BBCOR Bat Begins
the New Wood Bat Era
for Aluminum Bats

Probably everyone eventually will be affected in one way or another.

BBCOR, BESR & ABI

BESR: (Stands for Ball Exit Speed Ratio).

This has long been the testing model used in the baseball equipment industry to try to make sure that aluminum, metal and all non-wood bats performed like wood bats.

Basically, the test measures how fast the ball comes off the bat barrel. Unfortunately the test did not anticipate that many bats performed significantly better after being broken in.

A trampoline effect was happening when the ball hit the bat. The trampoline kick back makes the ball exit faster and travel farther than wood bats with no trampoline effects. So the test needed to be phased out.

BBCOR: (Stands for Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution).

This is the current model of bat regulation testing. This test is also set up to measure all non-wood bats to make sure they come very close to simulating a wood bat.

The difference with the BBCOR test is that it also measures the ball exit speeds after the bats have been broken in. That is why the ABI (Accelerated Break-In Test) is used in conjunction with BBCOR.

The ABI test is performed on bats that simulate heavy use. Composite bats are known to perform better the more they are used so the ABI can insure that all bats perform similar to wood bats even after heavy usage.

2012 College Baseball Bats

The goal of the panel was to institute a better formula to make sure non-wood bats perform similarly to wood bats. In the fall of 2010 the NCAA laid out the BBCOR bat regulation on college baseball.

The 2011 college baseball season was the first in the new era of non-wood bats simulating real wood bats. Looking at the statistics provided by the NCAA I think college baseball found the right formula. From the NCAA

New BBCOR Baseball Bats Act Like Wood Bats

The emphasis comes back to pitching and defense, executing the little plays of the game instead of waiting for the three run homer. Stealing and the hit-and-run play come into the game more often.

Gone are the days when the 5’7” ninth hitter in the line-up is hitting opposite field home runs on a regular basis.

High School Baseball Bat Rules for 2012 Timeline

Bats with a BESR stamp certification will no longer be used. It is unlikely that the BESR certified old baseball bats would be re-tested either.

So many high school players will have some very expensive batting practice bats this coming season. Baseball bats for high school will have a BBCOR stamp like this on the barrel:

Little League Approved Bats

Most of the youth leagues did not make major changes in the 2011 bat rules. The major changes will be announced soon for 2012 bat rules. You can figure the closer the players are to high school baseball that the youth baseball leagues are likely to impose the BBCOR bat rules.

Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken, Pony Baseball, Dixie Youth Baseball and USSSA are likely to quickly follow the BBCOR bat rules for ages 13 and over. Players 12 and under may not see as many changes in bat rules in 2012.

To be safe check your league BBCOR bat rules before you spend money on baseball bat equipment. You do not want to spend hundreds of dollars and have a nice piece of aluminum pipe good for nothing.

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