This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

High School Baseball Takes One Step Closer To Wooden Bats

In an effort to more closely emulate wooden bats and eliminate a banned process called "rolling," the FHSAA approved a measure to allow only bats created by a new process.

High school baseball in Florida will officially switch from using the current aluminum alloy bats to BBCOR bats next year.

The bats already are in use by the NCAA.

BBCOR stands for Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution. Basically, it’s the bounce-back or trampoline effect the bat’s surface has when the ball makes contact with it.

Find out what's happening in Land O' Lakeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Imagine dropping a tennis ball onto a tennis racket. It bounces much higher than if it were bounced on the ground. The different aluminum alloys used to make bats have this bounce-back or trampoline effect. The result is that hitters get better drive and lift on the ball than they would with a wooden bat.

In an effort to more closely emulate wooden bats and eliminate a banned process called “rolling," the Florida High School Athletic Association approved a measure to allow only bats approved by the BBCOR process.

Find out what's happening in Land O' Lakeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

What Is Rolling?

Aluminum bats perform differently as they age. The older a bat gets and the more balls that are bounced off it, the more flexible the aluminum becomes. Thus, the time just before a bat’s failure is when it performs best.

To make their bats more flexible, teams were rolling their bats between two nylon or hard rubber rollers. This artificially ages the bat and boosts its trampoline effect.

“Rolling was a big problem not just at the high school level but the collegiate level also,” said Rob Francis, St. Pete College’s baseball head coach.

The practice of rolling is banned by both the NCAA and the FHSAA. All aluminum and composite bats must meet the BBCOR specifications starting in 2012.

BBCOR More Cost-Effective Than Wood

The main thrust of the change is to more closely emulate bat composition at the pro level.

So why not just go to wooden bats across the board?

Cost.

Major League teams shell out millions of dollars in salary every year. Purchasing 50, 60 or 100 bats is a nonissue for them. Even some of the larger NCAA programs wouldn’t have a problem buying a forest full of wooden bats. However, the smaller colleges and high schools would be at a severe disadvantage. Although wooden bats are cheaper to make, they last only a fraction as long.

A decent BBCOR bat costs $150 to $300 and should last for years. By comparison, a $50 or $60 dollar wooden bat, and that’s on the cheap end, might last one at-bat before it splinters into firewood.

Less Responsive Bats Should Make Game Safer

The older process called Ball Exit Speed Ratio measured only the speed of the ball coming off the bat. The BBCOR process not only measures the speed of the ball coming off but the “bounciness” of the ball and bat. What the BESR process was not accounting for was the compression that was happening with older aluminum or composite bats.

When a baseball makes contact with a bat, it compresses, squishes down and much of the energy is dispersed. With an older aluminum bat, the flex in the aluminum wall allows for less compression of the baseball itself. Thus, much of the energy is sent right back into the ball.

This brings up a safety concern, as well. With the ball sling-shotting off the bat in such a way, it puts infielders, especially the pitcher, under fire. The new BBCOR regulations will help by making the game just a bit safer.

'It Will Change the Way Amatuer Baseball Is Played'

What does this mean for the game?

First, it means fewer home runs. Let’s take a look at the top five home-run-hitting teams in NCAA Division I baseball this season.

1.)  East Tennessee State University with 86 home runs through 57 games, down from 93 home runs through 63 games the previous season.

2.)  College of Charleston with 81 home runs through 61 games, down from 105 home runs through 63 games the previous season.

3.)  Mercer with 80 home runs through 59 games, down from 90 home runs through 62 games the previous season.

4.)  James Madison also hit 80 home runs through 59 games, up from 68 home runs through 53 games the previous season.

5.)  Florida hit 67 home runs through 67 games, down from 83 through 63 games the previous season.

Those statistics were current as of June 14.

Clearly, the long-ball numbers will decline at the high school level next year also. The new bats will curtail the number of home runs that are hit every year.

That ball that just carried over the wall last year will drop in, likely for an easy out in 2012. The ball will have a little less zing as it comes off the bat. Line drives that were too hot to handle in 2011 might be quick outs in 2012.

“We have to make adjustments, shorten our swing, try to just hit line drives and just let home runs happen,” said former Clearwater Central Catholic slugger Jeff Campell.

This will no doubt bring down the run totals in each game. According to Francis, the average number of runs per game dropped this season in the NCAA from 6.23 to 5.5. Doubles and triples will turn into base hits, and tagging up could be a bit more difficult.

“It will change the way amateur baseball is played,” Francis said.

"The big kids are still gonna get their home runs but the little guys, not so much," said Land O' Lakes baseball Head Coach Calvin Baisley.

Defensive Strategy a Big Part of New Game Plan

The baseball world is decidedly split on the issue. Hitters obviously prefer the older aluminum bats.

There are several key differences from the older aluminum bats. According to Campbell, the sweet spots are smaller, mis-hits are more noticeable, and the bats even sound different.

For obvious reasons, pitchers are in favor of the change.

“It makes it easier on us,” said Campbell, who also pitched for the Marauders. “It allows us to throw inside more and use the whole plate. We won’t have to nibble away at the corners anymore.”

SPC assistant coach Ryan Beckman feels the same way. 

“It allows pitchers to throw their fastball with confidence," Beckman said.

“Kids at the top of the order are going to get their hits, but you’re going to see a lot more bunts and hit-and-run situations with the bottom of the order,” Beckman said.

With fewer long balls and lower-velocity hits, the game will shift to more of a “small ball” game. Base running, speed and defense will be earmarks of prep baseball next year.

“It’s making us re-evaluate how our rosters are made up,” Francis said.

Loading up a roster with a lot of power hitters is not going to pay the dividends it once did. Coaches will be looking for more complete players over power-hitters. And there will be fewer power hitters to go around.

“It’s really going to separate kids that can hit and kids that can’t hit,” Francis said.

A great many coaches at the high school level will welcome the change. Base running and fundamentals are focuses at the prep level.

All signs point to this switch as a step in the right direction. The NCAA is a great indication of how the prep game will change next year.

While home run, RBI and offensive records will look unreachable, the strikeout, shutout and defensive records should fall like dominoes to any team able to capitalize on the shift in strategy.

“Bomb squad coaches won’t like it," Francis said, but "it’s great if you love defense.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Land O' Lakes