SSUSA Announces Field Bat Test Standard

April 1, 2024

Softball News Report

The Sports Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Senior Bat Committee, NTS (the official certification lab of SSUSA) and Senior Softball USA (SSUSA) have been working together on a joint project to establish an on-field senior bat testing limit. The result for Senior Softball is a 140-pound compression minimum for on-field testing.

This is NOT a new standard for approving senior bats. This is a field compression test to identify bats deemed too hot for senior play.

Bats testing less than 140 pounds in the field test will not be allowed. Bats that are cracked will not be allowed.

SSUSA will be acquiring bat testers and begin testing bats as soon as the testers arrive. The testers will be distributed as we acquire them, much like we distribute defibrillators (AEDs) to SSUSA tournaments today.

The purpose of the on-field test is to ensure an even playing field and address the use of bats that have been altered to improve performance.

Senior Softball USA would especially like to thank the SFIA, senior bat manufacturers and the NTS lab for their help and support in establishing this on-field test.

Altered bat suspensions & team penalty:

If a player refuses to immediately surrender a bat suspected of being altered to enhance performance, the player will be suspended for life. If the player voluntarily surrenders a bat found to be altered to enhance performance, the player will be suspended for 10 years. If the player refuses to surrender the bat, or if the bat is found to be altered, the team will forfeit all previously earned current season Tournament of Champions bids and is declared ineligible to participate in the current season SSUSA World Championships and Tournament of Champions.