SSUSA could not source the standard STOTE or ROCKs which are rated at 44/375 for Reno. Instead, they are mandating ASA 44/375. So, it's the same COR and same PSI compression. However, they are different balls. I've been told that the ASA balls will not fly nearly as far (in the exact same weather conditions) as the STOTE or ROCK. True? False?

REALLY??? ... That's totally hilarious! ... The guys who should have hit HR's today at Golden Eagle (40-Major+, 40-Major, 60-Major+ and 60-Major) did ... Your "sourcing assertion" is also a bit misleading ... The Stote balls were simply not available (import difficulties by BSN) and we had absolutely no intention of using The Rock balls ... The BSN folks recommended the one we're using as being the closest in performance characteristics ... We'll take their word for it because it doesn't matter one little bit when both teams are hitting the same balls ... The grand total of players making a complaint about the softballs today to any of the Directors at Golden Eagle was exactly ZERO ... Not even any from the "warning track power" guys ... Gawd, that's funny ...

Why no intentions of using the rock ?

The Rock has historically (last decade or so) been used exclusively for Las Vegas events ... And in this post-pandemic Season, we intentionally reduced entry fees in many events from 2019 levels to help teams ramp back up ... The Rock's cost is a considerable economic increase that isn't justified in the circumstances as we emerge in an era of new costs that reflect running tournaments in the new-normal ...

This is from the trump site: The Trump Stote SSUSA Microcell Softball is a great choice for any league or tournament that allows any 44/375 softball. Sold by the dozen, the Trump Stote SSUSA 44/375 ball will give you great consistency and durability. The Microcell (MCT) technology allows the ball to react like it is in low temperatures, and fly further than the standard 44/375 ball, even in hot weather. This ball has the SSUSA stamp and red stitching.

Thank you, James, for your answer. I do appreciate you reading my question carefully. Thank you.

Now, since this wasn't part of the original question, but was brought up....folks are allowed to use ANY bat that has a SSUSA stamp on it and is in proper condition. They can also use any bat that that has lower compressions such as BPF 1.20. So, why shouldn't teams be able to play with ANY ball stamped SSUSA on it? Why the double standard? I mean, if everyone has to use the same exact manufacturer of SSUSA ball in a tournament, why shouldn't everyone, for example, have to swing the Miken JB 2021 SSUSA bat?

Note on Pricing: ASA https://www.bsnsports.com/trump-174-ak-ez-asa $58.99 per dozen for the balls mandated in Reno. $4.92 per ball. SSUSA ROCK https://www.bsnsports.com/ssusa-softball-12-44-375 $59.99 per dozen $5.00 per ball. In stock. That's before any discounts that teams or large organizations receive.

This "everyone hits the same ball" theory is a myth! The ball is an equalizer for less skilled teams. It enables them to make plays that they may not normally make as the ball is not hit as hard, it may not get past them in the outfield for the extra base that it normally would, and it also takes the HR out of the hands of the better team in close games. While it is true that they both hit the same ball, a softer/mush ball impacts the better teams more....

Chicks dig the long ball. No long ball equals no chicks.

Full Count, this chick prefers a place hitter or someone who can go with the pitch. Of course I understand and love the game. So I think what you are saying is that shallow chicks like deep hitters. This one prefers actual talent.

Point taken. I'm actually into situational hitting. My analogy would be, base hits are like lineman in the NFL. You can't win with out them. I was kidding, referring to an old MLB commercial.

So Nancy, are you saying that guys who can hit the deep ball don't actually possess talent??? haha!

Wood_1966, I was being a little funny, and hitting the ball hard enough to go over the fence is a skill, but being able to read a pitch and place it is a true talent. My dear Coachie could do that, and it was pretty hot. This chick really dug it, and you don't see it often.

Bottom line is :

Ju is correct .

Microcell balls are made to not suffer in the heat .

The ball used did suffer from heat .

Does help teams who do not have as much power .

It is a $ dollar thing .

If teams were told it cost 50 dollars more for guarantee of good ball in heat they would pay .

If there is no choice have to put up with it or not play and this is realized .

Here's the bottom line... If you can hit, you can hit. If you're "that guy" who can only hit with the best bat & ball combo then you should consider raquetball. Everybody hits it off the wall there.

Foothills, its not a $$ thing at all. Its a global supply chain issue that affecting all overseas commerce. I own the rights to Microcell and I cant even get them right now. Truth is you should be thanking SSUSA every day for making Microcell the standard ball and realize its not their choice to go without them for this next couple weeks.

Thanks Bobby ... We appreciate you correcting his misconceptions ... We love your Micro-cell technology ball and had no choice in this one ... But that's of little interest to those looking to take a swipe at us based on 2% knowledge and 98% un‌-informed speculation ...

We have been out of our hugely successful Evil BP ball for 6 months. NO one wins when this happens. Hopefully the people in Washington realize you cant shut down a world economy for a year then just flip a switch and have supply back like it was before. This is the worst supply issue we have faced at Evil Sports in the 18 year history of our brand. Im just taking the hits this year and looking forward to better supply in the upcoming months.

The only thing about softballs that has always irked me is different manufacturers making balls to the same specs but perform totally different. Isn’t that the reason for the specs so that everyone is using an equally performing ball?

A crap ball like the one we used in Reno actually shrinks the field for the weaker hitting team making them easier to defend. Outfielder can play much shallower cutting off many of the softer hit ball. I believe a mush ball actually makes it easier for the stronger team to beat the weaker one.

