Composite-barreled baseball bats will not be allowed in the 2010/11 season of high school baseball.
The National Federation of State High School Associations issued the moratorium on the use of composite-barreled baseball bats last summer.
It applies to all baseball bats with composite barrels, with some exceptions (listed below). Bats with aluminum, alloy or wood barrels will still be allowed, as will bats with composite tapers and/or handles.
Composite bats are designed to play similar to wooden and aluminum bats. However, through normal usage, composite-barreled bats can fall out of compliance with the NFHS’s bat performance standard (the BESR).
The ban will remain in effect until Jan. 1, 2012, when the NFHS adopts the BBCOR bat performance standard. For more info on that, click here.
The NFHS governs the playing rules for more than 18,500 high schools across the United States. It should be noted that not all high schools and high school organizations are affiliated with the NFHS.
Click here to see a list of all affiliated athletic organizations.
Some composite-barreled bats have been re-approved for NFHS play. Those bats are:
- DeMarini’s CF4 Adult Baseball Bat (Model Nos. CFB10, CFB11)
- DeMarini’s Vendetta C6 Adult Baseball Bat (Model Nos. VCB10, VCB11)
- Combat’s Backbone AB1 Adult Baseball Bat (Model No. BACK AB1)
- Combat’s B1 Bomber (aka Da Bomb) Adult Baseball Bat (Model Nos. B1AB2, B1AB2-R)
- Combat’s B2 Bomber (aka Da Bomb) Adult Baseball Bat (Model No. B2AB1)
- Louisville Slugger’s TPX Dynasty Adult Baseball Bat (Model No. CBXD)
- Louisville Slugger’s TPX Triton Adult Baseball Bat (Model No. CBXT)
- Louisville Slugger’s TPX Catalyst Adult Baseball Bat (Model No. CB81C)
- Louisville Slugger’s TPX Omaha (Model No. CB83)
We will continue to post new allowed bats as they are approved.
This is a list of bats we carry that will not be allowed in the 2010/11 school year:
- Worth Titan Composite -3 Adult Bat
- Combat 2011 B1 Bomber Stiff -3 Adult Baseball Bat
- Combat Virus -3 Adult Bat
- Easton 2011 Stealth Speed II Reg -3 Adult Baseball Bat
- Easton 2011 Stealth Speed II Stiff -3 Adult Baseball Bat
- Easton Synergy Speed 90 Composite -3 Bat
- Easton Stealth IMX Adult -3 Bat
- Easton Stealth Speed 75 Adult -3 Bat
- Easton Stealth Speed 95 Adult -3 Bat
- Nike 2011 Aero CX2 -3 Adult Baseball Bat
- Miken 2010 Freak 100 Comp Stiff -3 Adult Baseball Bat
- Miken 2010 Freak 100 Comp. Flex -3 Adult Baseball Bat
- Miken 2011 MV3 Composite -3 Adult Baseball Bat
- Mattingly 2009 Beast Adult -3 Baseball Bat
- Rawlings 2010 5150 Composite -3 Adult Baseball Bat
We’ll keep you updated on any further developments.
Brian: The Babe Ruth 13-15 and 16-18 divisions will follow the NFHS’ decisions. That means you’ll be allowed to use BESR aluminum baseball bats, any BBCOR baseball bats and any re-approved ABI-BESR baseball bats.
You will not be able to use BESR composite baseball bats.
So, an easy rule of thumb is that if it doesn’t say BBCOR, your bat will need an aluminum barrel.
what is the penalty if a player is caught using one of these “illegal” bats
Ryan: If the batter enters the batter’s box with an illegal bat — and it’s brought to the umpire’s attention — he can be ruled out and it will nullify his at-bat.
For example – Runner on 1st. The batter is using an illegal bat. He doubles, so runners are now at 2nd and 3rd. After the play, the defense points out that he was using an illegal bat. The batter is ruled out, and the runner returns to 1st.
thank you, but that seems like a light penalty especially since the coach allows the bat in the dug out.
Does the above list of approved bats apply to the 2011/12 season as well?
[...] NFHS Bat Ban (article) [...]
Karen: It doesn’t. The re-approved composite BESR bats were only legal for the 2010/11 school year.
For 2011/12, only BBCOR bats will be allowed in NFHS high school baseball.
Well, that’s what I thought, but one can hope.
Thanks!