The change in bats comes after the National Federation of
High Schools adopted the NCAA’s standard for bat legality, the Ball-Bat
Coefficient of Restitution, or BBCOR, starting in January 2012. The NFHS says the new standard ensures that
performances by non-wood bats (aluminum, composite and hybrid) are more
comparable to those of wood bats.
THE IMPACT OF BBCOR BATS ON COLLEGE BASEBALL AND WHAT’S EXPECTED FOR
H.S. BALL
Those who play, coach and follow high school baseball agree
that the BBCOR standard will change the way the high school game is
played. All the proof they need is to
look at how the new BBCOR bat regulations affected college baseball in 2011. The
NCAA reports that Division I batting average, scoring and home runs per game in
2011 resemble the wood-bat 1970s more than they do recent years. Division I
teams averaged 5.58 runs per game in 2011, well below the record 7.12 in 1998
and under 6 for the first time since 1977 (5.83), which was just the fourth
season of the aluminum bat in college baseball. There were fewer home runs in
college baseball in 2011 as well, with .52 per team per game compared with .94
last year and 1.06 in 1998 (the peak year for that category). Those numbers
resemble the wood-bat days (.42 in the last year of wood in 1973 and .49, .50
and .55 in the first three years of metal).
Batting average in 2011 was .282, the lowest since 1976. While hitting declined, pitching improved as
earned-run average was its best (4.70) since 1980 (4.59).
“Waiting for a three-run homer to win
the game in the eighth or ninth inning is mostly a thing of the past with the
new BBCOR bats,” said James Sass, who is the Louisville Slugger® TPX® Director of Product Development. “Now, the little things
matter most. The emphasis in high school baseball will be on line drives and
ground balls instead of long-ball offense. Hitters will need an edge, and the
right BBCOR bat is a big part of that edge.”
As holiday shoppers head to the stores or search online for
gifts in the coming weeks, here are some tips from Louisville Slugger, maker ofthe best bats in BBCOR, to help moms, dads and high school baseball players
pick the right bat:
Weight:
Generally, bigger, stronger players prefer heavier bats. Smaller players
benefit from lighter bats that allow faster bat speed. Some players prefer a bat that is balanced,
while others like one with more weight in the barrel.
Length: Longer
bats give greater reach, so players can hit balls on the opposite side of the
plate. But with longer bats may come heavier weight, and bat speed could be
impacted.
Barrel Diameter:
High school and college players are restricted to a maximum barrel diameter of
2-5/8.”
Bat Material:
·
Aluminum alloys of different types are used in
today’s bats, each with different characteristics. The
alloy is often a factor in the price difference among bats. (Louisville Slugger Omaha, Louisville Slugger Warrior, Louisville Slugger Armor)
·
Composite bats combine graphite, fiberglass and
resin. Composite bats have a unique sound that some players prefer. (Louisville Slugger Z-1000)
·
Hybrid bats combine aluminum alloy with
composite materials so that batters have the best of both worlds: an aluminum
barrel with a stiff composite handle. (Louisville Slugger ExoGrid 2)
Feel: This may be
the most important factor! The bat should feel comfortable to the hitter. And no two hitters are exactly alike. Every player has his own personal preferences
when it comes to “feel.”
Sweet Spot: Aluminum and composite materials can be
engineered to create large sweet spots on bats.
Most players want a sweet spot that is as large as it can be.
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