Baseball is a sport that emphasizes traditional equipment and play. After all, the sport really doesn’t look that much different than it did in the 1800’s. But this year, high school level players are going to notice a very significant change. For the 2012 prep baseball season, all high school approved baseball bats must conform to the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) standards.
BBCOR is a very complicated math and physics formula that can be boiled down to one basic factor, reduced ball speed. highschool baseball bats made to the BBCOR standard will be a lot less springy than traditional aluminum and composite bats. That should greatly reduced ball speed when the ball makes contact with the bat face. (You might know this as the “trampoline” effect.) This should greatly reduce the number of injuries experienced by outfielders.
The new high school approved bats are a major change for baseball traditionalists, but there’s a hidden side effect besides improved safety. Since the introduction of aluminum bats there’s been a statistically unlikely increase in home runs at all levels. These new bats should bring that number down and restore a more natural level of play.
Changes take time to get used to, but this one should help everyone enjoy the game a lot more.
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