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The latest wave in baseball bats at the Little League and high school levels are the bbcor baseball bats, composite bats that satisfy the new batted ball coefficient of restitution (bbcor) rules that have recently been required by the National Federated of State High School Associations (NFSH) which oversees high school baseball. According to the regulation, which fulfills the specifications set by the NCAA, high school baseball teams will not be allowed to use 100 percent composite bats beginning in 2012. The details of the new regulation states that bats made from non-wood materials need to meet the new BBCOR standard. This replaces previous regulations set forth by the BESR (ball exit speed ratio), which were much more lenient in their assessments of the performance of composite bats. The new bbcor baseball bats regulation was put into place to raise the degree of protection for players on high school and Little League teams, particularly for pitchers. The velocity of balls hit with BBCOR-rated bats averages 95 mph, compared with over 100 mph for composite bats that satisfied the older BESR standards. Tests done by a number of different universities have shown that balls hit by composite bats created from graphite fibers or a composite core lined with graphite could and did cause serious injury to players, especially to their heads. Stats have shown that devastating injuries in high school baseball, defined as injuries that result in a momentary or long term serious disability, do happen, thanks at least in part to the composite bats. The new restrictions calculate the "bounce" of the bats as they strike a baseball. A ball compresses as the bat strikes it. Balls hit by lighter composite bats didn't compress, or "pop" as much as balls hit by wood bats. Due to the lower degree of compression, the ball traveled further and faster, which made injury a high possibility. The bbcor baseball bats are several ounces heavier, since the rules require that the bat's length has to vary from its weight in ounces by a maximum of a factor of three. The BBCOR bats also don't possess as big a "sweet spot" as the older composite bats had; that is the spot of the bat which transmits the most energy to the baseball when it's hit. While the bbcor baseball bats advertise safety for players at all degrees of amateur baseball, the new rules regulating the types of materials of the bats have had a definitely noticeable impact on batting efficiency. Teams that started using the new standards in 2011 reported a noticeable distinction in the number of home runs hit throughout the season, as well as the overall batting average for a team. Baseball bat suppliers have been working to put together new composites that meet the new restrictions. Manufacturers make both one-piece and two-piece bats that are made up of resources such as aluminum or special alloys as well as specially-designed composites. Some BBCOR bats also showcase special memory-foam grips. Bat manufacturers have stepped up enthusiastically to meet the new polices. A softball player knows the importance of a high performance bat. If you are looking to purchase fastpitch bats and baseball batting helmets consider the different attributes such as durability, performance, and comfort.
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