James

And those teams that knew this JLG, were the ones who kept hitting in front of the OF and had a better chance of success. Never saw so many games with <20 runs scored.

I went into this tournament expecting the balls to be bad based on others' comments, but I had no problems with them. I played in the 65 and 55 tournaments and played 14 games with 14 home runs. I didn't hit one ball that didn't go out that I thought would have with the Rock or the SSUSA Stote. I saw some very long home runs hit with this ball.

It may not be quite as good as the Rock or the normal SSUSA Stote, but it was by no means a bad ball.

Just my opinion.
Murray Williams
65 Texas Crush Major Plus
55 Rock-n-Legends Major

Murray - you could hit a ball out with a fence post >:)

Bruce...the ANSWER to your original question, which ball travels further, the ASA or SSUSA ball..we used the Trump Stote USA ball this past weekend in Westminster and all the teams that played in our Major division said the ball was mush....we hit 3 TOTAL HRs in 4 games...the teams we played hit a total of 6 in the 4 games versus us....I put them side by side with my SSUSA stamped Trump stote and it looked identical other than a few different colors in ink but when the ump saw me grab the two of them to compare them, he said, "Do not put that ball into the game"...my experience with the Trump Stote USA ball was that it does not travel farther than the Trump Stote SSUSA ball...it still goes fast through the infield but it does not go far...hope that helps

MurrayW-I've seen you hit. You look like you are playing on a 225 foot fence. The rest of us human beings are different!LOL Congrats on your win. I was very surprised at the 15-12 back to back scores against my old team-Timberworks. Low for both teams.

Webbie25, the 3rd day of a tournament, the scores tend to be a little lower. The second 15-12 game was just in the top of the 5th inning when the rains came, so that that game would have been higher scoring had it gone 7 full innings.

I get that, Murray. How many did Timberworks hit out in the Tournament? Just curious. They should have hit a bunch.

I didn't mean to hit post yet. But I also noticed you guys had a 22-7 loss to Timberworks and Timberworks had 11-2 and 17-2 wins. Unusually low scores for Timberworks and major plus teams. I guess I was just surprised.

Webbie25. Timberworks hit 2 homeruns!!!

Webbie that 22-7 loss was embarrassing! We just had one of those games, and it wasn't because we were hitting a lot of 290' fly balls that would have gone out with a better ball. That game and the 17-2 TW games were run rules and only went 5 innings.

My point is that the ball is not as good as the ball we usually play with, but it was not a complete POS.

I think it was my defense at 3rd, 2nd, and 1st that held the home run count down for Timberworks! :)

Murray, if I sound negative, not at all. I have all the respect in the world for you. I did talk to Imlay today. He said they hit 1 only-Jeff Hacker. One is an awful small number for a team with Doak, Lud, Imlay and many others with power into their 70's. And I guess I just cannot see you guys ever scoring 7 runs unless the wind was blowing in at about 80 mph. I( also understand that they are unable to get the microcell Trump now. We can't find them anywhere, either. And no other ball holds up to the heat except the Rock.

Webbie, no I didn't think you were being negative at all. All I was trying to say is that it was an inferior ball but not a total POS. It still traveled far when you hit it well.

Ah, I've purchased the old Trump X-Rock 44/375 with the "man in the cape" logo which were the original tournament balls. Those things FLY. Using he ASA ball means that you wasted your money on a SSUSA tourney bat...particularly in the heat. You found this out at the Hemet tournament. Don't know what the problem with the Micro-Cell Stote (which is not as hot as the Rock ball) but are OK, just not X-Rock hot. To use that ASA ball is almost criminal. It was like hitting a beanbag. Hopefully, the Trump X-Rock or at least the Stote MicroCell version, will be in use. Otherwise it ain't worth paying and playing with that ball.

BTW,those ASA balls are brutal for the teams with few power hitters...because the outfield plays so much more shallow that almost nothing drops in...kind of like playing co-ed with the co-ed line...Just sayin'

Bkb555 thank you. That is my experience as well. I hear you. Clearly, the ASA balls are not as hot as the SSUSA balls. The ASA balls also lose compression in heat, which results in the ball not flying as far. It changes the game...just like a 20 mile an hour head wind blowing in from the outfield.

As Dave Dowell pointed out on other conversations on this board, the problem is supply. BSN doesn't have sufficient inventory of either SSUSA ball. Currently, they expect 191 dozen of the Rocks to come in September 15, with another 190 dozen in October. However, most of the shipments have been delayed this year. September 15 is only an estimate. Could come sooner....could come in well after Worlds.

Given the issue the supply, I think SSUSA has done a remarkable job at trying to come up with the best alternative on the market.

Well here is a story for you.
We played in the Atlantic Coast championship in Raleigh NC.
Prior to the tourney, we received an email that contained tourney information. One of the bullet points stated that ASA balls we being supplied because of shipping delays with the SSUSA Stotes.
Well half way through the tourney we discover that some teams brought their own Stotes and would toss them in for big situations such as men on base it the open inning. We called time and brought it to the umps attention. Long story short he calls this ass hat director over who ALLOWS them to use the balls they brought not the balls the tourney is supplying!
There was a huge difference in performance and the director allowed for an uneven playing field.
So being your own balls just in case you run into another ass hat director.

Your opinion on what should have happened was noted in Raleigh back in May. It's been 60 days and you're still carrying a grudge and refusing to accept what was actually explained to 40 managers before play began. Nothing I say will change that so I won't even try.

I'd like to thank you for the new name though. "Ass hat" is a much nicer name than the one you used while I was at the backstop that Sunday.

Tim McElroy-