use of wooden bats

Question
The league I play in follows ASA rules as to illegal bats.  I used a Worth Big Ox wooden bat.  The bat does not have an ASA stamp but reads official softball bat.  I asked the ump if the bat was legal and he said "yes."  After the game our team was informed we used an illegal bat (the wooden one) because they said all wooden bats are illegal according to ASA.  They also threw in the lack of ASA stamp.  So, are wooden bts legal or illegal?

Answer
Hi Bob,

This is a good question.  I haven't seen a wooden bat used in a tournament in years.

Here's the info I was able to get

the official bat in ASA Championship Play must meet all of the requirements of Rule 3, Section 1 and:

  1. must bear either the ASA approved 2000 certification mark or the ASA 2004 certification mark as shown below, and must not be listed on an ASA non approved list, or
            
  2. must be included on a list of approved bat models published by the ASA National Office; or

  3. must, in the sole opinion and discretion of the umpire, have been manufactured prior to 2000 and if tested, would comply with the ASA bat performance standards then in effect.

I would say #3 fits your bill and your bat would be legal.  I would allow it at a tournament I was UICing.  There is no rule that all wooden bats are illegal under ASA.  The bat certification is for the safety of defensive players and let's face it a wooden bat is probably the safest bat out there.

Mark

PS I'll see the State UIC this weekend, if there is any change in my answer I'll post it by Monday