Worth has announced that on September 26, 2003 a new ASA Bat Licensing Contract was executed which contained significant changes in the bat performance standard from the previously announced ASA standard on June 30, 2003.
The standards changes announced on June 30, 2003 led to Worth's filing suit against ASA to delay the implementation of the new standard and for other relief. After two months of negotiations between the bat manufacturers and ASA, a revised contract and bat standard were agreed to which has allowed Worth to resume production and sale of most 2004 model softball bats, and terminate the pending lawsuit.
ASA is in the process of certifying bats under the new standard and will be posting a new list of approved bats on it's website. Many Worth bat models have completed the approval process and all testing of Worth models should be complete by November 1, 2003. Three models in the current Worth 2004 line will not be licensed under the new standard: QESTFP, SBWK, and WWSC.
ASA is exercising its prerogative to not permit grandfathering beyond January 1, 2004 for these models or those from other manufacturers not meeting the new standard. Worth will continue to manufacture and sell the QESTFP, SBWK, and WWSC models which do meet the BPF 1.20 standard and therefore are official in USSSA, NSA, ISA, and ISF play. Past years similar models also will not be approved. These are: EST9, XEST9X, WICKED, and XWICKX.
Worth is introducing three new models in the 2004 line which will be available after November 1, 2003:
- SBWKA: “Wicked” Aluminum Shell
- WWSCA: “Wicked” Composite Shell
- QESTFPA: “Quad” FastPitch
Other than the models referenced above, all other Worth models, past and present, will meet the new ASA standard and will be listed on the ASA website of approved models. Over 90 percent of all Worth softball bat models will not be affected by the new standards.
