Tag Archives: bbcor

Learn What The BBCOR Baseball Bat Standard Is, and Why It’s Important.

BBCOR (Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution), the baseball bat standard that replaced BESR (Ball Exit Speed Ratio)

Many are still confused with the BBCOR standard and exactly what it means. Here’s a very simple explanation.

Rather than measuring the ratio of the ball exit speed to pitch and bat speeds (like BESR), BBCOR measures the trampoline effect of the bat. With the BESR standard, when a pitched ball made contact with an alloy or composite bat, the barrel would flex inward somewhat and the ball would retain a portion of its energy. This resulted in hits that were longer and harder. Wood bats don’t have that give to them and the ball loses much of its energy upon impact. The BBCOR standard ensures that non-wood bats perform more comparably to wood bats in an attempt to level the playing field.

It also accounts for how bats perform after they’ve broken in. Since the dawn of composite bats, it was found that the more they were used the better they performed. This led to tampering with the bats to artificially accelerate the break-in process and improve bat performance (rolling anyone?). With BBCOR, bats are now tested after various stages of simulated use in the lab, so that a bat never performs beyond the BBCOR standard at any point during its useful life.

Everything You Need to Know About The BBCOR Bat Standard.

This new BBCOR standard measures bat performance and replaces the previous BESR standard. The NCAA (college) began requiring BBCOR starting with the 2011 season.  For NFHS (high school) play, all bats must be BBCOR certified for the 2012 season and beyond. BESR (Ball Exit Speed Ratio) is no longer considered accurate enough to determine the actual performance of differing bat models.

Instead of measuring the speed of the ball after it is batted, BBCOR measures the “bounciness” of the ball and bat, or the “trampoline” effect. When a bat hits a ball, the ball actually compresses / deforms by nearly a third at high pitch velocities.

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Here are Oure Reviews of the Easton Power Brigade Bats

Easton’s long awaited Power Brigade series has finally hit the market. This lineup follows Easton’s format of offering a 100% composite two-piece bat, hybrid two-piece bat and 100% alloy bat. The difference is that they will come in two different series. The Speed Series has a low (Easton says the lowest) swing weights (MOI), and the XL Series has a higher swing weight (MOI) and claims to have a longer barrel. The pricing is the same for both series, it’s just a matter of preference. All of the Brigade bats are BBCOR certified.

The Speed Series Bats:

 

  • S1 – Two-Piece IMXTM Composite

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The BBCOR Standard Has Made An Impact on Baseball.

We all know the BBCOR standard began on January, 2011 in NCAA baseball and January, 2012 in High School baseball. So what are the results?

First some background, BBCOR stands for “Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution” and it focuses on how much of a trampoline effect the barrel of a bat has on a ball. It was created to ensure that aluminum and composite bats play similar to wood bats, but it also accounts for how bats perform after they’ve been broken in. The fact that composite bats broke in, therefore exceeding the old BESR standard, was the primary reason for the change.

Also, many don’t know that College baseball officials have been gradually taking the pop out of bats for more than a decade. The turning point was the 1998 College World Series, when there were a record 62 home runs in 14 games. Southern California’s 21-14 championship-game win against Arizona State featured seven home runs and 39 hits.

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Baseball Bat BBCOR Rating Will Turn the Baseball World Upside Down!

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the governing body of High School Baseball, is changing their bat rules to match NCAA rules. So bats that are illegal in NCAA play will become illegal in High School starting on January 1, 2012 (some will enforce the rule beginning in 2011). The NCAA ban of 100% composite bats began last year. This will bring a plethora of changes that will turn the baseball bat industry upside down Here’s what’s going on (you can also visit here to check out my recommendations by category and cost):

The rule changed is NFHS 1.3.2, which requires (starting 1/1/12) all non-wood bats to meet the Batted Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) standard.  This is standard is much stricter than the old BESR standard.

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2011 Baseball Bats

The majority of the 2011 bats have hit the market. Although there hasn’t been a lot of change from the 2010 models, there has been some change. More detailed information will be posted in the reviews for each manufacturer, and in My Baseball Bat Recommendations will provide my recommendations in each category. Take a look at the listings on the right side to check them out. Here are the 2011 baseball bats:

2011 COMBAT BASEBALL BATS

Combats first steps in 2010 have been backwards. They’re trying to recover from a poor 2011 model year by bringing back what created the buzz a few years ago in a new name and package.

Combat B3

It appears Combat has abandoned the B2 and its and is essentially bringing back the B1 as the B3.  The B2’s nanocomp and MAP technologies have disappeared, essentially making this bat very similiar if not identical to the B1. As of early March it only appears to be available in youth models. It has the same single wall, stiff handle balanced design.

