Which Bat Stamp Do I Need? (USA Softball vs USSSA)
Also known as: bat stamp, slow pitch bat stamp, usa or usssa bat, usssa or usa bat, usssa vs usa softball bat, usssa bat, usa softball bat, usa softball bat stamp, usssa bat stamp, 2004 stamp, 2013 stamp
The stamp you need depends on who runs your league or tournament. USA Softball play needs one of its approved certification marks, and USSSA sanctioned events need the 2020 USSSA mark. A non-wood bat with only one association's stamp is not legal in the other's events, so ask your league before you buy.
Start with the league, not the bat. Ask your league manager or tournament director which association sanctions play. It may be USA Softball, USSSA or another group, such as NSA, ISA or a senior association, each with its own marks and lists. Many rec leagues simply adopt one association's rules. If you play a USA Softball league and USSSA tournaments, you need a bat that carries both marks, or two bats.
For slow pitch, USA Softball's 2026 rules accept five marks. They are the older ASA 2000 and ASA 2004 marks, the USA Softball Certified mark and two shield-shaped 2013-style marks. The model must also be on the approved list and not on the Non-Approved Bat List. Senior-only bats are allowed only in senior championship play.
USSSA's 2026 slow-pitch rule book requires the 2020 USSSA mark on the taper for sanctioned events. The older 2014 mark has been ineligible for sanctioned events since January 1, 2023, though it is still allowed in USSSA league play. The mark must be applied permanently by a licensed maker. A sticker or decal does not count, and added graphics make it an altered bat.
To check a bat, find the mark on the taper or barrel first. Then find the model number on the bat and look it up on that group's current banned or non-compliant list, since a bat with the right mark can still be barred. Rolled, shaved or otherwise altered bats are illegal under both rule books.
Tips by skill level
Ask your league manager which association's rules you play under. Then look for that association's stamp on the bat's taper or barrel before you buy.
If you play under both associations, you need a bat that carries both marks or two bats. Recheck both banned lists at the start of each season and before big tournaments.
Example
A player joins a Tuesday USA Softball league and a Saturday USSSA tournament team. Her bat with only the 2020 USSSA mark works on Saturday but not on Tuesday, so she buys a second bat for the league.
Why it matters
Under USA Softball rules, a batter using a non-approved or altered bat is out and ejected. USSSA can suspend players for altered bats. Checking the stamp first avoids both.
Common mistakes
- Buying a bat before asking which association the league follows
- Assuming a bat legal in one association is legal in every league
- Bringing a 2014-stamped USSSA bat to a USSSA sanctioned tournament
- Trusting a mark that is a sticker or decal rather than permanently applied
- Checking the stamp but not the current banned list
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a USSSA or USA bat for my league?
Use the stamp of the association that runs your league or tournament. USA Softball play needs one of its marks, and USSSA sanctioned events need the 2020 USSSA mark. Ask your league if you are not sure.
Can I use a USSSA bat in a USA Softball league?
Not unless it also carries an approved USA Softball mark. That association's slow-pitch rules require one of its own certification marks on the bat.
Is the 2014 USSSA stamp still legal?
Not in USSSA sanctioned tournaments. The 2014 mark has been ineligible for sanctioned events since January 1, 2023, though the 2026 rule book still allows it in league play.
What is the difference between a 2004 and a 2013 softball bat stamp?
Both are USA Softball marks, first issued under the ASA name. The 2004 mark is allowed in all games. The shield-shaped 2013-style marks are allowed only in slow pitch, men's and boys' fast pitch, and men's modified play.
Sources
- USA Softball, Official Rules of Softball 2026, Rule 3 Sec. 1A (certification marks, approved and non-approved lists) and Sec. 1H (altered bat), pp. 30–31
- USA Softball, Certified Equipment (98 mph maximum bat-ball speed for certification)
- USA Softball (2017), Important information regarding certification marks (ASA 2000, 2004 and 2013 marks; 2013 mark limited to slow pitch and men's/boys' fast pitch)
- USSSA Slowpitch Rule Book and By-Laws, 2026 Edition, Rule 2 Sec. 2C (2020 USSSA certification mark; 2014 mark ineligible for sanctioned events from Jan. 1, 2023) and Sec. 2D–H (altered bats)
- USSSA, Licensed and approved slowpitch bat manufacturers (USSSA 1.20 BPF Bat Performance Standard; marks applied permanently by a licensed maker, no stickers or decals)
Related terms
- USSSA vs USA Softball Bat StandardUSSSA and USA Softball (formerly ASA) certify bats with different tests. USSSA slow-pitch bats meet a 1.20 BPF (bat performance factor) standard. USA Softball certifies bats against a batted-ball speed limit of about 98 mph. A bat legal under one stamp is not automatically legal under the other.
- Bat CertificationBat certification is official approval from a sanctioning body (ASA/USA Softball, USSSA, NSA, ISA, etc.) confirming a bat meets performance and safety standards for league play.
- Illegal Bat ListAn illegal bat list names bat models that a softball association has removed from legal play. Testing may show that a listed bat exceeds the allowed performance limit.
- BPF (Bat Performance Factor)BPF (Bat Performance Factor) measures how much energy a bat's barrel returns to the ball compared with a perfectly rigid wall. A higher BPF means more trampoline effect and greater exit velocity from the same swing.
- USSSA League FormatThe United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) runs slow-pitch leagues and tournaments. It uses its own bat rules, team levels, and tournament format.
- USA Softball (ASA) League FormatUSA Softball, formerly the Amateur Softball Association (ASA), publishes a softball rule book and approved-bat list. Leagues may adopt its rules for local and championship play.
- Bat Speed Ejection RuleThe bat speed ejection rule penalizes using a decertified, altered, or non-compliant bat. The batter is usually out; the player or team may be ejected.
Related guides & benchmarks
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