Flip over a fastpitch bat and you'll see a row of small stamps near the taper: USA, USSSA, NSA, ISA, WBSC. They aren't decorative. Each one is a separate certification, issued by a separate governing body, with its own test standard and its own list of leagues that require it. Show up to a tournament with the wrong stamp on your bat and you can be ruled illegal at check-in.
Here's what each one actually means, and how to make sure your bag has you covered.
USA Softball (formerly ASA)
The most important stamp for U.S. play. USA Softball is the national governing body of softball in the United States. The organization was founded in 1933 as the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) and rebranded to USA Softball in 2017.
- What the stamp looks like: "ASA 2004" or the "USA Softball All-Games" certification mark
- Test standard: Bat Ball Speed (BBS) test — a bat cannot exceed 98 mph exit speed under the protocol to be certified. USA Softball also publishes barrel compression thresholds that bats must meet to stay on the approved list.
- Required for: USA Softball-sanctioned leagues and tournaments nationwide. Crucially, NFHS high school softball requires a USA Softball–certified bat — the bat must bear the ASA 2000, ASA 2004, or USA Softball All-Games mark, and it must not appear on USA Softball's Non-Approved List.
If you play high school softball anywhere in the U.S., this is the stamp that matters most.
USSSA
The certification that runs travel ball. USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) sanctions a huge percentage of competitive travel-ball tournaments in the U.S.
- What the stamp looks like: The USSSA "thumbprint" — currently the 2020 USSSA Fastpitch-Only Certification Mark. The earlier 2014 mark is also still legal.
- Test standard: Bat Performance Factor (BPF) at or below 1.20 under the ASTM BPF test.
- Required for: USSSA-sanctioned fastpitch tournaments and travel ball. The mark must be permanently molded into the bat — decals or stickers don't count.
If you play travel ball, your bat needs a USSSA fastpitch mark.
NSA (National Softball Association)
A secondary U.S. sanctioning body that runs leagues and tournaments around the country.
- What the stamp looks like: The NSA 2012 stamp. NSA's own rules state plainly: if the NSA 2012 logo is not visible on the bat, it is illegal for any NSA play.
- Test standard: NSA doesn't publish a single public exit-velocity number; instead, it approves bats by manufacturer (the "Approved Bat Companies" list) and maintains a Non-Approved Bat List that's updated annually.
- Required for: NSA-sanctioned fastpitch tournaments and league play.
ISA (Independent Softball Association)
A smaller sanctioning body that runs regional and national tournaments. The ISA mark appears on bats certified through ISA's process. For current specifics on ISA's test protocol and approved bat list, we recommend checking directly with tournament directors at the ISA events you play.
If your bat carries the ISA mark, you're covered for ISA-sanctioned play.
WBSC
The international one. WBSC (World Baseball Softball Confederation) is the global governing body for both sports and oversees Olympic softball.
- What the stamp looks like: Listing on the WBSC Certified Softball Bat List, which WBSC publishes and updates as a public document several times a year.
- Test standard: ASTM F2219 — the high-speed batted-ball test at 100 mph.
- Required for: WBSC World Championships, World Cups, Olympic Games, and qualifying tournaments. If your player is in international competition or attending international showcases, this stamp matters.
What about NCAA?
NCAA is the one major fastpitch certification that is not on the standard five-stamp lineup. NCAA maintains its own separate approved-bat list for college softball, governed by the NCAA Softball Rules Committee.
In the Easton Ghost lineup, only the Ghost Unlimited carries explicit NFHS and NCAA certification. The Ghost Advanced and the Ghost OG are certified for USA Softball, USSSA Fastpitch, NSA, ISA, and WBSC — they're legal for high school (via USA Softball) and travel ball, but they're not on the NCAA approved list. If you're recruiting for college and need an NCAA-legal bat, see our OG vs Advanced vs Unlimited comparison for which Ghost fits.
What a 5-stamp bat actually means for a buyer
A bat carrying all five marks — USA Softball, USSSA Fastpitch, NSA, ISA, WBSC — is legal across virtually every level of fastpitch play in the U.S. and at international competition. The 2027 Easton Ghost OG is one example: same bat across high school, USSSA travel ball, NSA and ISA tournaments, and WBSC-sanctioned international events.
What it does not cover: NCAA. For college softball, you need a bat from the NCAA approved list.
Quick reference: which stamp for which league
| Where you play | Stamp you need |
|---|---|
| High school softball (NFHS) | USA Softball |
| USSSA travel ball | USSSA Fastpitch |
| NSA-sanctioned tournaments | NSA 2012 |
| ISA-sanctioned tournaments | ISA |
| WBSC / international competition | WBSC (on approved list) |
| NCAA college softball | NCAA approved (separate list) |
Bottom line
Don't show up to your tournament with the wrong bat. Read the stamps on the bat you're considering buying and match them to the leagues you play. If you're playing high school and USSSA travel ball — which covers a huge percentage of competitive fastpitch in the U.S. — a Ghost OG or comparable five-stamp bat will keep you legal everywhere except college. Shop the 2027 Ghost OG: -11, -10, -9, -8.
Browse the 2027 Easton Ghost OG lineup at CheapBats.com — -11, -10, -9, and -8. Every order ships fast and free from an authorized Easton dealer.