Bat testing at ASA/USA

[flygirlsdad]

All bats will be compression tested at 14U ASA/USA In Salem Va. Is this happening at all ASA/USA venues? Only bats that pass the test will receive a sticker to be certified for play. Seems fair to me but I am a little nervous since my daughter uses older Eastons. ASA umps have seemed to be checking bats more thoroughly this year.

 

[24GahannaLadyLions7]

I know in Normal, Illinois at the 10U ASA/USA National tourney they are doing it also. All girls attend check in and their bats will be checked and tested.

 

[coachjwb]

I am glad to hear they are doing it personally. Equipment in sports have specifications to help ensure fairness and safety. Same reason the NFL should be making sure footballs are properly inflated!

 

[Irish196]

Maybe see if you can find a bat testing service you can use before nationals so you aren't caught unprepared if one or both of her bats is no longer good?

 

[tourn_director]

Maybe see if you can find a bat testing service you can use before nationals so you aren't caught unprepared if one or both of her bats is no longer good?

I see that ASA/USA has finally caught up to the bat testing regimen that has been a USSSA staple for the past couple of years. I do recommend you find the testing device and give it a go to see how your bats check out---you district/metro ASA commissioners should have one. Has ASA specified what the penalty is if caught with one-- I know in USSSA they confiscate the bat if there is a doubt and then send it off for further tesing and if it turns out to be altered, there are some severe penalties.

 

[The Dude]

So what's the story? If you aren't cheating can a bat somehow fail anyway, in one of these tests? Wouldn't that be a huge waste of over $300 spent? I bet that would peeve some parents off that had zero intention of doing anything but play by the rules.

 

[CARDS]

So what's the story? If you aren't cheating can a bat somehow fail anyway, in one of these tests? Wouldn't that be a huge waste of over $300 spent? I bet that would peeve some parents off that had zero intention of doing anything but play by the rules.

Yes your bat can fail for several reasons. cracks / damage, normal wear increasing wall flex or paint cracks, noise inside (rattle) from interior wall. Multi piece bats with loose handle joint. Most umpires inspect these areas the compression check will see if the bat has too much flex from normal wear, rolling, shaved etc.CF bats tend to get hotter as they are used and have the most flex right before they break. You do not have to alter the bat for this to happen a lot of normal use in batting cage, soft toss, hit stick,TCC sand balls, size strength of the player etc can speed up the inner/outer wall separation.
Most of the bats MFG the past few years are susposed to not exceed after break in or use but they do...

 

[tourn_director]

So what's the story? If you aren't cheating can a bat somehow fail anyway, in one of these tests? Wouldn't that be a huge waste of over $300 spent? I bet that would peeve some parents off that had zero intention of doing anything but play by the rules.

There are 2 ways a bat could fail assuming it was bought off the shelf and had not been altered: first, there was a manufacturing defect (which would be very unlikely given the quality control tests, but it does happen) and (2) the bat tester was not calibrated properly and rsdas incorrectly.

In USSSA, I think a bat when suspected is sent to an independent testing firm and if those tests conclude something is wrong, then the bats are cut open to look see.

 

[freddieball]

Someone should have told the guy that I saw at the park smacking his daughters new CF8 on a wooden pole about 100 times this news lol I wanted to smack him over the head with it to be honest.