The NCAA News - News and Features

June 8, 1998

Association joins SGMA in bat study

Project to identify testing procedure

The NCAA will join other baseball governing bodies in an extensive research program with the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) to measure baseball bat and ball performance and select a method for testing equipment.

The primary goal of the program is to produce independent, scientific research so that manufacturers can produce the safest possible equipment and the NCAA can set more specific performance standards, according to Cedric W. Dempsey, NCAA president.

"The objective of this joint effort is to develop a repeatable, verifiable and affordable testing procedure that can be used by all baseball bat and ball manufacturers and governing bodies," Dempsey said. "At that point, it will be up to each governing body to decide the performance level appropriate for its game."

Joseph J. "Trey" Crisco III, director of the Bioengineering Laboratory at Brown University-Rhode Island Hospital and cofounder of the National Institute for Sport Science and Safety (NISSS), will direct the research for the governing bodies and the manufacturers. Crisco expects to complete the initial phase of his work within nine months and conclude the research within two years.

Other baseball governing bodies that have agreed to support the research include the National Federation of State High School Associations; Little League Baseball, Inc.; Babe Ruth Baseball & Softball; and Pony Baseball & Softball.

"The SGMA is pleased at having reached this agreement to support the development of a performance testing method for baseball equipment," said John D. Riddle, president of the SGMA. "The results of the scientific study will assist the baseball community in promoting the game's safety, balance and popularity."

A key component of the research is a field test that will measure the actual performance of baseball bats and balls. This comprehensive study, which will compare batted-ball exit velocities from metal and wood bats, is intended to provide baseline information against which all laboratory tests will be compared.

Crisco also will evaluate existing and newly proposed bat and ball testing methods by comparing the results with the field test results. He also plans to develop a new laboratory-based research apparatus to study bat-ball impacts.

History of discussion

The discussion regarding baseball bat performance became national in scope in July of 1985 when the first research related to the performance of metal bats was presented to the NCAA Baseball Committee.

In 1988, the committee instituted a maximum length-to-weight unit differential of five so that a 34-inch-long bat could not weigh less than 29 ounces. Finally, the committee developed the first interim bat performance standard in July 1995 when it approved, with input from the manufacturers, a maximum bat performance factor of 1.14, with a margin of error of .01.

"The NCAA views this joint effort as being good for college baseball," said Bill Rowe Jr., director of athletics at Southwest Missouri State University and chair of the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee. "We recognize that some people believe we should not await more definitive test results before legislating new definitions of allowable bat performance. We feel, however, that Professor Crisco's work will help us make better and more informed decisions."

Rowe also said that the committee would retain the right to intercede should circumstances warrant.