How Are Bats Certified?

To test bats during the BBCOR certification process three mechanisms are used to measure ball rebound speed:

1. Ball Cannon: At a muzzle velocity of at least 150 mph, the ball will be shot from the cannon with no more than 10 rpms to measure and the exhaust may not cause the barrel to move if the ball doesn't make contact with the bat.
2. Ball Speed Gate: The gate consists of three sensors that track the ball's speed. The first sensor is placed 18 inches from the surface of the bat, the second one is 6 inches closer than the first sensor, and the third is 6 inches closer than the second sensor. This will track the rebound speed of the ball from the surface of the bat.
3. Bat Pivot Support: The support hold the bat by the handle so that the proximal end of the knob is 6 inches from the axis of rotation. 

After the bat is set up properly in the machine, the testing begins. Using six new balls, the machine fires one at a time towards the barrel and the results are recorded. After each shot the barrel is randomly rotated to ensure the entire barrel produces similar results. After all the data is collected the mathematicians use a formula to measure the batted ball coefficient of restitution (BBCOR). Any bat that has a higher BBCOR rating than .500 is deemed illegal for play.

In conclusion, these are the five requirements for BBCOR certification.

1. The bat must meet the size and weight specifications.
2. There are no tolerances for length-weight differences (no greater than three units without the grip) or for maximum barrel diameter.
3. The bat must have an MOI (6 in. from the base of the knob) greater than or equal to the minimum allowable for the bat’s length class.
4. The bat ring must pass over the entire length of the bat before and after every hit.
5. The BBCOR, as determined from an average of six (6) consecutive valid hits at the maximum BBCOR location described above, must not exceed 0.500.