What the USGA could learn from Little League (baseball)

[Dan Herrmann]

I was watching the Little League World Series, and noted an important comment.  The Little League org. instituted a moratorium against composite bats.  Apparently, LL was afraid that the new breed of bats were ruining the game and wants to bring back bats that perform more like wooden bats.

Granted, their ruling involves performance gains after break-in, but it shows that they care about preserving the game.

Too bad the USGA/R&A will never make such a ruling.

--------------------

To quote:
On Dec. 30, 2010, Little League International announced it had expanded its moratorium on the use of composite bats to all of its baseball divisions, including the Little League (Majors) division, effective immediately....  The moratorium is not the result of Little League changing its bat standards, nor was it influenced by any relationships with bat manufacturers,” Patrick W. Wilson, Vice President of Operations at Little League International, said. “The decision to place the moratorium on composite bats in Little League’s baseball divisions is based solely on the fact that scientific research showed that composite-barreled bats may exceed the performance standard that is printed on the bats, after the bats had been broken in. Until that research was in hand there was no data to support an earlier decision.

[Bill Seitz]

I was watching the Little League World Series, and noted an important comment.  The Little League org. instituted a moratorium against composite bats.  Apparently, LL was afraid that the new breed of bats were ruining the game and wants to bring back bats that perform more like wooden bats.

Granted, their ruling involves performance gains after break-in, but it shows that they care about preserving the game.

Too bad the USGA/R&A will never make such a ruling.

While I agree with your overall point, my sense is that the rule was instituted not so much to preserve the integrity of the game (though that's probably part of it), but also with regard to safety.  There's obviously a lot less of a safety issue involved with golf.  But either way, it was a great decision, and I say that as someone who hasn't often agreed with Little League's rule changes in tournament play.  But if you look at the history of their rules and equipment changes over the last 15+ years, they've more or less all been done with safety in mind.  And before changing this rule, they initially went the USGA route and just moved the fences back from 200 to 225 feet. 

Another nice side effect was that the reduction in offense probably allowed great pitchers to stick around in games longer.  It's a lot easier to go five or six innings with 85 pitches when every other ball in play isn't a lined shot or a home run.  After instituting the pitch count rule (another good rule), this balanced the scales a bit. 

[Rick Wolffe]

Cripes...how could Little League International do the right thing...aren't they scared that they will be sued by the bat manufacturers...?

[Tony Ristola]

Cripes...how could Little League International do the right thing...aren't they scared that they will be sued by the bat manufacturers...?

LOL... whoever is on their Board... send them to the USGA... pronto!

[Mike_Young]

College baseball did the same thing last year.  And most of the Nike schools were allowed to use another bat before that because the Nike bats were not performing like the Easton Bats.  After one of the Easton bats has hit about 100 balls it starts to "jump".  Made a huge difference in carry and safety.

[Tony Ristola]

College baseball did the same thing last year.  And most of the Nike schools were allowed to use another bat before that because the Nike bats were not performing like the Easton Bats.  After one of the Easton bats has hit about 100 balls it starts to "jump".  Made a huge difference in carry and safety.

There should be a one-bat-rule... lol... after they start jumping and you want to lay down a bunt, you just might end up with a stand up double!