Louisville has a long and respected history in the baseball bat industry, but they’ve falling behind in the composite and hybrid categories. They’re entries into these categories, now 3 years old, have not received a positive response. They are seldom seen at the high school or college level (when composite bats were legal in the NCAA). For 2011 they’ve only made some minor changes. This is extremely disappointing from what most consider the holy grail of baseball bat manufacturers. Louisville must go back to the drawing board in 2012 and come out with a brand new high end composite and hybrid design. The “bonded together to a one piece bat” claim has fallen on deaf ears. They must come out with a true two-piece design for their hybrid and either a true two-piece for their composite or a true one piece bat and stop the bull. Don’t forget to visit My Baseball Bat Recommendations for my choices in each category.
Here’s the breakdown of the Louisville line-up:
Louisville Composite Bats
- TPX Triton – A 3-piece bat made with 100% composite material with Louisville’s stiff handle and a balanced design. The 2011 Triton is the exact same bat as the 2010 model, with the exception of a better paint job. I’ve only seen the 2011 Triton in a Senior or Youth model, nothing in the Adult -3. This bat has by far the largest barrel I’ve seen on a baseball bat. As I’ve stated in the past, it would be in Louisville’s best interest to either call this a multi-piece bat or stick to a true 1-piece design. Instead they continue to market it as a three-piece bat bonded together as a one-piece bat. I’ve hit with the Triton and seen it used in some youth games and it seems to hit well and has a great sound. You will rarely see it in a high school game. Even when composites were legal in the NCAACollege teams using Louisville bats choose the Exogrid, Omaha or H2 (in that order) and not the Triton. I recommend the Easton Speed for experienced players who want a 100% composite bat.
- TPX Dynasty Composite – This 100% 7C composite, one-piece bat has the Louisville stiff handle and a balanced design. This bat is the same bat as the 2010 Dynasty, 2009 Omaha Comp and 2008 Catalyst. Louisville has been playing musical chairs with the name of this bat and decided the old Dynasty name would make sense. I believe this bat is an excellent second tier composite bat choice for several reasons. First, it has a great price at $259 for the Adult -3 model. Second, it has a proven track record being a Catalyst/Omaha Comp. Third it’s a true one-piece bat! No claims of being bonded together to act like a one-piece bat. An excellent choice for those looking for a lower priced composite bat.
Louisville Hybrid Bats
- H2: There is a slight change to the 2011 H2 model. It’s a two piece bat that bonds the pieces together to make the claim that it’s a one piece bat (we’ve already covered this). The 100% composite handle is Louisville’s stiffest which is saying something, and barrel has been changed to Louisville’s new AC21 alloy, replacing their long running ST+20 alloy. It has a balanced swing weight design. The new alloy was added because it bonds together better with the composite handle, not because it provides better pop. I’m guessing they had one too many returns of a bat that broke in half at the “bonding” point. The Adult -3 model retails for $299 as it did last year. It’s not one of my top choices in the hybrid category, but still a decent bat.
- Exogrid: Louisville’s best selling bat is back for a 5th year. There is a slight change for 2011 as it too has changed to Louisville’s new AC21 alloy. The EXO has been Louisville’s best selling bat for the last few years and, quite honestly, has saved them from total disaster with the Triton and H2 debacles. Clearly their going to milk this golden goose for as long as possible because the Adult -3 continues to retail for an amazing $369. The really big news is Rawlings release of their own Exogrid in 2011 (see Rawlings reviews). It will be interesting to see if Louisville loses some sales because of this. In my opinion this bat is closer to a 100% alloy bat then a hybrid but with the carbon sleeve cut into the handle it’s in the hybrid category. I believe the price of this bat is way too high and I can’t recommend it when for an additional $30 I can get a 100% composite bat. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good bat but I just can’t recommend pulling the trigger at $369. If you love this bat find the 2010 model. It’s the same bat and will cost you a lot less money. It’s still a one piece, hybrid bat with some metal cut out of the handle and replaced with composite material. It comes with Louisville’s stiff handle and a balanced design. As mentioned earlier, most players on College teams who use Louisville bats swing the Exogrid.
