Modification in Bat Standard

Senior Softball-USA is today announcing a change in the bat standard based on recommendations from Dr. Richard Brandt, who established the original 1.20 bpf standard.

This purpose of this modification of the standard is to accurately reflect the following changes in testing procedures:

1. The equipment used to test bats has changed since the original 1.20 bpf standard was developed.

2. The balls used in the test are no longer available so the higher compression balls are being used.

Bats meeting the original 1.20 bpf standard, test at 1.21 bpf using the new equipment and higher compression balls.

In order to ensure that all manufacturers are required to meet the same specifications, the maximum standard for Senior Softball-USA will be 1.21 bpf using Dr. Brandt’s new equipment and higher compression balls.

This standard goes into effect immediately.

Here is Dr. Brandt's memo on the change:

_____________________

MEMO

TO: Softball bat manufacturers

FROM: Richard Brandt

DATE: January 21, 2010

RE: SSUSA Bat Performance Standard

Terry Hennessy of Senior Softball-USA has asked me to document a change in the SSUSA bat performance standard. This original SSUSA standard was the ASTM Standard F1890-05, with 47/375 softballs. Because these softballs were not readily available, the test softball characteristics were changed in 2007 to 47/525. The increase in BPF that this change brought about was, however, not incorporated into the BPF limit, which remained at 1.20. As a consequence, softball bats that were initially compliant could become non-compliant.

To avoid this possibility, SSUSA has decided to increase their BPF limit to 1.21. Specifically, the new SSUSA standard requires that the softballs used in the tests have compressions in the 475 - 525 lb range and CORs in the .460 - .470 range. The 47/525 balls are readily available and have been used for the past seven years in performance tests for SSUSA, USSSA, NSA, and most other softball organizations. Also, the higher compression softballs are more suitable for bat testing because their compression measurements are much more stable (repeated compression measurements give similar results) and consistent (compression measurements at different points on the balls give similar results). This BPF limit change does not permit more-powerful bats to become compliant (as long as 47/375, or weaker, softballs are used in the ballgames). It has simply adjusted the limit to account for the increase in test ball compression.

Using the 47/525 softballs, the current 1.21 SSUSA Standard differs from the 1.20 USSSA Standard in the following ways.

1. The bats are tested only at the COP for SSUSA, and not at other points along the bat barrel. The maximum possible bat performance might therefore be missed.

2. The BPF 1s evaluated to only two decimal places for SSUSA. This means that BPFs as high as 1.214 (ABPFs as high as 1.264) are allowed. For USSSA, the maximum allowed BPF is 1.200.

3. Only new bats are tested for SSUSA. Possible performance improvements with usage will therefore not be detected.

Coaching Senior Softball

This discussion is for coaches or coach/players who play on a non-sponsored team. If you are a player that plays on a sponsored team, you are fortunate, because there are few. Remember: your sponsor is paying $5000-$8000 to take you to a National Tourney; give him a GROUP hug.

Every coach has the same job every week; you spend unbelievable hours over the winter lining up tourneys, & then average 20-30 hours during the week keeping all this together. You give these schedules to your players & they know every tourney months in advance. You e-mail them every week to give them updates. Here are the constant problems: many players never look at the schedule; never plan their sick days or whatever to coincide with the tourneys; give you notice one or two days before the tourney that their going on a picnic or etc. Causing you to have to show up understaffed; whimper cause you move them in the lineup because their bats went cold or because you just want to use a different strategy.

Every player on a non-sponsored team should coach one tourney to see how it feels to hear the feedback that goes with the job that NO ONE WANTS. It is almost impossible to carry the 16 or so players you need throughout the year & survive, mainly because of unforeseen injury or family deaths. Coaches have to put the best man for the job at the position best suited for the player, he is constantly analyzing all situations to determine what to do next; hard to play & compete when all of this is going on; also, he blames himself for any losses. Players, take a look at his success; if you are winning, have chemistry, & are having a great time; he must be doing a great job; don't reinvent the wheel. There is not a coach out there who gives up all of these hours who will not listen to suggestions, but when a few get together & mumble about what should or should not be done, then this is a cancerous root that will eventually destroy the unity & divide the team. Remember: we expect contention from young players but this should not be with Senior Mature Men

Significance and Use of BPF for Softball/Baseball Bats:

This test method offers a laboratory means to compare the relative performances of baseball bats.

