Ask AI: What is BBCore as it relates to Baseball?

BBcore, often written as BBCOR, stands for Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution. It is a standard that was established to regulate the performance of bats in high school and college baseball in the United States. The BBCOR certification ensures that non-wood bats, such as metal and composite bats, perform similarly to wood bats in terms of the speed and distance that a ball can travel after being hit. Specifically, the BBCOR standard measures the trampoline effect of the bat, which is the ability of the bat to transfer energy to the ball upon impact. The implementation of BBCOR standards aims to level the playing field, ensure safety, and preserve the integrity of the game by reducing the exit speed of the ball, leading to more consistent and fair play. Bats that meet the BBCOR certification are typically labeled with a "BBCOR .50" mark, indicating compliance with the standard, which mandates that the bat's coefficient of restitution does not exceed 0.5.