Louisville Alloy Bats
- TPX Omaha: No it’s not the energizer bunny, its Louisville Omaha and it’s still going. It’s the same bat they’ve been making for the last ten years, with some new paint. It’s a one-piece, 100% alloy bat with a stiff handle, a balanced design and the same ST-20 alloy. They did not make this bat with their new AC21 alloy, which makes it clear the new alloy is only intended to help the bonding on their hybrid bats. Amazingly, they have increased the price to $229 for the Adult -3 model. It was priced at $199 last year. It’s very odd that the price would go up on a very old design, not the smartest of moves. It’s a great choice for those who don’t want to break the bank. Many players on College teams with Louisville contracts prefer to use the Omaha instead of the Triton or H2.
Louisville makes quality bats but, as mentioned, they need to rethink their multi-piece design and marketing hype. They need to decide if they’re going to jump into the multi-piece bat market or not. If you’re coming out with a multi-piece design tell me it’s a multi-piece design and why that makes sense, or come out with a one-piece design and tell me why it’s better. Stop with the “bonded to be a one-piece bat” nobody believes it and that is why sales are lagging.
Thanks for the review.
I recently bought a new H2 around July and on 10.08.08 I was swinging on deck with it and it broke in half! About 4 -5 inches above my hands, still in the grip X_X.
When I was in Arizona at a Sun Devils camp, even though they are sponsored by Demirini, several of the players commented saying that their H2’s broke in half.
This is greatly disappointing, the H2 was and is the BEST bat I’ve ever hit with. The EXO’s are gross. The weight is in the middle of the bat below the beef of the barrel, so when you swing with it you basically LOSE centripical force, and I’ve read about the Triton but have had no teammates that owned it thus far, so I am unfamilier with it. Yet, judging from the design, it looks very weak.
Back to the H2, it’s a great bat, never held one that felt better. But I can’t use it if it is prone to breaking in half X_X_X_X.
I’ve got a warranty on it, so I basically have three choices, H2, EXO GRID, or TRITON. And sadly enough I am considering a much lesser priced Omaha Q_Q.
sincerely
-Ivan
-Embersye
Morning ,I purchased new LS Triton for my son a month ago. 32/29. Break in time will require 500-600 hits. We hit live on Sundays and bat is coming around. Sound is misleading when new, but starting to change. Son is competative player, always looking for advantage . Right now he is extremly happy with Triton. Can’t wait until tryouts this winter, bat should be smoking by January.
FYI, purchased on E-Bay, paid 250.00
Good luck !
Scott
My son has used the Tpx Omaha exclusively for the last two years. There is a reason why most of the Louisville slugger sponsored teams players opt for this bat it is a sound performer year end and year out. It maintains its pop for a long period of time and is very durable, and a steal for the price.
Keep Hackin,
Nikolaas
My 11 yr. old son who plays travel ball used a Triton last summer and fall and we love it. He led his team in hitting and really smoked the ball with this bat. In a home run contest last fall he hit 5 out of 10 way over a 225 foot fence.
He hits with this bat a lot and there have been no problems with it. Before this he used an exo which he hit well and the blue catalyst that had a lot of pop. No problems with either of those bats.
We will be buying a new Triton this year as he needs to go up an inch.
Great bat.
Ed
Yeaterday my son also had a 2009 H2 break about 4-5 inches above his hands. It was purchased 7/08, not used until fall-ball, the handle unraveled so they sent a new one 10/08. This morning they said the warranty had expired. Not sure what I will purchase next, but it probably won’t be a Louisville Slugger.
We’re on our fourth Exogrid. Bought the first one in 2007, progressed up to the 25 oz., It broke. Got it replaced with another 25 oz. And now we’re up to the -3 31/28. Maybe its the extra 3 ounces, but this bat has more pop and drives the ball further than any change my son has made. He tried a flex handle bat, but it seemed to drag too much. My opinion is if you have the strength to drive the ball a stiff handle bat makes a diffence. The Exogrid is a good product.
I just bought a TPX Triton today and used it for the very first time. the bat has excellent pop and the barrel is enormous. the only thing is the sound it makes before you break it in, but thats normal. great product from louisville slugger.
I just bought a the new TPX Triton aout three weeks ago and used it for the very first time two fridays ago. the bat has great pop and the barrel is huge. the only thing is the sound it makes before you break it in,but besides thta it is a great product.
I just bought a the new TPX Triton aout three weeks ago and used it for the very first time two fridays ago. the bat has great pop and the barrel is huge. the only thing is the sound it makes before you break it in,but besides that it is a great product
just bought triton. OMG. amazing bat i through the ball up and the first ball it had ever hit went about 250 feet. did i mention im 12 and its a youth bat? first ever hit to!!! i personally love the sound. buy the bat!! :):):):)