If you’ve ever walked into a sporting goods store looking for a baseball bat and seen USA, USSSA and BBCOR stamped on different models, you’re not alone if you’ve wondered what all of it means.
It’s one of the most common questions we get at Big League Sports Excellence.
The good news is that choosing the right bat doesn’t have to be complicated. The most important thing is knowing what league your player is in, what certification that league requires, and what size bat is right for the player.
Here’s the breakdown.
What Is a USA Baseball Bat?
USA Baseball bats are designed to meet the USA Baseball Youth Bat Performance Standard. You’ll recognize them by the USA Baseball logo on the bat.
USA bats are commonly used in many youth baseball organizations and are designed to perform more like traditional wood bats than the hotter-performing youth bats of the past.
Depending on the league and age division, USA-certified bats can come in several different lengths, weights and drop weights.
Who are they for?
Generally, younger players participating in leagues that follow the USA Baseball standard. But don't buy a bat based on age alone—always check your league's current bat rules first.
What Is a USSSA Bat?
USSSA bats are certified for play under USSSA rules and carry the USSSA 1.15 BPF stamp.
The biggest difference most players notice is performance.
USSSA bats generally have a higher allowable performance level than USA bats, which is why players often describe them as having more "pop."
They’re extremely popular in travel baseball and tournaments where USSSA-certified bats are permitted.
However, there's an important catch:
A USSSA bat isn't automatically legal just because you're playing youth baseball.
If your league requires USA Baseball certification, you generally cannot substitute a USSSA bat. Check the rules before spending hundreds of dollars on a new bat.
What Is a BBCOR Bat?
Once players get older, you'll start hearing another term: BBCOR.
BBCOR stands for Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution.
Rather than simply describing the size of the bat, BBCOR is a performance standard designed to regulate how much energy is transferred from the bat to the baseball.
BBCOR bats are commonly required at the high-school and collegiate levels in the United States, although individual leagues and organizations can have their own requirements.
One major difference is weight.
Certified BBCOR bats must be -3 drop weight.
So, for example:
A 33-inch BBCOR bat weighs 30 ounces.
A 32-inch BBCOR bat weighs 29 ounces.
A 31-inch BBCOR bat weighs 28 ounces.
That's a significant jump for a player coming from a lighter youth bat, so choosing the correct length and weight becomes especially important.
