A Legacy Softball Guide to Bats and Balls
As detailed in the USSSA and Legacy Rulebook, only certain types of bats and balls are allowed for league and tournament play. The following page provides guidance on the differences in softballs in use in various leagues around the country and the bats approved for play. Both the Legacy Softball and USSSA rules are subject to change at any time, and questions regarding any rule should be directed to the umpire at the field and/or a Legacy League Official.
As detailed in the USSSA and Legacy Rulebook, only certain types of bats and balls are allowed for league and tournament play. The following page provides guidance on the differences in softballs in use in various leagues around the country and the bats approved for play. Both the Legacy Softball and USSSA rules are subject to change at any time, and questions regarding any rule should be directed to the umpire at the field and/or a Legacy League Official.
Softballs
Legacy Softball has adopted the Classic M Softball as its standard and only approved ball for play within all competitions. While certain events and tournaments might use or allow a different ball, the league will supply all teams with approved balls, and only these should be used in league games. Unless specifically banned, any brand of ball may be used, but it must be stamped as a Classic M. Other types (Pro M, Stadium, etc. are not approved).
What is a Classic M and what makes it different from the others? Softballs are defined by two metrics which impact how hard the ball is, and how "bouncy" it is. These are the Compression and Coefficient of Restitution (COR).
The compression of a softball refers to the amount of force needed to compress the ball a quarter of an inch. The more force needed to compress the ball (higher compression) the harder the ball. This will generally mean that the ball will have stronger trampoline effect on the barrel of a bat and will travel farther when hit.
Some Standard Compression Measurements:
• Comp 275 = Generally Not Used for USSA Play - several NSA balls have this Compression. Mainly used for restricted flight.
• Comp 325 = Classic M as approved for Legacy Softball.
• Comp 375 = Pro M softball. Often used in tournaments where they tend to hold up to weather related factors better, and the competition is higher.
• Comp 400 = X-Rocks and Thunder ZN approved for some ISA and NSA leagues. Much harder than the Classic M and not used in Legacy Softball. Legacy does use a Comp 400 11" Ball for women's play and certain coed tournaments.
• Comp 450 = "Stadium" Balls are generally used at the highest levels and allowing the farthest hit balls. Not approved for use in any Legacy games.
• Comp 525 and up = Extremely hard, generally not approved for use in any sanctioned league.
The COR of a softball measures how much energy is retained by the ball after it deflects off of a solid, immovable object. It is a scientific measurement of the ball's "bounciness." In most cases, the higher the COR ratings the lower the compression rating, meaning that the ball cannot compress a bat barrel very well. Higher COR balls generally travel less far than lower COR balls.
Common COR measurements:
• 52 COR = Very bouncy - Common in ASA/USA Play
• 47 COR = Medium bouncy - Stadium Ball
• 44 COR = Low to medium bouncy - Pro M
• 40 COR = Not very bouncy - Classic M
What is a Classic M and what makes it different from the others? Softballs are defined by two metrics which impact how hard the ball is, and how "bouncy" it is. These are the Compression and Coefficient of Restitution (COR).
The compression of a softball refers to the amount of force needed to compress the ball a quarter of an inch. The more force needed to compress the ball (higher compression) the harder the ball. This will generally mean that the ball will have stronger trampoline effect on the barrel of a bat and will travel farther when hit.
Some Standard Compression Measurements:
• Comp 275 = Generally Not Used for USSA Play - several NSA balls have this Compression. Mainly used for restricted flight.
• Comp 325 = Classic M as approved for Legacy Softball.
• Comp 375 = Pro M softball. Often used in tournaments where they tend to hold up to weather related factors better, and the competition is higher.
• Comp 400 = X-Rocks and Thunder ZN approved for some ISA and NSA leagues. Much harder than the Classic M and not used in Legacy Softball. Legacy does use a Comp 400 11" Ball for women's play and certain coed tournaments.
• Comp 450 = "Stadium" Balls are generally used at the highest levels and allowing the farthest hit balls. Not approved for use in any Legacy games.
• Comp 525 and up = Extremely hard, generally not approved for use in any sanctioned league.
The COR of a softball measures how much energy is retained by the ball after it deflects off of a solid, immovable object. It is a scientific measurement of the ball's "bounciness." In most cases, the higher the COR ratings the lower the compression rating, meaning that the ball cannot compress a bat barrel very well. Higher COR balls generally travel less far than lower COR balls.
