to the games played at Buckhead Baseball. Therefore, the following procedure will be followed if an illegal bat is used. It is up to the Coaches to bring this up during the game, equally it is incumbent upon the Coaches to ensure all equipment being used is legal. The League Commissioner and ultimately the League Development Committee are the final authority on the legality of bats.