Finding the best baseball bat for the type of player you can be a daunting task. There are a lot of different BBCOR bats and figuring out which one is right for your hitting style may seem impossible. This list is, in our opinion, the best baseball bats for 2019. It will help to take the guess work out of your decision.
Continue reading →
Review of the Louisville Omaha baseball bat, that’s had a dominant presence since it was introduction in 1998. It has been the one consistent presence in the Louisville line-up during this time. One of the selling points is that there is nothing fancy about this bat. It is still is a one-piece bat made with the older ST+20 alloy, a stiff handle and a balanced design. Louisville is now claiming it “features the lowest swing weight bat on the market.” Interesting since they are making the same claim about the Exogrid 3. The folks at Louisville need to provide some detail here or it comes across as pure hype.
It is absolutely my choice for anyone interested in a 100% alloy, one-piece bat with a stiff handle. Need some incentive? Many college baseball swing the Omaha, a less expensive bat, than the other Louisville models. So don’t be fooled by the lower price and 100% alloy material. Available in Adult, Senior and Youth models. The Adult-3 model retails for $199.
Here’s a breakdown of the 2019 Louisville Slugger BBCOR baseball bats. Louisville has long been the name associated with baseball bats (just ask Carrie Underwood, who took a Louisville Slugger to both headlights!). While traditionally associated with one-piece bats they, like many, have expanded their selection for all needs.
There are five options from Louisville Slugger this year, and here they are:
2019 Meta Prime – $499.95 Adult -3
In short, and the first thing most will notice, is the bat is expensive. It is the priciest bat in the BBCOR market for 2019. Constructed with a new composite built from the ground up and a fresh connection system they claim handles the stiffness-vibration balance. The main reward is a half-inch longer barrel for a bigger sweet spot.
The connection system comes new. Debuting the new 3FX system, connecting the barrel and handle so there’s always a balance of stiffness and vibration as players move higher in the BBCOR game. As players desire maximum stiffness and move toward one-piece bats, they start to struggle with vibration in the move. The 3FX system aims to “tune stiffness on the inside and outside using a two-part system” designed to provide the stiff feel on contact while reducing vibration.
Continue reading →They’ve done a good job in expanding their line-up in recent years and have a stick for every type of hitter. But, I believe if you swing a DeMarini you should be a contact hitter and use their two-piece bat balanced bats.
Here’s the 2019 lineup:
Their most technologically advanced and most expensive bat. It has a balanced swing weight with a Paraflex+ Composite construction with the standard DeMarini feel and pop. The barrel design and a 3Fusion System are “supposed” to pair to give players transitioning into BBCOR and faster swing with a more balanced feel. 3Fusiion is “supposed” to reduce vibration when the bat makes contact with a pitch and minimize weight at the end of the bat.
If you are a contact hitter who has the money to spend this bat should be considered. If you’re a power hitter, you should look elsewhere.
Continue reading →
The CAT 8 succeeds the CAT 7 and it comes with some changes that are supposed to be improvements. One of the more significant changes is the new and improved alloy known as the AZ105. They say it’s the most robust aluminum ally that can be found in the lineup of Marucci bats. Hence, the claim it can be made the barrel walls thinner. A benefit of this new alloy is the enlargement of the sweet spot.
Continue reading →
The DeMarini CF8 is almost identical to when the CF3 model was launched, therefore my review is going to be similar to my reviews in the past.
It is a 100% composite, double wall, flex handle bat utilizing their half and half technology and a low swing weight (MOI). The only difference they’re claiming is it’s made from their “premium Paradox +Plus Composite so it breaks in faster and is hot right out of the wrapper”.
As mentioned in the past, the majority of college players on teams swinging DeMarini stay away from the CF because of the low swing weight among other reasons. The low swing weight is great for speed but power is sacrificed, and most college players (or experienced players below this level) are looking for power. College players are experienced and prefer balanced or end-loaded bats. Next many players at most levels prefer single wall bats. The general feeling is double wall technology deadens the exit speed of the ball. Plus they prefer a stiff handle bat to the CF8 flex handle. Put them all together and that is why many college players stay away from the CF8 or its predecessors.
