Bat manufactures are required to undergo a detailed process to receive the IBAF's approval for the use of wooden bats at IBAF's senior events. Sample bats need to be delivered to a designated laboratory for testing and the shipping instruction can be supplied from the IBAF Office (
office@ibaf.org) upon request. Standard processing time is approximately three months and the results of testing will be communicated to all applicants. No wooden bat may be used in any IBAF events without prior approval. Bat makers included in the 2012 list do not need to apply for the 2013 list unless specifications or manufacturing process changed.
Interested bat manufacturers are requested to contact the IBAF Office before February 15 and deliver sample bats to a designated laboratory by March 10. Standard processing time is approximately three months and the results of testing will be communicated to all applicants.
IBAF Bats Approval Guidelines:1. No wooden bat can be used in any IBAF Championship or IBAF event without the prior approval of the IBAF. Approval can be revoked at any time, if the producer clearly modifies the bat after the approval.
2. All bats have to comply the requirements of the OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES 1.10
3. Bats shall be one piece of solid wood from the handle to the top and shall be clearly visible.
4. Manufacturer’s name, brand or ring shall appear in one single area of the bat:
a) This area shall not exceed 4 inches in width and 2 inches in height and shall not surpass 18 inches from the end of the bat.
b) If a branded ring is used, this shall not be more than 1 inch in height and shall start 18 inches from the base of the bat.
c) Two color bats shall be divided into two sections; the change of color shall be at 18 inches from the basis of the bat in correspondence with the branded ring.
5. Bats shall not have any mark, text or advertising brand but that of the manufacturer, unless clearly allowed by IBAF and in accordance with the OFFICIAL BASEBALL RULES.
6. Name of the player, or bats model, approved by IBAF shall end at 2 inches from the top of the bat. This reserved area shall not exceed 3 inches in width and 2 inches in height, including one line for the model, a second line for the name of the player and a third line for the name of the team.
7. Team logo, names and symbols on the bat and brands shall be included in one of the two areas of the bat and shall not exceed 4 inches in length and 2 inches in weight:
• Aligned with the name of the producer, name of the player and model; or
• In one area on the opposite side of the bat where the producer brand, the name of the player and the model is placed.
8. The color of the bats shall be:
a) Natural
b) Black
c) Black and natural
d) Dark brown
9. In order to have the bats approved, the producer has to:
a) Submit 6 bats (per model) for inspection.
b) Specify for each bat the weight, length and model.
c) Provide a technical report on the bat specifying the type and origin of the wood, seasoning process of the wood and all necessary information to explain the manufacturing and producing process of the bat.
d) Forward a bank deposit for a non-‐refundable administration fee of 3,000 USD for the first three years of approval. After these three years, the administration fee will be of 2,000 USD for the following two years. No refunds will be granted in the event of non-‐approval.
e) The testing items are the following
(1) Appearance of the bat: one solid piece of wood, smooth and shape.
(2) Manufacturer’s logo: appear side, area and location.
(3) Bat length.
(4) Drop of length-‐weight.
(5) Bat weight.
(6) Barrel diameter.
(7) Depth of the cup.
(8) Diameter of the cup.
(9) Balance point.
(10) Moment of Inertia (MOI).
(11) Length of handle.
(12) Bat breaking testing.
Note: Standard processing time is approximately 3 months. IBAF will send the results to all parties requesting bats approval.
10. No changes to the approved bat shall be made without prior communication to and consent from BAF.
11. Any violation of this rule by the manufacturer will result in the immediate termination of the approval.
12. Test results not administrated will not be accepted.