USA BBCOR Frequently Asked Questions
Click here to learn more about High School Baseball Expanding Drop Weight Options Under USA BBCOR and USABat
Click here to learn more about USA Baseball assuming management of the BBCOR standard.
What is happening with the BBCOR standard at the college level?
Through a collaborative effort with the NCAA, USA Baseball has assumed management of the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard, introducing a new category under its existing USABat program branded USA BBCOR. USA BBCOR bats will be eligible for use in NCAA play beginning in the 2028 season. Approved USA BBCOR bats will now feature an updated USA Baseball BBCOR Certified .50 mark.
What is happening with the USABat and BBCOR standards at the High School level?
The NFHS Rules Committee voted to adopt the newly named USA BBCOR performance standard and expand permitted bat drop weights in high school baseball to include USABat -4, USABat -5, and USABat -6. These bats will be permitted for use beginning in the 2028 season. Additionally, previously certified BBCOR .50 bats will be permitted for play indefinitely.
The following bats and marks will be permitted for play at the high school level starting the 2028 season:
- BBCOR .50
- USA BBCOR
- USABat -4, USABat -5, USABat -6
What is USABat -4, USABat -5, USABat -6?
Beginning in the 2028 season, NFHS (high school baseball) will allow USABat approved bats with a -4, -5, or -6 drop weight. Approved USABat -4, USABat -5, USABat -6 bats feature the USA Baseball certification mark and accompanying drop weight number on the bat’s taper. This classification establishes an equipment bridge between youth baseball and high school baseball, which has historically required an immediate jump to a BBCOR (-3) bat. This allows developing athletes the opportunity to swing a lighter bat before fully transitioning to a heavier drop weight.
Will players be able to hit a ball harder and further with a USABat -4, USABat -5, USABat -6 vs. BBCOR -3 bat?
A player may be able to swing a lighter USABat faster than a heavier BBCOR bat. However, that player would also have less mass and momentum behind their swing with a lighter weight bat. The science tells us that, all other things being equal, the mass of the bat has a more significant impact on batted-ball speeds than swing speed. So, a player swinging a lighter bat will generally achieve a lower exit velocity than they would with a heavier bat, even if they can swing the bat a bit faster. Both factors matter, but players will hit the hardest when swinging the heaviest bat they can manage.
What are the specifications for a USA BBCOR bat?
All USA BBCOR bats will be held to the same testing procedures, performance limits, and bat specification criteria that exist for the current BBCOR standard. As will current BBCOR bats, USA BBCOR bats must meet a wood-like performance limit, have a barrel diameter no greater that 2 ⅝’’, a drop weight no greater than -3, and a length that does not exceed 36’’.
What are the specifications for a USABat?
All USABats are held to a wood-like performance standard, meaning the bat’s coefficient of restitution (or its trampoline effect) mirrors a wood bat. Historically, USABats have been certified with a length less than or equal to 32″ and a barrel diameter less than or equal to 2 5/8″, with very few exceptions that are not eligible for high school play. Under current standards, no USABats can be manufactured with a length longer than 32”.
Do USABats perform differently than USA BBCOR bats?
No, both USABat and BBCOR create a wood-like bat performance standard for non-wood bats.
Will the performance of BBCOR bats change?
No, the performance and physical specifications of the bats will not change. USA BBCOR bats will be held to the same performance limit as existing BBCOR certified bats.
When will USA BBCOR certified bats be available for purchase?
USA BBCOR bats will be available at retail beginning July 1, 2027. USA BBCOR bats will be eligible for play in the NCAA and high school baseball seasons beginning in 2028.
Do I need to buy a new bat immediately?
No, the following grandfather periods have been implemented for NCAA and NFHS for previously certified BBCOR bats to be used in play.
- NCAA – Previously certified BBCOR bats will be eligible for use during a two year grandfather period spanning the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Beginning January 1, 2029, only USA BBCOR bats will be approved for play in NCAA baseball.
- NFHS – Previously certified BBCOR bats will continue to be eligible for use indefinitely. NFHS has not implemented a cutoff date for previously certified BBCOR bats.
How will I know which bat to buy?
The following list states what USA Baseball certified bats (USABat tee ball, USABat youth, USABat -4,USABat -5,USABat -6 and USA BBCOR) are permitted at different levels of play. Note approved bats must feature a permanent certification mark on the barrel. Temporary labels, stickers, or decals are prohibited.