2011 EASTON BASEBALL BATS

I have to hand it to Easton. The NCAA bans composite bats in college baseball, so what does Easton do? The re-adjust their Stealth Speed, 100 % composite bat, and get it approved! It is the first composite bat that is approved for use in the upcoming 2010 NCAA season. If I’m ever indicted for murder my first choice for someone to represent me is Easton. These guys will do anything to sell a bat. But after this news it looks like their remaining 2011 bats are a repeat of the 2010 models. You can pre-order the bats now but they do not go on sale until April 3. Oh yeah, I’m not crazy about the look of the 2011 Easton line-up. It’s a sophomoric look that makes the bats look cheap.

Easton Stealth Speed II BSS1, BSS2 and BSS3

Let’s start with the BSS1 and BSS2. These are identical to the 2010 Easton Speed bats. They are 100% composite, two-piece bat with a slightly end-loaded design (MOI of 80). The difference between the BSS1 and BSS2 is the handle flex. The BSS1 has a flex handle (75) and the BSS2 a stiff handle (95). The BSS3 is Easton’s answer to the NCAA’s composite bat ban. They most likely re-layered the composite material in a manner where it does not break in any farther. The NCAA’s concern was that the BESR rating for a new composite bat crossed the line once it broke in a month or so later. This apparently solves the problem. Like the other Speed II’s it is a 100 composite two-piece bat with a MOI of 80. It is only available in a 33” model and there is no reason to purchase the BSS3 unless you’re in college. The BSS1/2 have white grips while the BSS3 has a black grip. This was probably done to distinguish the one approved for college play. They all retail for $399 for the Adult -3 model.

Easton Surge XL

Say hello to the SV12. The Surge is the SV12 with a different label and color. It’s a two-piece bat with a composite handle, Easton’s V12 alloy barrel, and a balanced design (MOI of 70). I’ve only seen the stiff handle version, but I’m assuming there will be a flex handle version also. The Adult -3 model retails for $299, the same as the SV12 last year.

Easton Rival XL

The Rival is identical to the 2010 V12. A 100% alloy bat with a stiff handle and low swing weight (MOI) of 60. I’ve only seen the Senior model at the present time. I’d guess the Adult -3 will retail for $199, as the 2010 V12 did.


2011 Demarini Baseball Bats

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Demarini’s line-up has been popular over the last several years and they’ve decided not to mess with it for the 2011 model year. They’re sticking to their bread and butter, two-piece, flex handle bats with their “half and half” technology. The only change being the “rotation index”. These are markings on the handle to help you grip the bat in a different spot and supposedly prolong bat life. Here’s a look at their 2011 bats:


CF4

The CF4 is a two-piece, double wall, 100% composite bat with a flex handle and extremely low swing weight (MOI). It is made with Demarini’s top tier composite, pitch black and is identical to the 2010 model. They say they added more silver trace technology, but they made the same claim last year. It’s made with Demarini’s pitch black plus composite, half and half technology and “hub” end cap. The CF4 is very popular but some do not like the extremely low swing weight. The Adult -3 retails for $399.99 putting it in the high end composite category. If you like this bat you can save a few dollars by finding the gold 2010 model. Continue reading →

Why Have Composite Baseball Bats Been Banned?

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee’s recommendation to remove, at least temporarily, composite bats from NCAA competition. NOTE: This is a ban in college baseball only,  composite bats are still legal in High School down through T-ball for now. Also, hybrid bats are still legal in College baseball (bats with composite handles and alloy barrels).

The rules committee proposed the action in July and met again via conference call August 17 after hearing comments from the membership and manufacturers about the recommendation. After considerable discussion, the rules committee concluded that composite bats will not be allowed for the time being.

The committee’s main concern about composite bats is that they are susceptible to performance improvement above standards set by the NCAA, either through normal use or alterations to the bats.

While committee members are not convinced that simple compliance testing of specific bats will solve what they see to be a significant problem in the sport, the committee agreed with a suggestion from the NCAA Baseball Research Panel to seek additional testing to determine if it is feasible to allow composite bats in NCAA play this season.

The research panel met with baseball bat manufacturers August 12 in Indianapolis to explore whether composite bats could be used within NCAA guidelines and parameters.

During the 2009 Division I Baseball Championship, composite bats were selected for ball exit speed ratio (BESR) certification tests. Of the 25 bats tested, 20 failed the official BESR test for current NCAA performance levels. Because all bat designs must pass that test before mass production, the results indicated that the performance of such bats changed thereafter, most likely due to repeated, normal use or intentional alteration.

In the meantime, the NCAA plans to conduct additional testing that will provide the baseball rules committee another opportunity for review. Additionally, the committee is open to providing an opportunity for companies to prove that their bats would meet current NCAA standards regardless of use or tampering.

As for beyond the upcoming season, the baseball research panel is recommending that an Accelerated Break-In (ABI) process be added to the certification process under the new Ball-Bat Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) standard to help address the issue of improved performance and further the goal of having all bats in NCAA play remain under the NCAA limit through the life of the bat.

The BBCOR is a method designed to measure the performance of the bat. The ABI is designed to replicate repeated use or intentional alteration of the bat. This process has been used with some success in the certification process for softball bats.