Approved Non-Wood Bat

The Easton Lock & Load non-wood bat has been approved for play in high school varsity competition. Due to fact that the NCAA does not allow the bat to be used by their member institutions, the “BBCOR .50” certification mark will not be present on the barrel of the bat. In fact, except the manufacturer’s graphics, this bat will be devoid of any certification nomenclature.

BBCOR .50

There was a note in the 2012 Rule Book, (1-3-2d Note) inferring that in 2015, non-wood bats would have tamper-evident protocol in place.  Since then, the time frame has disappeared from the book and the wording has been altered.  A question arose at a recent clinic if this 2015 deadline would be in effect.

The response from Indianapolis is: “We are unable to find the technology that is affordable to implement at the manufacturing level. Please tell your schools as long as the non-wood bats have BBCOR .50 on the barrel then they will be compliant.”

BBCOR Approved Baseball Bats

Washington State University Sports Science Lab

NCAA and NFHS BBCOR Approved Baseball Bats:

http://www.mme.wsu-ssl.org/certifiedbaseballbats.aspx

Decertified Non-Wood Baseball Bats

The BBCOR decertification process has been implemented for:

• Marucci CAT5 33-inch model
• Reebok Vector TLS 32-inch model
• Reebok Vector TLS 33-inch model

2013 Decertified Non-Wood Baseball Bat List

Currently, there are three (3) non-wood baseball bats that the NFHS has decertified for use in high school competition. This short list is subject to change. Additional non-wood baseball bats could possibly be added to this list. The decertified bats are the following:

• Marucci Cat 52 33″ non-wood baseball bat (Decertification notice date: February 21, 2012)
• Reebok Vector TLS 32″ non-wood baseball bat (Decertification notice date: March 26, 2012)
• Reebok Vector TLS 33″ non-wood baseball bat (Decertification notice date: March 26, 2012)

These bats should be considered non-compliant and subject to NFHS Baseball Rules 4-1-3b and 7-4-1a. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact B. Elliot Hopkins, NFHS Baseball Rules Editor/National Interpreter at (ehopkins@nfhs.org) or (317) 822-6900, extension 5757.

Decertified non-wood baseball bat

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has advised us that the BBCOR decertification process has been implemented for the Marucci CAT5 33-inch model.

Effective immediately and until further notice, this bat (Marucci CAT5 33″ length) should be considered a non-compliant bat and subject to NFHS Baseball Rules 4-1-3b and 7-4-1a. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your local state association statewide baseball rules interpreter.

Decertification of 32-inch Reebok Vector TLS non-wood baseball bat

Please be advised that the BBCOR decertification process has been implemented for the Reebok Vector TLS 32-inch model.

Effective immediately and until further notice, this bat (Reebok Vector TLS 32″ length) should be considered a non-compliant bat and subject to NFHS Baseball Rules 4-1-3b and 7-4-1a.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Elliot Hopkins, NFHS Baseball Rules Editor/National Interpreter at (ehopkins@nfhs.org). Thank you in advance for your immediate attention to this matter.