33 Year History of SSUSA and Senior Softball Bats

1988 and the Start of the SSUSA Era:

Bob Mitchell founded Senior Softball-USA, the world's largest organization of senior softball players, in Sacramento, California, in the Spring of 1988. Since then, the organization has mushroomed in size. Bob Mitchell has retired and turned the SSUSA over to Terry Hennesy in 2000 who has really taken Senior Softball to a new level of play. The Senior Softball World Championship in Las Vegas had over 700 Senior Teams in 2019. It has become the largest Softball tournament in the World. Here are some SSUSA Bat Rules: Any Senior Softball bat used in SSUSA and SSWC sponsored events, including qualifiers, must be approved by SSUSA and SSWC. The Bat shall not be more than 34" long, nor exceed 38 ounces in weight. They shall not have exposed rivets, pins, rough or sharp edges or any form of exterior fastener that would present a hazard.

1993 - 2002 and the DeMarini Ultimate Distance Double Wall Era:

The Softball bats used from 1998 to 1993 were the kind of bats that only the best hitters could use and hit at a 500% to 700% average. When Ray DeMarini came out with the Ultimate Distance Double wall bat in 1993 that all changed. Older Senior players who had never hit a home run in there life were now hitting them and with the huge sweet spot the bat had they were also hitting for a high average like the bigger stronger players were. It was great for the players and for there families who came out to watch them play and excel like that. 50 Year olds were hitting like they were 25 years old and in my opinion it was great for the game.

2002 - 2021 and the Hot Composite Senior Softball Bat Era:

In 2002 Miken Sports introduced the softball world to the Miken Ultra Senior Softball Bat and it was even better then the DeMarini Double wall and it changed the game once again.Players at 70 years old were hitting balls over the 300 foot fences, not to mention how far the younger Senior players were hitting them. The Miken Ultra was banned by all major Associations late in 2002. Miken sports then made a new bat called the Miken Ultra 2 and it was approved in late 2002 and again banned by 2003 by all major associations except for the SSUSA. Terry Hennesey made the decision to keep the bat legal and the overwhelming majority of players approved and agreed with that decision. SSUSA has never looked back and has grown every year since. The Miken Ultra 2 Senior Softball Bats are still being made today in 2021 and is considered considered to be the first Senior Softball only Bat. The Premiere Senior Softball Bats now are The Adidas Melee, the Miken Ultra Fusion, The Worth Mach 1 Hitman, The Easton Helmer 44, The Anarchy 50 Kal.