How to check a used bat before you buy (and make sure it's legal)
A used bat has to pass two tests: is it still legal, and is it sound? It also usually comes without a warranty. Here's what to check, in order, and what the leagues and makers say about each.
1. The stamp
- Readable. In Little League, "if the certification mark/s on a bat are not legible, that bat cannot be used" (Little League). USSSA goes further: a bat isn't legal "if any of the graphics of the bat have worn off" (USSSA by-laws 13.02.C.9).
- The right mark for your league. See how to read bat stamps and find your league on the bat finder.
- Not withdrawn. A bat with a valid-looking stamp can still be banned, sometimes in one size only. Check the exact model and size on our list of withdrawn bats, which collects USA Baseball's, USSSA's and the BBCOR lists in one place.
2. The barrel: cracks or paint?
Rawlings' warranty, which also covers Easton, says: "DO NOT USE YOUR BAT IF IT IS CRACKED, EXCESSIVELY WORN OR DAMAGED" (Rawlings warranty). Not every line is a crack, though. Smash It Sports lists spider-web marks and clearcoat fractures as cosmetic, and jagged cracks, separating layers and gouges into the shell as real damage (Smash It Sports). JustBats: "Paint falling off the barrel does not mean your bat is dead" (JustBats). Bat Digest suggests running a fingernail across the mark: if it catches, a layer lifts or fibers show, it's probably a crack (Bat Digest).
In USSSA play, paint matters too: a bat isn't legal "if the paint has been worn through and the actual bat material is showing" (USSSA by-laws 13.02.C.9).
3. Dents and an out-of-round barrel
USSSA removes bats "with cracks or dents in the bat material" (USSSA), and the high school rule removes bats that are "broken, cracked or dented" (NFHS rule 1-3-5, as reprinted by Baseball Rules Academy). Little League allows that "non-wood bats may develop dents from time to time"; a bat must still pass through the Little League bat ring (Little League).
To check: run your hand across the barrel (JustBats), and look for signs the barrel "has gone out of round" (Bat Digest).
4. Rattles
High school bats must "be free of rattles" (NFHS rule 1-3-2, as reprinted by Baseball Rules Academy). JustBats says a rattle is often loose end-cap glue, and that "some umpires will automatically deem your bat illegal when they hear this" (JustBats). Shake the bat before you buy it.
5. The end cap and knob
In USSSA play, a bat with a loose or damaged knob or end cap is illegal, and only the maker may replace either part (USSSA by-laws 13.02.C.9). JustBats adds that an end cap that has popped out is "next to impossible to re-apply" (JustBats). Press and twist both ends.
6. Two-piece bats: the connection
Two-piece bats join the handle and barrel with a connection piece. When it fails, "you will notice the handle starting to creep up into the barrel" (JustBats). Bat Digest's list adds "handle wobble" (Bat Digest).
7. The grip
Little League requires a grip of cork, tape or composition material reaching at least 10 in from the small end, and prohibits slippery tape (Little League). A worn grip is easy to fix: USSSA says replacing it "is not considered altering a bat" (USSSA by-laws 13.02.C.11).
8. The warranty usually stays with the first owner
| Maker | What its warranty says |
|---|---|
| Rawlings and Easton | Redeemed "only by the original purchaser"; excludes bats transferred from the original purchaser, or bought from individual resellers, at auction or on marketplace sites (Rawlings). |
| Marucci | "Our warranty is not transferable"; needs the original proof of purchase (Marucci). |
| Victus | "Our warranty is not transferable"; needs the original receipt (Victus). |
| Louisville Slugger | You "must be the original purchaser", with proof of purchase from an authorized dealer (Louisville Slugger warranty card). |
| DeMarini | "You must be the original purchaser of the bat and provide proof of purchase from an authorized DeMarini dealer"; bats bought through auction sites such as eBay or Craigslist, or from unauthorized marketplace sellers, aren't covered (DeMarini). |
So a used bat is usually yours to keep, crack or not. Bat Digest's rule of thumb: "If a used bat is priced close to a current closeout new bat, buy new and keep the warranty" (Bat Digest).
9. Cold weather
Rawlings, Easton, Marucci, Victus, DeMarini and Louisville Slugger all warn against using their non-wood bats below 60°F (15°C), and several exclude cold-weather damage from the warranty (Rawlings, Marucci, Victus, DeMarini, Louisville Slugger). You can't check how a used bat was treated, but you can ask.
What to ask the seller
Bat Digest suggests asking for clear photos of "the barrel, taper, connection point, end cap, and knob", and asking "how many seasons the bat has been used" (Bat Digest). Add a photo of the stamp you can read.
Altered bats
Altered bats are illegal in every league (Little League; NFHS rule 1-3-2, as quoted by Baseball Rules Academy). Don't buy a bat whose listing says it has been altered or modified. Used Bat Finder never lists one.
Checked Oct 27, 2026 against the sources linked above. Rules change: confirm with your league before you buy.