Beginning January 1, 2000, in ASA Championship Play, players may use only bats which meet all requirements of Rule 3, Section 1 and:

1) which bear an ASA approved certification mark; or

2) which are included on a list of approved bat models published by the ASA National Office; or

3) which, in the sole opinion and discretion of the umpire, were manufactured prior to 1995 and, if tested, would comply with the ASA bat performance standards then in effect.

All wooden bats will continue to be approved for ASA Championship Play regardless of whether they bear an ASA approved certification mark or are included on a list of approved bats published by the ASA National Office.

Some bat models have failed original testing and had to be retooled and brought back for retesting for approval for use in 2000

Update on ASA Bat Testing & Certification Program

Here is a list of bats that have been tested and found to comply with the ASA bat performance standards. (Updated as of August 2, 2000)

ASA approved Advanced Composite bats
Laaunch Tube Legal Limit

ASA approved Bombat bats
TD2

ASA approved Catapult bats
Team Series

ASA approved Custom Bat Works bats
Attitude Slow Pitch
Attitude Fast Pitch

ASA approved DeMarini bats
B-52
DeeMo
Destroyer
Double Wall Distance (inc. Double Wall Ultimate Distance)
Double Wall Fat Boy
Double Wall Distance Light
Single Wall UltimateWeapon
Single Wall Julie Smith Fast Pitch

ASA approved deBeer bats
Shockwave 1999S
Shockwave 1998S
Storm 1886S
Storm 1768S

ASA approved Easton bats
* indicates bats added to the approved bat list after the umpire card of approved bats was printed.
Easton SK6 Hammer
Easton SK10
Easton SK11 Black Max
Easton SK12 X-Treme
Easton SK19 X-Treme
Easton SRX1-C Reflex Ultra C-Core Schuck
Easton SRX2DS Reflex Ultra Dan
Easton SRX2SC Reflex Ultra-Sheila Douty
Easton ST1-Z Connexion Z-Core
Easton ST1-ZB Connezion Z-Core
*Easton ST2-Z
*Easton ST2-ZB
Easton SX51 Black Magic
Easton SX56 Black Magic
Easton SZ1-C Redline C-Core
Easton SZ1-CB Redline C-Core
Easton SZ5-Z Redline Z-Core
Easton SZ5-ZB Redline Z-Core
Easton SZ6-T Ti-Core
Easton SZ7 Redline Sunbelt
Easton SZ8-C Redline C-Core
Easton SZ8-CB Redline C-Core
*Easton SZ9
Easton SZ9-B Rebel
Easton SZ11 Redline 11
*Easton SZ3 Redline Sunbelt
*Easton SRX100-CX Reflex C-Core
*Easton SRX9DSX Reflex Dan Schuck
*Easton SRX9GX Reflex Todd Joerling
*Easton SX50 React 50
*Easton SK5 Hammer
*Easton SRX100-C Reflex C-Core
*Easton SRX9DS Reflex Dan Schuck
*Easton SRX9G Reflex Todd Joerling
*Easton SX95 React 95
*Easton SX24 React 24
*Easton SK3 Smoke
*Easton SK85
*Easton SE911
*Easton SX95
*Easton SX91
*Easton SK12
*Easton SK75
*Easton SX80-C C-Core
*Easton SE911
*Easton SE910
*Easton SX81
*Easton SK7
*Easton SK1 Spectre
*Easton SK90 Black magic
*Easton S3 Smoke
*Easton S9 Black Max
*Easton S5 Hammer
*Easton SE710
*Easton SX71
*Easton SX18
*Easton S6
*Easton SK60
*Easton SJ7
*Easton SJ2
*Easton SX1T
*Easton SX10T
*Easton SX2
*Easton SX20
*Easton S80
*Easton S60
*Easton SK8
*Easton SX7
*Easton SX100
*Easton SG3
*Easton S11
*Easton SZ4 Redline USA
*Easton SRX100-CBX Reflex C-CoreV
*Easton SRX10SCX Reflex Sheila Cornell
*Easton SX55 React 55
*Easton SK9 Black Max
*Easton SRX100-C Reflex C-Core
*Easton SRX9G Reflex Gold
*Easton SRX9SC Reflex Sheila Cornell
*Easton SX24 React 24

ASA approved Grover bats
*Hurricane
*Maximum Velocity (MVP)

ASA approved Kelley bats
*Mach 10
Wraptech

ASA approved Louisville Slugger bats
Fast Pitch Models
*AFP21
*CFP12
*CFP13
*CFP14
*CFP15
*CFP16
*CFP17
*CFP18
*CFP19
*CFP23
*CFP27
FP1 Lisa Fernandez Model
FP2 Dot Richardson
FP5 Burgandy Bottle
FP7 Air Attack
*FP8
FP9 Springsteel
FP12 Air Attack 2
FP13 TPS Bottle Bat Collegiate Series
FP14 Dot Richardson Model
FP15 TPS Bottle Bat
FP16 Inertia
FP17 TPS C555
FP18 TPS Air Attack 3 Bottle Bat Lisa Fernandez Model
FP19 TPS Bottle Bat Dot Richardson Model
FP20 Lisa Fernandez Model
FP21 Dot Richardson Model
FP22 Louisville Slugger Youth Softball
*FP23
*FP27
*FP29

