To legal or illegal

Question
If a batter inters the batter's box with a softball bat that has tape wrapped around the knob making it a cone-shaped handle, will the umpire Call the batter out for illegal bat?

Answer
Hi James,

It's really difficult to say just by your description, I would like to see it.  We have a new rule in ASA this year

Rule 3, Section 1D Safety Grip: Covers the handle region of the bat. The safety grip
shall not be less than 10 inches and not more than 15 inches. There shall be no
exposed metal in the 10 ?15 inch area. The safety grip may be a molded finger formed
grip as long as it is permanently attached to the bat, or attached with safety tape. Resin,
pine tar or spray substances are permissible on the safety grip only. Any tape applied to
the safety grip must be a continuous spiral. A bat having a flare or cone shaped grip
attached is legal.

Comments: Eliminates the extra tape issue and allows cone and flare grips.


Again w/out seeing it, it's probably legal this year but if the bat was found not to meet the specs of the new rule, it would be an altered bat, out and ejection,(that's a tough penalty for some tape and I hope preventive umpiring before they step in the batter's box would eliminate the problem), not an illegal bat (such as a baseball bat) which is just an out.

Mark