After much dispute, the NFHS and NCAA will be switching to new bats this year. The change was spurred from player injuries and in some rare cases death, from being hit by a ball flying off the bat too fast for a player to react. The switch will be going from a Ball-Exit-Speed-Ratio certification, or BESR to a Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution certification.With BRF baseball starting March 19 the team is getting ready for the season. Both players and coaches are preparing for the change but aren’t too worried.

“We just have to get used to them. It’s not really that big of change it’s just how the ball comes off the bat,” said senior varsity player Taylor Nichols.

BBCOR bats are thicker than BESR bats allowing for less flex. According to the NFHS, “the new standard ensures that performances by non-wood bats are more comparable to those of wood bats.”

Because of this change, some players are preparing for smaller sweet spots on the bats, which could affect their performance.

“Personally I don’t think it will cause too much of a difference in my performance. The bat will have a little less of a sweet spot so the ball won’t travel as far,” said junior varsity player Ryder Vold.

In BBCOR bats the ‘trampoline effect’ has been lessened and as a result the ball will come off at much slower speeds.  Although there are some negative results of this, like less homeruns, it most importantly ensures the safety of players, an aspect most coaches and players appreciate.

“I think it’s just a matter of keeping kids safe, especially the pitcher,” said junior varsity coach Jake Dahlke. Those pitchers have a split second to react to some of those hits and the way the ball was flying off some of those bats was just not safe.”