About USA BBCOR
ABOUT USA BBCOR
USA BBCOR is a bat performance standard administered by USA Baseball as part of its USABat program. USA BBCOR is the same performance standard as BBCOR, which has governed collegiate and high school baseball since 2011, but now under a new name and a new home. The transfer of the bat performance standard's management from the NCAA to USA Baseball was announced on July 2, 2026, formalizing the newly rebranded USA BBCOR standard.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is happening with the BBCOR standard?
Through a collaborative effort with the NCAA, USA Baseball will assume 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.
Why is USA Baseball involved?
As the national governing body for baseball in the United States, USA Baseball is uniquely positioned to oversee equipment standards for the sport. This is similar to many other national governing bodies that set and enforce standards for the equipment used in their respective sports. Working in conjunction with the NCAA, governance of the BBCOR standard is transitioning to baseball’s national governing body. By formally integrating BBCOR (Now USA BBCOR) under the USABat umbrella, USA Baseball is creating a unified wood-like bat performance model across all levels of amateur play, from tee ball to college.
Will the performance of the 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 1st, 2027. USA BBCOR bats will be eligible for play in the 2028 NCAA season.
Do I need to buy a new bat immediately?
No, NCAA has implemented a grandfather period 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.
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 with 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’’.
How will umpires, coaches, players, and parents know if a bat is legal for 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.
How will I know which bat to buy?
All bats that bear the USA BBCOR .50 certification mark are permissible for play in NCAA beginning January 1, 2028. Starting July 1, 2027, USA Baseball will host a full list of approved USA BBCOR bats on USABaseball.com and USABat.com.
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.
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
