Which type of bat is legal without needing a BBCOR certification?

In baseball and softball, wood bats are legal for use in all levels of play without needing a BBCOR certification because they meet the necessary standards for performance and safety. The BBCOR (Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution) certification is specifically required for non-wood bats (such as aluminum, composite, and non-wood alternatives) to ensure they do not exceed performance metrics that could give an unfair advantage to players.

Wood bats, by their nature, have a more traditional and standardized design that inherently limits their performance characteristics compared to composite or aluminum options, which can be engineered to produce higher exit velocities. Consequently, players can utilize wood bats regardless of certification, making them unique compared to other bat types that must adhere to specific regulations to be considered legal for competition.