Slow Pitch Models
*BFSB
SB2 Dirk Androff
SB3 Ritch's Superior
SB5 Gold
SB14 Springsteel
SB17 Team TPS Inertia Balanced
SB19 TPS Power Dome
*SB20
TPS Ai Balanced SB 21 (C) (L)
TPS Ai End Loaded SB 21 E (EL) (EK) (EC)
SB 22 TPS Air Attack 3
SB23 TPS Gold
SB24 AS Louisville Slugger
SB25 Louisville Slugger
*SB26
* Indicates these bats were added after the umpire card of approved bats was printed.

ASA approved Miken bats
*HHD
Infinity
*Viper - 12"
*Viper - 14"

ASA approved Mizuno bats
Techfire

ASA approved Nike bats
Air Storm GPT
Black Powder S
Black Powder FP
Keystone FP
Keystone S
Storm FP
Storm GPT

ASA approved One Cryo bats
Equalizer Fast Pitch
Equalizer Slow Pitch
Equalizer 2 Slow Pitch

ASA approved Power-Flite bats
*Metal matrix
*JAT-PRO SHELL
*JAT-ERC
*SLAMMER
ASA approved Rawlings bats
Fast Pitch Models
FPP4 Elite Stick
FPP5 Big Stick
FPZ2 Powered Forged

ASA approved Steele's bats
AL5512 Alien
*ST7512-Storm
XLT7178
*XT5516-Xtraneum
XXLT7178
XXLTG7178

ASA approved Worth bats
ESTCW
ESTK
ESTL
ESTLE
EST5
EST5C
EST5K
EST85
EST9
FP11
PST
SBAB
SBAB11
SBP
SBT
SBWR
SSBTC
*SSBT2
*SSCR
SSCRC
*SSCRC2
SSEST
*SSLH
SSLLC
*SSLSC
*SSMBC
*SSMSC
*SSMS2
*SSWR2
*SS10C
*SS13C
SWBTB
SW4
SW4P
*VTBT
VTCR
VTCR5
VTLL
VTMB
VTMBS
VTMS
VTRH
VTWRK
VT5MS

Manufacturers will continue to submit additional bat models for testing, and the ASA will update this list as test results become available. Additionally, the ASA will periodically test additional samples of approved models to verify compliance with the ASA bat performance standards.
Previously purchased bats of models which have been approved may be "Grandfathered" until the end of the 2001 season but the bat model of these previously purchased bats must be listed on the list of approved models and should contain the Official ASA Grandfathered Bat Stamp which is available from the bat manufacturer. Bats without the official stamp will be considered approved if the model number is clearly visible in order to be permitted to be used
The use of the Official Grandfathered Stamp must be obtained from the manufacturer and when affixed on the bat will expeditie the process of identifying approved bat models on the list. The bat model number is the important element in determing if the bat has been approved for use in ASA play.

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Undue Criticism For ASA

The ASA has unjustly taken a lot of heat and criticism over the Approved Bat List. Most people do not realize the manufacturers were a part of a committee that established the guidelines for this testing procedure over three years ago. Theyn were well aware of all of the procedures years ago. They also made their own decisions as to whichof their product line of bats they were going to have tested. The ASA had little or nothing to do with that. Therefore there were a number of bats for each manufacturer that the manufacturer themselves chose not to have tested. Basically that is the reason there are bats that do not appear on the list.

Since the original deadline date for testing that again was established by the entire committee, some manufacturers have received numerous complaints as to why certain models of their bats did not appear on the list. This has resulted in some manufacturers having additional bats tested that they originally had decided not to test. Therefore, there are a number of bats that have been added to the approved list with the blessing of the ASA. The ASA has also given the manufacturers the opportunity to add out-of-production bat models by following a very rerasonable particular legal procedure. Many manufacturers have taken advantage of this opportunity to add several out-of-production models to their lists of approved bats. Please understand, the ASA is certainly not involved in this testing to cause problems. The ASA simply wants the bats that are being used to play our great game to be as safe as possible according to the formula established by the committee of ASA Reps, Manufacturers Reps and representatives and/or guidelines of the US product safety committee.

I hope this explains some of the procedure that is involved and why the ASA is receiving undue and unjust criticism.

I have tried to learn as much as possible about this bat and ball testing. Please contact me if you feel I might be able to help you in any way with a bat or ball situation or explanation. I might be able to explain something that could help make matters easier to undersatnd or justify.

Guy Demaio

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