Common COR measurements:
• 52 COR = Very bouncy - Common in ASA/USA Play
• 47 COR = Medium bouncy - Stadium Ball
• 44 COR = Low to medium bouncy - Pro M
• 40 COR = Not very bouncy - Classic M
bats
USSSA V. ASA/USA
All bats in Legacy Softball must be USSSA approved - as indicated by the presence of one of the two most recent stamps:
All bats in Legacy Softball must be USSSA approved - as indicated by the presence of one of the two most recent stamps:
The "220 Stamp" on the left is the older USSSA Stamp and is used to mark bats that are designed to meet a standard of 220 lbs. of compression. This is the force needed to compress the barrel itself. 220 Bats are designed to a "softer" threshold and tend to get "hotter" more quickly than higher threshold bats.
The "240 Stamp" was introduced several years ago and is the new standard for USSSA play. The bats tend to be harder to compress and produce less trampoline effect. This was designed in part to make bats last longer and more durable, while slowly achieving the same level of performance as the old 220 bats.
Bats built to the 220 standard are engineered to have a lower failing point and were designed to be hot out the wrapper. Typically, these bats take fewer swings to break in and are engineered to hold compression around the 220 area. New stamp bats forced bat makers to re-engineer bats to hold a higher tolerance for longer - to mixed earlier successes. Over the first few years following introduction, various manufacturers struggled to produce bats which would maintain their passing status over the long term but have noticeably improved over recent years.
240 bats will tend to feel stiffer out the wrapper and will likely be less hot when brand new. They may also take more swings to break in and reach game-level performance. It should also be remembered that these are the standards bats are manufactured to. Through extensive use, many bats eventually dip below the level of compression specified under by the Stamp. While these bats are not illegal for league play, they might be disqualified at tournaments where testing is performed. Legacy Softball reserves the right to disqualify any bat from competition, and discipline players using illegal or altered equipment at its sole discretion.
Legacy Softball permits either of the two Stamps in league play, though most USSSA-sanctioned tournaments will only allow 240 Stamped bats, and may test them to ensure that they are meeting the necessary guidelines.
Not allowed in Legacy play, USA (ASA) Softball approved bats are designed to a difference standard, and bear different markings. USA bats are designed for the particular ball used in their own sanctioned events and will not perform well with the generally harder softballs used in USSSA events. Some bats feature both USA and USSSA stamps, and these are legal for play in Legacy Softball provided they meet all other criteria in the rule book.
This guidance is provided based on available information published about the various bats and balls available for use, and is not meant to be definitive. In all cases, equipment for use in any Legacy Softball event must meet the requirements and regulation of USSSA and Legacy Softballs rules. Please consult a Legacy Softball official or umpire with any specific questions.
The "240 Stamp" was introduced several years ago and is the new standard for USSSA play. The bats tend to be harder to compress and produce less trampoline effect. This was designed in part to make bats last longer and more durable, while slowly achieving the same level of performance as the old 220 bats.
Bats built to the 220 standard are engineered to have a lower failing point and were designed to be hot out the wrapper. Typically, these bats take fewer swings to break in and are engineered to hold compression around the 220 area. New stamp bats forced bat makers to re-engineer bats to hold a higher tolerance for longer - to mixed earlier successes. Over the first few years following introduction, various manufacturers struggled to produce bats which would maintain their passing status over the long term but have noticeably improved over recent years.
240 bats will tend to feel stiffer out the wrapper and will likely be less hot when brand new. They may also take more swings to break in and reach game-level performance. It should also be remembered that these are the standards bats are manufactured to. Through extensive use, many bats eventually dip below the level of compression specified under by the Stamp. While these bats are not illegal for league play, they might be disqualified at tournaments where testing is performed. Legacy Softball reserves the right to disqualify any bat from competition, and discipline players using illegal or altered equipment at its sole discretion.
Legacy Softball permits either of the two Stamps in league play, though most USSSA-sanctioned tournaments will only allow 240 Stamped bats, and may test them to ensure that they are meeting the necessary guidelines.
Not allowed in Legacy play, USA (ASA) Softball approved bats are designed to a difference standard, and bear different markings. USA bats are designed for the particular ball used in their own sanctioned events and will not perform well with the generally harder softballs used in USSSA events. Some bats feature both USA and USSSA stamps, and these are legal for play in Legacy Softball provided they meet all other criteria in the rule book.
This guidance is provided based on available information published about the various bats and balls available for use, and is not meant to be definitive. In all cases, equipment for use in any Legacy Softball event must meet the requirements and regulation of USSSA and Legacy Softballs rules. Please consult a Legacy Softball official or umpire with any specific questions.