In the 2015 CWS DeMarini gave the entire LSU and Vanderbilt team’s custom DeMarini Vodoo FT bats, not their top tier CF bat. Now if DeMarini is not even giving experienced baseball players on CWS teams a free CF bat why would you pay up to $400 for it? There are much better 100% composite options available. If you love the half and half technology go with the Voodoo unless you are an inexperienced player who needs bat speed.
The Adult BBCOR model retails for $449.95, the Senior League for $349.959 and the Youth for $279.95
It’s time to review the https://www.baseballbatreviewsblog.com/category/louisville-bats/Louisville Slugger Prime 915, a 100% composite three-piece baseball bat with a stiff handle design and “relatively” balanced design. It is constructed with Louisville’s TRU3 connection technology that is supposed to strengthen the link between the barrel and handle of this bat to provide a “better feel and dramatically reduced vibration.” Yes their still trying to push the 3-piece technology as better then 2-piece even though it has failed miserable in the past (anyone remember the Triton).
There’s no doubt that Easton is the leader in the industry by constantly coming up with new technology (that may or may not be a hoax). The new model year is no different with their latest release the 2015 MAKO TORQ. But be aware, this is their high end bat and you’ll pay for this “new” technology (real or not).
The review of this baseball bat is relatively easy because it has the exact same design as the returning, lower priced, Mako Comp. It’s a two-piece bat using Easton’s standard conneXion design made with their 100% THT Thermo Composite material. The only difference is the handle, which “twists” and adds an additional $100 to the price.
Here are reviews of the 2013 lineup of Rawlings youth and BBCOR baseball bats, including the Plasma, Velo, 5150 and Machine. Does Rawlings have a man crush on Louiville and are trying to emulate them because of this? Read on…
Rawlings has come a long way to make itself credible over the last few years. This is primarily due to the University of South Carolina baseball team winning back to back college world series titles with their bats. Guess I can no longer refer to them as the Rodney Dangerfield of baseball bats. They actually are getting some respect!
They are owned by K2 (the ski company) that also owns the Worth brand. So I’m sure a lot of the technology is shared between their baseball bats.
Continue reading →This review is for the 2013 Demarini CF5 baseball bat that is available in youth, senior and BBCOR models. It is a 100% composite, double wall, flex handle bat utilizing their half and half technology and a low swing weight (MOI). The design is the same since it was launched as the CF3.
The 2012 model claims it has their lowest swing weight ever. It always was low, and it’s interesting that their making this claim for a few reasons. First Louisville now claims the 2013 Exogrid has the lowest swing weight of any BBCOR 2 5/8″ bat, so someone is not telling the truth. Second, many college players stay away from the CF5 because of the low swing weight among other reasons. The new model is made with their new TR3 F.L.O. (fused layer optimized) composite that claims to make it stronger and lighter. This after the introduction of “Tri Strut TR3″ material last year which claimed to “imitate the structure of crystals which are one of the strongest and most stable compounds on Earth”. So I’m skeptical to say the least.
So why has the CF5 never caught on in college baseball? As stated, the low swing weight is a problem. College players are experienced and prefer balanced or end-loaded bats. Next many players at most levels prefer single wall bats. They feel that double wall designs deaden the exit speed of the ball. Plus they’re not crazy about flex handles. Put them all together and you’ll see why college players stay away from the CF5. Take a look at any team swinging Louisville (Tennessee, LSU, Arizona State) and the vast majority are using the Voodoo. Now if experienced baseball players are staying away from a free CF5 why would you pay up to $400 for it? There are much better 100% composite options available. If you love the half and half technology go with the Voodoo!
The BBCOR model retails for $399.99, the Senior League for $299.99 and the Youth for $249.00
Here’s their CF5 video: