The NCAA recently announced, that beginning in the 2001 season, the bat specifications have been changed. This change even prompted Easton to sue the NCAA, a lawsuit later dropped. The new models are getting lighter, without sacraficing barrell size or length, creating a situation where extreme measures of bat speed can be generated.

Prior to this new ruling, bats had to conform to a -5 weight to length ratio. In other words, a 35 inch bat had to weigh at least 30 ounces, and so on. With the new ruling, the ratio has been changed to -3, making that same 35 inch bat, now required to weigh at least 32 ounces.

Most of the parties involved in the ruling, and affected by it, agree that at the college level, the rule seems fair enough. However, as in the past with many other instances, the high school and American Legion rules generally adopt, or follow the restrictions put in place by the NCAA. Therefore, a whole handful of high school players will be swinging bats that are simply to big for them. The only other alternative is to use a smaller bat, and sacrafice plate coverage.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this ruling, send them to AKbaseball@hotmail.com