Illegal Bats List

The most comprehensive and up-to-date list of banned baseball and softball bats. We track every decertification across USSSA, USA Baseball, Perfect Game, NCAA, and NFHS.

Updated Monthly
Latest: July 2025

All Major Leagues
USSSA, USA, NCAA, NFHS

Official Sources
Direct from governing bodies

🚨 Latest Ban: Easton Hype Fire Drop 5

April 8, 2024: Perfect Game has banned all drop 5 Easton Hype Fire bats from play. This currently only affects Perfect Game events and does not apply to USSSA at large.

Note: The drop 8 and drop 10 versions are NOT suspended and remain legal for play.

Historical Bans
Softball Bats
Approved Bat Lists

Recent Illegal Bat Announcements

2024 Easton Hype Fire Drop 5

Banned: April 8, 2024 | League: Perfect Game Only

Perfect Game announced that all drop 5 Hype Fires from Easton are banned from play. This currently only affects Perfect Game and does not apply to USSSA at large. The drop 8 and drop 10 versions are NOT suspended.

Outside of Perfect Game events, the drop 5 Hype Fire is still legal under USSSA rules.

Stinger Missile II - 33/30 BBCOR

Banned: August 2022 | League: BBCOR

The Stinger Missile II BBCOR (33-inch only) was banned due to overperformance. Other sizes remain legal for play.

Complete Illegal Baseball Bats List

As of July 28, 2025

Year	League	Brand	Model	Specifics	Status
2024	PG Only	Easton	Hype Fire	Drop 5 only	Banned
2022	BBCOR	Stinger	Missile II	33-inch only	Banned
2020	BBCOR	Louisville Slugger	Meta	33-inch only	Banned
2018	USA	Easton	Ghost X	30/20 only	Banned
2018	USSSA	Dirty South	KAMO BB KA 8	See size list*	Banned
2017	USSSA	DeMarini	CF Zen	Drop 10 2¾" & Drop 8	Banned
-	BBCOR	Mattingly	Balistk	All sizes	Banned
-	BBCOR	Nike	CX2	All sizes	Banned
-	BBCOR	Louisville Slugger	TPX Dynasty	All sizes	Banned
-	BBCOR	Marucci	CAT 5²	33" & 34" only	Banned
-	BBCOR	Reebok	TLS	All sizes	Banned

Important Notes:

*DSB KAMO banned sizes: 30/22, 31/23, 32/24 (drop 8) and 31/21, 32/22 (drop 10)
The 2018 DeMarini CF Zen was re-certified and is now LEGAL for play
Always check with your specific league for the most current information

Perfect Game Specific Bans

Perfect Game Tournament Rules

As of 2021, Perfect Game has banned all USSSA-banned bats, including:

All DeMarini CF Zen models on the USSSA banned list
2015 Easton XL1 drop 5
2024 Easton Hype Fire drop 5 (PG specific ban)
Any bat with the older USSSA stamp (pre-2018)

Perfect Game may have additional restrictions beyond standard USSSA rules. Always verify with tournament directors before play.

Understanding Bat Decertification

How Bats Become Illegal

To become certified, a bat must pass specific performance standards set by governing bodies. These tests are performed at independent sports science labs at major universities.

The Decertification Process:

Random Testing: Governing bodies randomly test bats throughout the year, similar to drug testing in sports
Acquisition: Bats are purchased directly from retail or taken from tournaments
Lab Testing: Bats are sent to certified labs for performance testing
Decertification: If a bat fails testing, it's removed from play and becomes "decertified"

Fun Fact: They don't make crappy bats illegal - only the ones that perform too well and give unfair advantages.

Related Resources

Approved Bat Lists

League Resources

Other Resources

Stay Updated

We monitor all major league announcements and update this list within 48 hours of any new bat bans.

Last checked: July 28, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

Using an illegal bat typically results in the batter being called out, potential ejection from the game, and possible team penalties. Some leagues may forfeit games where illegal bats were used. Always verify your bat's legality before play.

Yes, it's possible. The 2018 DeMarini CF Zen is a notable example - it was initially banned but later re-certified and returned to legal status. However, this is rare and requires the manufacturer to address the issues and resubmit for testing.

Different bat sizes can have different performance characteristics due to weight distribution, barrel size, and materials. When tested, only specific sizes may exceed the performance standards, leading to selective bans (like the 33-inch Meta or specific drops of the Hype Fire).

We check all major league announcements weekly and update this list within 48 hours of any new bat bans or re-certifications. The "Last Updated" date at the top of the page shows when we last verified all information.