PONY bat restrictions?

[TexAg]

I'm relocating in Dec/Jan and thinking of making the switch from LL to PONY. I know LL posts their "approved" bat listing, but I was wondering if PONY has a similar list or do they have the same rules as USSSA? I'm asking so that I don't go out and buy a bat that can't be used in a couple months.

Thanks.

[pcarnette]

I don't think Pony has an approved bat listing. They do list their bat rules in the Pony Rules document, which you can find on their website. It's a lot more confusing that way, I think; but that's the only official indication I've seen of what's legal and what's not. Essentially, Pony follows rules similar to USSSA, but I don't think they're exactly the same.

[ralanprod]

We left PONY ball a couple of years ago, so I went and looked it up... Page 16 of the rule book

The way they have it written is confusing though. It appears that you can use 2 5/8 bats, which was the rule when I was involved. However, it says that 2 1/4 bats must be BPF 1.15 and have an "approved for PONY stamp". It also says -3 bats must be BBCOR. What about 2 5/8 bats? No standards for those? Heck if that's the case I have a nice USSSA banned bat for sale...

[Roothog66]

We left PONY ball a couple of years ago, so I went and looked it up... Page 16 of the rule book

The way they have it written is confusing though. It appears that you can use 2 5/8 bats, which was the rule when I was involved. However, it says that 2 1/4 bats must be BPF 1.15 and have an "approved for PONY stamp". It also says -3 bats must be BBCOR. What about 2 5/8 bats? No standards for those? Heck if that's the case I have a nice USSSA banned bat for sale...

And I have about a dozen of them!

[TexAg]

We left PONY ball a couple of years ago, so I went and looked it up... Page 16 of the rule book

The way they have it written is confusing though. It appears that you can use 2 5/8 bats, which was the rule when I was involved. However, it says that 2 1/4 bats must be BPF 1.15 and have an "approved for PONY stamp". It also says -3 bats must be BBCOR. What about 2 5/8 bats? No standards for those? Heck if that's the case I have a nice USSSA banned bat for sale...

I saw that, which confused me even more. So no 2-3/4" bats allowed, or is that specific to BBCOR? Bats only need a stamp if it's 2-1/4?

[Baseball gLove]

In Pony you need the 1.15 BPF 2-1/4 barrel bats or 1.15 BPF 2-5/8 barrel bats same as USSSA. 2-3/4" barrels are illegal. Drop 3 bats must be BBCOR. BBCOR bats are not required for Pony (14U) Division, however if not using BBCOR the 1.15 BPF standard applies.

[azmatsfan]

In Pony you need the 1.15 BPF 2-1/4 barrel bats or 1.15 BPF 2-5/8 barrel bats same as USSSA. 2-3/4" barrels are illegal. Drop 3 bats must be BBCOR. BBCOR bats are not required for Pony (14U) Division, however if not using BBCOR the 1.15 BPF standard applies.

I interpreted their rules to mean that 2-5/8 bats don't need the new 1.15 BPF USSSA thumbnail. I think the old 1.15 BPF stamp is allowed.

[pcarnette]

I interpreted their rules to mean that 2-5/8 bats don't need the new 1.15 BPF USSSA thumbnail. I think the old 1.15 BPF stamp is allowed.

That's the way I interpreted it too. However, the way it's written you could interpret it as 2 5/8" bats don't have to be 1.15 BPF USSSA at all.

[Baseball gLove]

1.15 bpf = 1.15 bpf

[Lo39cal]

My kids were with Pony this season and will be for the next season. This is what I was told, any non wood bats (2 1/4 and 2 5/8) MUST have the new stamp. 2 3/4 bats are not allowed. I have been in games where the umps have checked bats looking for the stamp. I have been told by parents that some umps will let it slide. I have been in tourney's that the other team have initiated an ump to do a bat check. Just to be safe, I wouldn't get any non wood bat without the "new" stamp.

[azmatsfan]

1.15 bpf = 1.15 bpf

Not for USSSA tournaments. They have to have the new 2012 1.15 bpf stamp to be legal.

[azmatsfan]

That's the way I interpreted it too. However, the way it's written you could interpret it as 2 5/8" bats don't have to be 1.15 BPF USSSA at all.

Here is the rule as quoted by our local Pony league and it agrees with the link above:

Rule 8 C Equipment: Wooden, metal, graphite or ceramic bats manufactured for baseball play, which are round and not more than two and five eighths inches in diameter at the thickest part, not more than 42 inches in length, are acceptable.

This makes it sound like it's anything goes 2-5/8 bats. You don't even need the old 1.15 bpf stamp.

[pcarnette]

Here is the rule as quoted by our local Pony league and it agrees with the link above:

Rule 8 C Equipment: Wooden, metal, graphite or ceramic bats manufactured for baseball play, which are round and not more than two and five eighths inches in diameter at the thickest part, not more than 42 inches in length, are acceptable.

This makes it sound like it's anything goes 2-5/8 bats. You don't even need the old 1.15 bpf stamp.

Yep. That's exactly what I'm talking about. I prefer Pony over Little League for game play, but Pony could learn a thing or two from Little League when it comes to clear bat rules.

[lancers]

Our JV coach is also the commish of our pony division. He told me for any drop 3 bat it needs to be BBCORE. Other than that BESR is good enough.

[Baseball gLove]

Our JV coach is also the commish of our pony division. He told me for any drop 3 bat it needs to be BBCORE. Other than that BESR is good enough.

No it isn't. I found the rules easily enough. You might want to try it yourself.