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| Jan. 16, 2025 Not Dave | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rolled bats garyheifner, you are right. It would be help SSUSA to sort out illegal bats. SSUSA also needs rules. BUT, SSUSA will NEVER let the players have anything to say about how SSUSA is run. That would take control away. I guess if you volunteer to have your bat tested before the game and it does not pass, you could not accused of cheating. But if they check your bat AFTER the game, they COULD accuse you of cheating. If SSUSA allowed players to have a vote on rule changes, most of the rules that SSUSA would like to implement would not pass. Just like they did not allow players to vote on Bat Warmers. Even though Bat Manufactures tell you to not use your bat under the temp of 65° to prevent it from breaking. I feel that if SSUSA allowed players to vote on the use of Bat Warmers it would pass overwhelming in favor to allow bat warmers, at least in cold weather games only. |
| Jan. 15, 2025 Not Dave | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rolled bats Tim, I appreciate that. I understand what will happen stepping in the box with an illegal bat. Never have, never will. According to SSUSA Staff, SSUSA presumes that ANY bat you bring onsite at the tournament facility is one you use. I just wanted to make sure. Hopefully ALL Directors will think like you. |
| Jan. 15, 2025 Not Dave | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rolled bats I have a few different bats that I will bring to early morning games when the temp is below 68°, just for the purpose of BP only. They have NOT been altered in any way. They are OLD ASA bats. I know they are NOT legal in SSUSA. I am just trying to make my Game bats last longer. SSUSA is assuming that I am going to use it in the game is TOTAL CRAP. What about players that bring weight bats. Is SSUSA assuming those bats will be used also during the game? |
| Jan. 14, 2025 Not Dave | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rolled bats Oldballs, 1) It depends on whether there is a compression tester at the complex you are playing at. 2) It depends if the Directors want to spare you the time to test your bats. |
| Dec. 28, 2024 Not Dave | Topic: Bats Discussion: High price of softball bats LeeM, You are correct. I meant to say ALL BAT WARMERS ARE ILLEGAL. Thank you for catching that. |
| Dec. 27, 2024 Not Dave | Topic: Bats Discussion: High price of softball bats Remember, Bat Warmers are not illegal to use. You can get a Soda Pop bat from $229 - $299. Suncoast has good bats also $240. De Marini has good bat too. These are good bats. Just do not use them in cold weather. You should not use ANY bat in games that are under 64° unless you are planning on breaking it. If that's the case, you will be buying a few bats during the year. That will get you to the $1,000 mark |
| Dec. 18, 2024 Not Dave | Topic: Website comments Discussion: Definition Please NorCal Softball voted to still ALLOW Bat Warmers. The association has been losing teams the past few years. I feel since they are keeping the use of bat warmers the numbers will grow again in 2025. The other association in Sacramento is now being run by SSUSA staff. That means Bat Warmers will be ILLEGAL. I would like to hear from the Bat Manufactures. I want to hear what they think? Like someone posted on a different Thread. We should ALL send a Bill to Senior Softball for reimbursement of their broken bats. Maybe we should either NOT use our bats if we play when the Temp is under 64° or just do not enter the Tournament until May, Depending on where you live. Full Count, Before they voted on this rule, Senior Softball should have asked the players what they think. Let the players vote on this rule. |
| Dec. 14, 2024 Not Dave | Topic: Website comments Discussion: Definition Please Real Dave, I totally hear what you are saying. But why does it not apply to the balls? The balls are very dangerous when used in Temps in the 40's & 50's? Players in their upper 60's, 70's & 80's when they play in the cold weather their reaction time is SLOWER, it also can cause your Muscles, Tendons and Ligaments to become STIFFER and LESS FLEXIBLE. That is putting players in danger. It is recommended by the Bat companies Not to use their bats in temps under 64 degrees. Dave, you can go online and you can find all the Manufactures recommendations. I read online that using composite bats in cold weather makes the bat harder and could cause the bat to CRACK. Isn't the cold weather ALTERING the bat ALSO? The recommendations say do not use your bat. |
| Dec. 14, 2024 Not Dave | Topic: Website comments Discussion: Definition Please Mr. Dowell, By NO means am I advocating the use of ROLLED, SHAVED BATS or the use of PROPANE HEATERS. Those players should be suspended. I am curious. You say players are not allowed to use a Propane Heater. WE TOTALLY AGREE. But Yet, PROPANE HEATERS are NOT illegal to have in a dugout. WHY? From what I am hearing, the definition of an ALTERED Bat is one that is NOT in it's ORIGINAL STATE WHEN PURCHASED or Altered from the Manufacturers recommendations. But yet we are allowed to change the BAT Grip to a Better grip of the players choice to give them an EDGE. Players are ALLOWED to use PINE TAR/SPRAY ADHESIVE. By using this, isn't that ALTERING the Bat? Giving them an EDGE? Suncoast Bats: Some Suncoast Bats have a STICKY SUBSTANCE on their Barrel. As you use one of those bats the Stickiness wears off. But yet we are ALLOWED to wipe it down with a Cold or Warm WET TOWEL. WHY? Batting Gloves: Some players use Pine Tar/Spray Adhesive on their Batting Gloves to get a better GRIP. Isn't that ALTERING the ORIGINAL Equipment? Giving them an EDGE? |