- Tee Ball
- USABat Tee Ball – Tee ball bat with the USA Baseball Mark & wording that states ‘Only for Use with Approved Tee Balls’
- USABat Youth – Youth baseball bats with the USA Baseball mark and tampering statement are also permitted for play.
- Youth Baseball
- USABat Youth – Bats with a USA Baseball mark are approved for play at any drop weight.
- Some divisions may allow USA BBCOR, but it is not recommended for youth players.
- High School Baseball
- USABat -4, USABat -5, USABat -6 – Beginning in the 2028 season, bats with a USA Baseball mark and a -4, -5, or -6 drop weight will be permitted for high school play.
- USA BBCOR – Beginning in the 2028 season, bats with a USA Baseball BBCOR Certified .50 mark will be permitted for high school play.
- BBCOR – Bats with a BBCOR .50 mark are permitted for play.
- College Baseball
- BBCOR – Bats with a BBCOR .50 mark are permitted for play through the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Starting January 1, 2029, only USA BBCOR bats will be permitted for play.
- USA BBCOR – Starting in the 2028 season, bats with a USA Baseball BBCOR Mark will be permitted for play.
Starting July 1, 2027, USA Baseball will host a full list of approved USA BBCOR bats on USABaseball.com and USABat.com.
The following chart displays what is permitted vs what is recommended at different levels of play for USABat tee ball, USABat Youth, USABat -4, USABat -5, USABat-6, BBCOR, and USA BBCOR (Beginning in 2028).
How will umpires, coaches, players, and parents know if a bat is legal for play?
NCAA Play: Approved non-wood bats shall be labeled with a permanent USA BBCOR certification mark. No sticker or decal will be accepted on any non-wood bat. The certification mark must read: USA Baseball BBCOR Certified .50
High School Play: Approved non-wood bats shall be labeled with one of the following certification marks. No sticker or decal will be accepted on any non-wood bat. The certification mark must read one of the following statements:
- USA Baseball BBCOR Certified .50
- BBCOR Certified .50
- USA Baseball -4
- USA Baseball -5
- USA Baseball -6
How is the USA BBCOR standard different from the USABat youth bat standard used by USA Baseball National Member Organizations?
Both the USABat youth and BBCOR bat performance tests are based on the coefficient of restitution from a bat-ball impact. The scale of results is different, however, since they use different test balls and test speeds. The testing difference is necessary to address the various levels of play in the respective age groups. That said, the two standards establish similar performance limits for bats.
The performance of BBCOR and USABat are nearly identical (within about 0.005 BBCOR). The primary difference between the two standards are that USABat certified bats do not have the -3 drop weight restriction. The lighter USA Baseball [youth] bats are easier to swing (particularly for developing hitters); this can result in higher batting averages, but not higher hit ball speed. USABat also produces slightly lower hit ball speeds than the BBCOR bats.
The lighter USA Baseball [youth] bats will produce slightly lower hit ball speeds than the BBCOR bats. Since USA Baseball bats can be produced in a -3 drop weight, and would be nearly identical to BBCOR bats, we see no reason why BBCOR and USA Baseball’s bats could not be combined in play for leagues choosing this option. However, we note that mixing BBCOR and USA Baseball bats increases the range of player ability using these bats. Rules ensuring players of comparable ability are on the field will lower the likelihood of an advanced hitter putting an inexperienced pitcher at risk. — Dr. Lloyd Smith and Dr. Alan Nathan
How are USA BBCOR bats certified?
Bats must undergo performance testing and receive a final approval from USA Baseball to receive USA BBCOR certification. A bat maker’s first step in this process is to produce a bat design sample and submit it to the Washington State University Sports Science Lab (WSU-SSL) for performance testing. Submissions that pass BBCOR performance testing become eligible for certification. To clarify, this means the bat has been performance tested in a controlled lab setting to confirm that it performs at a wood-like standard. The bat maker must then send a sample of the same design to USA Baseball for final approval. USA Baseball’s certification gives the bat maker rights to manufacture and sell approved bats with the USA BBCOR certification mark.
If you have additional questions about USABat, USABat -4, USABat -5, USABat -6, or USA BBCOR, please contact us here or email us at usabat@usabaseball.com.