USSSA Baseball Bat Standard

The USSSA Baseball Bat standards have not changed since 2005. They continue to require a 1.15 BPF certified thumbprint stamp of approval on the taper of all eligible bats. There can be exceptions that we will touch on, however as a general rule-of-thumb if you are allowed to use a USSSA bat - use it. A change did occur on January 1, 2018, with the USA Bat Standard, however, the change did not impact USSSA certified baseball regulations.

USSSA regulations are generally utilized for tournaments or “travel ball.” They provide a performance advantage over alternative options such as USA, BBCOR, and Wood Bats. Another competitive advantage provided by a USSSA bat can potentially be found in the barrel size. While USABats and BBCOR models enforce a maximum barrel diameter of 2 ⅝”, USSSA does not follow suit. USSSA models can have a barrel as large as 2 ¾” to provide a larger hitting surface and, in turn, more confidence for each player.

USSSA Bat Rules

Must have the 1.15 BPF USSSA stamp on the taper OR
Have the Certified .50 BBCOR stamp (-3) OR
Be a Wood Bat
Barrel diameter cannot exceed 2 ¾”
All must be manufactured by an approved USSSA bat manufacturer*

*All USSSA bats purchased on JustBats.com will be manufactured by an approved USSSA bat manufacturer.

What is USSSA Baseball?

USSSA, or United States Specialty Sports Association, is a governing body for youth baseball. Often times the term ‘USSSA’ will be synonymous with ‘travel ball’ or ‘tournament baseball’ because most tournaments around the country abide by USSSA’s rules. Their primary goal is to coordinate opportunities for teams to compete in both leagues and tournaments around the world. They seek to promote a high-quality brand of baseball to directly engage younger players in the sport.

Can I Use a USA Bat in USSSA Play?

Yes. You are allowed to use a USA Baseball Bat in USSSA certified play, but we do not recommend that you do. The reason is that the performance difference between the two certifications is sizable. USA models will be substantially lower performing bats when directly compared to USSSA models. This is the result of the restrictions placed on USA Baseball Bats to lower their performance. USSSA was not impacted by the rule change and continues to have the highest performing youth baseball bats available.

What USSSA Bats Are Banned?

Occasionally, a bat will be released with a USSSA stamp but after further review becomes ineligible. There are multiple reasons for a bat to be ruled illegal. This can certainly become an issue if you attempt to use one without knowledge of it being disallowed. For this reason, we highly suggest periodically checking the USSSA Banned Bats List to ensure you/your player continues to abide by the most current rules of play.

Does USSSA allow Wood Bats?

Wood bats will be allowed at all levels of USSSA play. They can be a great choice for an inexpensive practice bat. However, much like the USA models, we do not recommend using a wood bat because you/your player will be at a significant disadvantage performance-wise.

What is a Senior League Bat?

While the name would suggest use by an older player, that is not necessarily the case. Senior League Baseball Bats are merely USSSA baseball bats used by players in “kid-pitch” leagues. This term directly correlates with Junior Big Barrel Bats, which are only to be used in either coach or machine-pitch leagues. Simply put, if you see Senior League just think of USSSA kid-pitch.

*This page will continue to be updated if new information becomes available.

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