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morrsco
55 Posts |
 Posted - 02/05/2018 : 10:15:13
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The various organizations and regulations on bats are becoming a bit much to handle. Here is the way I understand it.
12U Triple Crown allows the 1.15 BPF USSSA bats up to a drop 10.
12U Perfect Game wants the USA Baseball bats with a drop 10 max.
His small private middle school team wants the kids to swing a drop 5. The state of GA rules really call for a BBCOR -3 because the state doesn't have separate rules below high school. The middle school coaches supposedly have a gentleman's agreement that the kids can swing drop 5 1.15 BPF up until the state tournament.
Next year 13U travel will require a drop 5 or less, and I have no idea if more travel organizations will switch to the USA Baseball standard.
In order to use a legal bat that is also most advantageous for each organization, my son would need to have three different bats this year. All three of the bats could possibly be illegal to use next year at 13U. That is ridiculous. I can't believe I'm saying this, but forcing everyone to switch to wood is starting to sound better and better.
I guess that we will have to find a cheap/used drop 5 BPF for middle school ball, and he can keep swinging his drop 8 USSSA for travel. If he plays at perfect game, he can just borrow a teammate's bat.
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Punishers
688 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2018 : 11:41:53
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| All of this bat mess could have been solved by regulating the drop per age group. Instead people are having to buy different bats per type of event. As a fan of using wood as I am, I find it difficult to for many to buy a bat they may be only able to use for a few events. I still think wood is the best way to go for all events, but the HR happy masses and those who complain that the games would be boring tend to disagree. For now all we can do is wait and play this thing out. Hope for a sure resolution. |
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baseball713
60 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2018 : 13:57:21
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| I'm in the same exact boat as my son is also going to play middle school for his small private school. I was thrilled when we were told that they are not going to require USABat for middle school, they just require -5 USSSA stamped bat. We ended up with just 1 bat, a -5 USSSA stamped bat that he will use for both travel and middle school. I don't see the point of going -10 or -8 for travel if he will be swinging -5 for middle school. He may not hit as far but he needs to adjust sooner or later to a lower drop. For perfect game, his team will have a team USABat to use and share. The team will not be playing a lot of perfect game (probably around 2 to 3 PG tournaments). |
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morrsco
55 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2018 : 08:26:08
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baseball 713,
We already had a good -8 from 11U that my son can swing in the Triple Crown tournaments this year. Remember that the distance to the mound in middle school is 60'6". The 12U travel distance is only 50'. 13U is still only 54'. My son played middle school ball last year as well, and the mound distance changes between days can be difficult. On Friday night he would hit off pitchers throwing from 60'6", and then Saturday morning he would have to hit off pitchers throwing from 50'. Now a solid player can adjust, but it would still take a game for his swing to catch up. That first game on Saturday morning was always a struggle to hit velocity. I'm hoping that switching during the season from a -5 for middle to a -8 for travel may help with that adjustment on Saturday mornings. |
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turntwo
955 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2018 : 09:18:11
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It is a debacle. However, I don't know of many who are playing in PG this year, due to the bat change. I know some are 'penciled in', but speaking with them, they aren't moving forward with playing in it.
To my knowledge, they (PG) are the only org that's adopted the new bat standard. USSSA, T/C, TbS, Grand Slam, Southern Sports, and Training Ledgends all still allow 1.15 BPF, and the -10 (or -8)... Now, the BBCOR (or -3 or -5) requirement for Middle School adds a twist. So I ask, is wood allowed in the middle school league? If so, I'd recommend a 'custom' (term used loosely) wood bat that would be a -8 or so. I doubt anyone would have a set of scales to check-- afterall it is wood. That way, your swing weights remain about the same... Just a suggestion, if you're worried about going back and forth with different weights, and an inexpensive alternative. |
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morrsco
55 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2018 : 10:31:26
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| I don't think the kids are allowed to swing wood in either middle school or 12U triple crown events. I don't know about Perfect Game. Some 13U travel tournaments may also allow wood. He already has a 30" youth model wood bat that is about a drop 5 so maybe he can swing that a little more this year. I will say that the ball carries much further off a -5 BPF 1.15 than off the wood. |
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turntwo
955 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2018 : 14:22:54
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quote:
Originally posted by morrsco
I don't think the kids are allowed to swing wood in either middle school or 12U triple crown events. I don't know about Perfect Game. Some 13U travel tournaments may also allow wood. He already has a 30" youth model wood bat that is about a drop 5 so maybe he can swing that a little more this year. I will say that the ball carries much further off a -5 BPF 1.15 than off the wood.
Per T/C: 13u and Younger: All bats -5 or greater must be stamped BPF 1.15. Must be a baseball bat – no restriction on weight or length as long as bat has “BPF 1.15” stamp. All -3 bats must be stamped BBCOR. Wood bats allowed.
Per PG: 7U-12U: The bat must be a baseball bat which meets the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat) as adopted by Perfect Game, PGBA and PG Super25. It shall be a smooth, rounded stick, and made of wood or of material and color tested and proved acceptable to the USA Baseball Bat standard (USABat). Beginning with the 2018 season, non-wood and laminated bats shall bear the USA Baseball logo signifying that the bat meets the USABat – USA Baseball’s Youth Bat Performance Standard. All BPF – 1.15 bats will be prohibited beginning with the 2018 season. Additionally, starting in 2018, the bat diameter shall not exceed 2 5/8.
It shall not be more than 34" inches in length; nor more than 2 5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30") at its smallest part. Wood bats taped or fitted with a sleeve may not exceed eighteen (18) inches from the small end.
It appears there is no governing body for GA Middle Schools, for baseball, so each district/league may adopt it's own rules (as you said up until state-- even so, my friend Google cannot find any rules (outside of GHSAA)). |
Edited by - turntwo on 02/06/2018 14:26:41 |
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