Use of this test method can provide sports governing bodies a means to compare calculated batted-ball speed and other physical properties of the bats.

1. Scope

1.1 This test method defines a method for determining bat performance by measuring the bat-ball coefficient of restitution (BBCOR), deriving the bat performance factor (BPF), and calculating batted-ball speed (BBS). It is applicable to baseball bats of any construction or material. The test method provides a quantitative measure of bat dynamic performance that may be used for comparison purposes.

1.2 The BBCOR, BPF, and BBS are each calculated from measurements taken in the laboratory on test equipment meeting the requirements defined in this test method.

1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

Nov /09

Source:

Combat Sports: Hitting for Average by Johnny McCraw

Hitting for Average by Johnny McCraw (JMAC)

 Johnny McCraw here coming to you from Combat Sports and Dan Smith/Team Combat. This is the first of a series of articles designed to bring you, the player some insight into the world of Softball from some of the great Major Softball Player’s point of view. I will be covering ball in a wide range of topics from both a manufacturers and a player’s point of view. This is our first article and I am truly excited about being able to share my experiences with SWM readers. Each article will be written from a dual vantage point, as a Major Softball Player, and as a National Promotions Manager for a leading bat manufacturer, Combat. I will also be introducing some of the biggest names in softball to get other opinions. In this first article, the focus will be hitting for average.

In the game of softball today with the limited amount of homeruns, hitting for average is a must for every player in making a team successful. I know everyone likes the long ball but you can only hit so many of those per game before it becomes an out. We will address hitting for power in a future article.

The benchmark in batting average for softball has been set at .700 or better and to attain this there are a few things a player can do. Everyone has his or her own method of hitting but what helped me to be a more productive player was practice! First and foremost you have to get out during the week and practice, that means going out and taking at least 250 to 300 swings every week. Tiger Woods doesn’t just show up on weekends, at his level he goes out and hits 500 balls a day. When Tiger practices he doesn’t just use his driver to see how far he can hit the ball, he goes thru every club working on every shot. The same holds true with batting practice in softball, you don’t just bomb away at every ball you need to work all areas of the field.

What I typically do is take 15 swings to right field, 15 to right center, 15 to left center and 15 to left field, then I’ll try to hit 15 out of the ballpark. That’s 75 swings the first round of BP. In my second round I’ll hit 15 balls to each side of the pitcher working up the middle and to finish up I will hit 20 more balls simulating a game situation and hitting the ball where it is pitched. That is 125 swings in two rounds of batting practice two times per week. That should be a minimum that any player wanting to be a Major hitter and hit for a higher average should be doing.

Now that you have practiced all week it’s time to play the game. When stepping into the batter’s box you must first have a plan of attack, you have to know the situation, where runners may be on the bases, where the defense is positioned, etc. The first thing I do is survey the field to see where each guy is playing and decide where I am going to try and hit the ball, then wait on the right pitch to do so. If I don’t get that pitch or find myself in a hole with two strikes, I then revert back to hitting where it’s pitched. If the pitcher doesn’t throw me anything then I take a walk. That brings me to my next point. Being selective at the plate will also help you hit for a higher average. In today’s game on-base percentage is the tool used to measure how one is hitting. When you are selective and can take a walk it’s just like hitting a line drive up the middle, walks count as hits.

Speaking of the middle, to be a productive hitter the middle is a part of the field you must use. I know people say hitting in the middle is dirty but it is part of the game. Nobody wants to hit the pitcher and that’s why in batting practice I work on going to both sides of the mound. You want to get the ball past the pitcher and thru a hole in the infield. Hitting for average takes using all parts of the field from foul line to foul line and the middle happens to fall within those boundaries.

Finally, making a good hard swing on the ball is essential to hitting for a high average. Many times you see someone try and go to right field and take a slow, lazy swing and hit a routine fly ball for an out. You should wait until the ball is in the zone where you want it and then drive the ball that way, don’t cheat yourself by taking a half swing. When you are attempting to hit a homerun you don’t take a half swing and nothing changes when trying to base hit.

In conclusion, I hope this article helps every player in one way or another become a better hitter, worst case scenario maybe it just gives you some things to think about. If all else fails there is one final thing that will make you a better hitter and that’s running down to your local sporting goods store and purchasing yourself a Combat Virus Plague or Gear Virus. This alone will add several points to your average!

Until next time, JMAC is out.