When it comes to purchasing a baseball bat for your player, it's important to understand the different standards set by governing organizations. Two of the most commonly used standards are the USA Bat and USSSA Baseball Bat standards. Understanding the differences between these two standards can help you choose the right bat for your player. At Axe, we have a wide selection of both USA certified and USSSA certified models.
USA Bat, also known as the USABat standard, is a newer standard implemented by the USA Baseball organization in 2018. This standard is designed for youth players and has paramount focus on safety and integrity of the game. All bats under this standard are required to have a stamp indicating they meet the performance criteria set by USA Baseball (as seen in the chart below). USA Bats can be found in all categories of barrel constructions, such as one-piece, two-piece, composite, or alloy, and are often made in weight to length ratio’s ranging from [-12] to [-5] (meaning the weight of the bat, in ounces, minus the length of the bat, in inches, is equal to [-12] or [-5], respectively). The USA Avenge Pro 3 Hybrid will be the highest performing and most versatile bat in this category. This standard also sets a maximum barrel diameter of 2 5/8 (2.625) inches.
USSSA Baseball Bats, on the other hand, used by the United States Specialty Sports Association, are typically used in “Travel Ball” tournaments, and allow for a higher peak barrel performance than USA Bat. For this reason, two-piece composite bats tend to be the most popular category under this standard, such as the USSSA Avenge Pro 3, as composite bats tend to be the only material capable of reaching the performance limit while not cracking, denting, or breaking – however, bats of all barrel constructions can still be found. USSSA models will come in nearly identical length to weight ratios as the USA models mentioned above – ranging primarily between [-10] and [-5]. Additionally, USSSA bats allow a maximum barrel diameter of 2 3/4 (2.750) inches.
All in all, choosing the right bat for your player depends on the standards used by their league. If your player is in a league that follows the USA Bat standard, then you will need to purchase a bat that meets the USA Baseball criteria. The same goes for USSSA baseball. Make sure to consult with your league before purchasing a bat to ensure that you choose the right one for your player.
To read in more detail regarding the differences of the performance standards, and the methods in which the bats are tested, click here.
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