98 MPH bats

[NumeroUno]

Is their any truth to this?

I just heard that this year ASA will be going to some 18 Gold tourney's and bringing a gun that picks up the speed of a ball off the bat. If the bat exceeds 98 MPH the bat will be removed. Has anyone else heard this?

I watched worth test bats and they had a bunch of equipment test ball speed.

[TravelSoftballDad]

I've put together a little brief on this subject. Enjoy:

Explaining the 98-mph BBS standard for ASA softball

In my introductory article about regulating bat performance I argued that the hit-ball speed was the ultimate measure of performance in the field. In this article I'll attempt to explain how the Amateur Softball Association regulates the Batted-Ball Speed directly.
Batted-Ball Speed, Collision Efficiency, and Bat-Ball-Coefficient-of-Restitution
The Batted-Ball Speed, or the speed with which a bat hits a ball, depends on three quantities:
(1)
where vball is the pitched speed of the ball, vbat is the linear speed of the bat at the impact location, and eA is a term called the collision efficiency (sometimes referred to as the "apparent coefficient of restitution"). The collision efficiency eA depends on the elastic properties of both the bat and ball, as well as on the moment-of-inertia of the bat, and the location of the impact on the bat barrel. It is also the quantity most easily measured in the laboratory. The ASA has used two different bat performance standards, the first took effect in 2000 and the second in 2004. Both standards directly regulate the Batted-Ball Speed. The two standards differ primarily in the relative speed between ball and bat at which the laboratory test is conducted, and in the manner in which the collision efficiency is measured. In the laboratory currently test used by the ASA to regulate BBS, a softball is fired from a cannon towards a bat which is initially at rest. The ball passes through a light gate speed detector on its way towards the bat, and passes through the same detector as it rebounds from the bat. The collision efficiency for this scenario is simply the ratio of the final ball speed vf after the collision divided by the initial ball speed vball
(2)
This measurement is often referred to as a "ball-in, ball-out" measurement (as opposed to the "ball-in, bat-out" measurement used for the BPF standard). If the balls used in the test were exactly the same as the balls used in the field, then calculating a predicted BBS for a particular bat would be as simple as taking the laboratory measurement of eA from equation (2) and plugging it into equation (1) along with a value for the pitched ball speed and bat swing speed.
However, the parameters of a softball (weight, COR, and compression) can vary significantly from ball to ball, and the performance of a bat depends rather strongly on these ball parameters. If the balls typically used in the field have a different weight, COR or compression than the ball used in the laboratory test, then the simple procedure above will not accurately predict BBS in the field. The fix to this problem is to attempt to normalize the laboratory test results to the parameters of a "standard" ball.

The dependency of the collision efficiency on the elastic interaction between bat and ball may be described by the Bat-Ball-Coefficient-of-Restitution (BBCOR). The BBCOR is often represented by the symbol e and represents the ratio of the combined speeds of the ball (vball-exit) and bat (vbat-recoil) after the collision divided by the initial speed of the ball (vball) before the collision.

(2)
The depencency of the collision efficiency on the inertia properties of the bat and the location of impact are combined into a kinematic factor which is essentially a ratio of the ball mass m divided by the "effective mass" of the bat[1]
(3)
which depends on the moment of inertia of the bat Ip about a pivot point on the handle and the distance z from the pivot point to the impact location. The collision efficiency eA is related to the BBCOR (e) and the kinematic factor k according to
(4)
The way the ASA BBS standard works is as follows. The moment-of-ineritia of the bat and the mass of the test ball are measured, so that the kinematic factor may be calculated from equation (3). The collision efficiency is measured using the ball-in/ball-out method in equation (2). Then, equation (4) is rearranged in order to calculate the BBCOR in terms of the measured collision efficiency (as a ratio of ball speeds) and kinematic factor:

(5)
This calculated value of the BBCOR is then normalized to the elastic properties of the ball itself to obtain BBCOR*, and the kinematic factor is normalized to the ball weight to obtain k*. A value for the normalized collision efficiency is then obtained
(6)
and finally the Batted-Ball Speed is calculated from
(7)
where the values for pitched-ball speed and bat-swing speed are appropriate to game conditions. The value of BBS from equation (7) is compared to the limit chosen by ASA and if the bat tests below the limit it is considered to have passed the BBS test and may bear the ASA certification stamp.

[thedoanezone]

me, after the second paragraph!!

[Danible]

You won't see 98 MPH coming off a softball bat on a swing from a player.

[TulsaEliteGold]

Here's a good article about the changes for 2009-
http://www.hitrunscore.com/asa-2008-bat-testing.html

ASA 2008 Bat Certification Testing Procedures Change Because Composite Bat's Performance Increases
The ASA has recognized what the savvy players and coaches already know - composite bats get better with use. As such, the way the ASA tests bats is changing to take this fact into consideration. The result is that the performance of ASA certified composite fastpitch and slow pitch bats is going to decrease with the 2009 model year bats.

The good news is that ASA certified 2008 composite fastpitch bats and ASA certified 2008 composite slow pitch bats will continue to be legal to use.

The "problem" is that composite bat performance increases because the composite fibers and resins loosen up with use and provide a greater trampoline effect. Composite bats that originally passed the 98 mph BBS (Batted Ball Speed) test when new were exceeding the standard when retested after being used for a while.

Rather than banning existing composite bats that were certified legitimately under the ASA 2004 bat standard, the ASA is reportedly changing the testing to simulate up to 1000 swings before certifying that a bat meets the ASA 2004 bat standard. The standard itself is not changing, just the testing procedures.

So what does this mean and when will the new bat testing standards go into effect?

Since the ASA has not issued an official statement we can only tell you what the bat manufacturers have told us.

[*]2009 model year slow pitch and fastpitch composite bats will not perform at the 98 mph BBS standard until after they are broken in.
[*]2009 model year metal bats are not affected by this change in testing procedure because metal bat performance decreases with use.
[*]July 1, 2008 - Manufacturers have to stop the manufacture and distribution of bats that were certified under the old testing procedures.
[*]October 1, 2008 - Manufacturers can no longer replace warranty returns with bats that were certified under the old testing procedures.
Retailers can sell 2008 model year and older bats that were certified under the old testing procedures as long as they have stock.
[*]Composite bats certified under the old testing procedures can be used by players until they are no longer safe to use. (Please note this is not official ASA policy. The ASA can ban specific bats at any time.)

So how will this affect me?

You probably won’t see ASA certified 2008 composite bats on closeout. Don’t be surprised if you see the price go up as people buy up the last of these “hot” bats. The manufacturers are holding off on making 2009 model year ASA composite bats until they make sure these bats pass the new testing procedures. High end 2009 model year ASA bats will be delivered to retailers later than they traditionally are, possibly as late as September, so that they can deplete their existing stock and ensure the new bats pass the new testing procedures. Get your ASA certified slowpitch bat or ASA certified fast pitch bat while supplies last. Once there gone, you won't ever be able to get an ASA legal bat that performs as well as the 2008 model year composite bats.

Will this mean the end of composite bats?

Probably not, but nobody knows for sure. In many ways it will depend on you. Manufacturers that only make composite bats are scrambling to come up with a bat that satisfies both the ASA and the player. Manufacturers that also offer metal bats may turn to exotic metal technologies for 2009 high end ASA certified bats as they wait for the market to determine the fate of composite bats.

Composite bats will still get better with use. They will still perform at a high level until the bat physically fails. They will still last at least twice as long as any current metal bat. These are compelling reasons to own a composite bat, so don't be surprised if they are around for a long time.

[NuNu's Dad]

They will still last at least twice as long as any current metal bat.

You lost me there.

[Ace]

They will still last at least twice as long as any current metal bat.

You lost me there.

How did you last that long? 2 paragraphs and I was out!