| Dec. 13, 2024 Not Dave | Topic: Website comments Discussion: Definition Please Dave/Committee Members, Nobody is trying to embarrass you guys. All they are doing is proving to you that you guys really did not think this out before you implemented this ridiculous rule. I know you are probably going to say it's a safety issue. EVERYBODY knows that's not the issue. As a matter of fact, since we have to play in cold temperatures and use cold balls SSUSA is putting it's members in an unsafe situation. ALL WE ARE ASKING IS, IF THE TEMP IS UNDER 70 DEGREES AT GAME TIME WE SHOULD BE ALLOW TO USE A BAT WARMER. That is a great compromise. |
| Dec. 11, 2024 Not Dave | Topic: Website comments Discussion: Bat Warmers gary, Maybe we should turn SSUSA into a WOODEN BAT LEAGUE. Bats are 100's cheaper. They don't break as fast. |
| Dec. 11, 2024 Not Dave | Topic: Website comments Discussion: Bat Warmers Donna, I live in your region. You are a Umpire in Chief, you just follow the rule that are set in front of you. We all do. By voicing or opinions that is how we get rules changed. WE would like it if you could show proof that a heated Bat produces the ball to have more VELOCITY and DISTANCE. I just typed in: What does a Bat Warmer do? This is what the answer was. This is a QUOTE "Helps preventing bat cracking and denting! Keeps bat at manufactures recommended Temperature! Denting was for Metal Bats. I also typed in: Does a heated bat make the ball travel further This is what the answer was. This is a QUOTE "No, there isn't scientific evidence that heating a bat makes the ball travel further" A cold BALL can travel Faster and further. Problem is, a heated bat cannot break a ball. But a COLD BALL can break a Bat if the Bat is not at manufactures recommended Temperature. |
| Dec. 10, 2024 Not Dave | Topic: Website comments Discussion: Bat Warmers OK Guys, I have been reading all the comments from all the participants in this thread. It is obvious that the Senior Softball Staff does not care about the opinions of the players that make SSUSA the success that it is today. Nor do they care about the Safety of it's players. Even though they say they do by changing rules. They make you sign a waver before you can play. All the waver does is cover their ass. Players have DIED on the field, playing a sport they love to play. Players have gotten SERIOUSLY INJURED during a game that they love to play. This is a site that is for players to voice their opinions, criticism and find the answers to questions they might have. I have noticed that the SSUSA Staff very rarely answers questions. Participants have to ask for the staff to please answer the question/s for a second time. They still do not answer them. There is no legitimate reason for not allowing bat warmers, Other than some committee saying so. FACT: By using a bat warmer it WILL allow your bat to last longer. How long nobody knows. But it does last longer. If it did not allow your bat to last longer, I GUARANTEE you nobody would be using them. But SSUSA will not allow us to use them. FACT: When we play in cold weather it has an effect on the Ball. Yet SSUSA IGNORES the fact. Yet we still play. WHY? Because we love the game. Where I live in the Eastern Region, the Average Temp in Late March is between 55 and 65 Degrees. In the early 2025 season we are now probably going to break more bats than usual. But when you are questioning the use of Cold Balls in the morning, They just IGNORE us and the question. When you play in SSUSA Tournaments you have to sign in at the table before you can play. The Directors will ask you where you are staying? Everyone has the same opinion. They are getting a kickback. Now players are going to have a different opinion. Every time you break a bat Senior softball is getting a kick back. Just saying. I want to wish all the softball players out there to be safe and successful seasons. UNLESS YOU ARE PLAYING AGAINST MY TEAM. It is obvious that SSUSA in not going to allow Bat Warmers. Actually I am surprised this thread is still up. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL. Even the SSUSA STAFF |
| Dec. 10, 2024 Not Dave | Topic: Website comments Discussion: Bat Warmers garyheifner, That is ALL that DBLB32 and the majority of the players are asking for. |
| Dec. 8, 2024 Not Dave | Topic: Website comments Discussion: Bat Warmers Last year SSUSA put in a NEW Rule about the Batters Box. The majority of the players did not agree with it. WE adjusted (Hopefully). Plus the New Rule about the COMMITMENT Line. OLD Rule was all you had to do is have ONE foot cross the line and you could NOT return to 3B or be tagged out. NOW you have to have BOTH feet cross the line. With these rule changes SSUSA is making it MUCH HARDER on the Umpires. Most Umpires do not even pay attention to the batters box rule. We gave in to those rule changes without a big stink about them. GIVE THE PLAYERS THE RIGHT TO USE BAT WARMERS IF THEY LIKE. It's their choice. A Suggestion to ALL TEAMS. VIDEO all of your games. This way when you protest a Call and you stop the game for a Director to come over, you can show them the proof that a call was incorrectly made. |
| Dec. 8, 2024 Not Dave | Topic: Website comments Discussion: Bat Warmers A bat that is in a SLEEVE, CLEAR POUCH or BOX is being heated by the SUN. It is NOT being heated by any mechanically device. |
| Dec. 10, 2023 Not Dave | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rule question Thanks Dave for your explanation. Maybe the Umpires should include that rule during the coin toss. |
| Dec. 10, 2023 Not Dave | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rule question If that is not TRUE, you need to make sure ALL the UMPIRES use the same rules |
| Dec. 10, 2023 Not Dave | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Rule question What is the definition of "Crossing the Line"? We were told last year that you have to have BOTH feet across the line. If only one foot you CAN return to 3B |
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