Rawlings has introduced a new line of baseball bats for 2010. Their Rush Comp/Gold Lite line lasted only one year before becoming extinct. I’d like to take credit for this as I stated last year that Rawlings is the “Rodney Dangerfield of baseball bats.” My guess is the extremely low swing weight of the Lite line turned off a lot of players because it exerted very little mass/inertia on the ball.
For 2010 Rawlings has put all their eggs into the 5150 basket, they must be huge Van Halen fans, as their entire line-up carries the 5150 name. Actually, the 5150 name seems to be a carried over from their parent company K2 (the ski company). K2 has a line of snowboards and bindings with the 5150 name. K2 also owns the Rawlings and Worth brands so I’m sure a lot of the technology is shared between their baseball bats.
They’ve addressed the mass issue by increasing the swing weight of the Composite 5150 and Hybrid 5150 compared to last years Lite models. They’re not end-loaded bats; they just don’t have as low a swing weight as the Lite line putting them in the intermediate swing weight range. They say this provides the “ultimate combination of bat speed, power, and control.” A few well known college teams, such as Virginia, Georgia Tech and Tulane swing Rawlings bats. My main problem with the 5150 technology is that Rawlings doesn’t explain why it’s superior to other technologies. All they talk about is finding the right bat based on a player’s actual performance and testing their bats with radar. How does this convince me 5150 bats are better than other bats? They also have an additional “Speedcap” that screws onto the end of 5150 bats to measure your bat speed. It sounds interesting on the surface, but it’s just comparing the different 5150 bats. This doesn’t help me compare Rawlings to Easton, Louisville or Demarini bats. In addition, why would I spend the money (I believe this thing costs $79) to compare only Rawlings bats? You’ve got to be kidding me!
I don’t see any reason to purchase a Rawlings bat as there are many other proven options available in the price range for their bats. If Rawlings wants to make any kind of progress in the baseball bat industry they need to be the low cost option in every category.
Here’s a breakdown of the Rawlings 2010 line-up:
Rawlings Composite Bats
·5150 Composite: The 5150 Composite is a multi-wall bat with a stiff handle and a balanced design. It’s slightly more end-loaded than last year’s Comp Lite, which had a very low swing weight, but it’s still a balanced bat. Rawlings claims a superior feel achieved through a custom blend of carbon, fiberglass, and aramid fibers. In my opinion this bat should be in the lower cost composite category. If it were in this category it might actually sell. Unfortunately it’s priced as a high end composite bat with a retail price of $379.99 for the Adult -3 model. There is absolutely no reason to purchase this bat when you can buy an Easton, Louisville, Demarini or ComBat composite bat for the same money.
Rawlings Hybrid Bats
·5150 Hybrid: The design of this bat is very similar to the Louisville H2. It’s a single wall, two-piece bat with a stiff handle and balanced design. As with the H2, the stiff composite handle is bonded to the alloy barrel making it appear to be a one-piece bat. It replaces the Rush Gold Lite that had a two piece design more similar to Demarini and Nike bats. It contains Rawlings new 5150 alloy which is supposed to be formulated for higher strength and increased flex. At a retail price of 299.99 for the Adult -3 model there are a lot of better options. If you love the design of this bat I’d recommend you go with the H2. The H2 has a similar design is in its second year of production and costs the same. Otherwise the Demarini Voodoo or Easton SV12 is my recommendation for a top end hybrid bat. And, they also cost the same as the 5150 Hybrid!
Rawlings Alloy Bats
·5150 Alloy: It’s a single wall, one-piece, stiff handle bat with a balanced design. The swing weight for this bat is lower than the other 5150 models, making it similar to last year’s model. It includes their new 5150 alloy that isn’t explained to us in detail and retails for the same $199 (Adult -3 model).As with the other Rawlings’ models, the price for this bat is the same as the high end Easton, Louisville and Demarini models. You shouldn’t be surprised that I’d recommend those options over the 5150 alloy.
My son likes one piece metal bats. He has used the 2010 Easton V12, and Omaha. All dented within the first few weeks of play. His Grandpa bought him a new 5150, by far the best one piece metal bat on the market great feel, pop, and has not dented yet very very durable. Only drawback is it is loud, but just the best product out there in the one piece metal bat category.
Going to the 5150 Hybrid(32/23) from the Plasma Gold(32/24) this coming year for my son. I hope it responds as well. I picked it up for only $150, does this change anyone’s thoughts on the value if this bat now?
Anyone seen the new Exogrid 5150? Thoughts?
Seen the EXO Grid and read up on it. Looks great and sounds like alot of R&D went into the bat. We have owned a TPX EXO grid and loved the stiff handle on that one. And Im sure, If you like the extra stiff handle, this EXO Grid from Rawlings will be awesome. Exspecially since they seem to have worked out the hand stinger problem associated with stiff handle bats. Im debating right now between the Composite or the EXO grid myself.
Yea, I have seen the new Exogrid a well. My sons travel team (14 yr) was afforded the chance to use one recently. Two home runs were hit off of it the first and second time through the order. The kids loved it. However, it dented it as well. Big time. This should not take place with only about 18 at bats.
There performance was great I must say but Rawlings needs to figure this out. Bats these days are not cheap, and when used in a state where we play all year long I want a bat that has performance and will last a couple of seasons before fatigue sets in.
im getting the 5150 hybrid bat. has anyone tried it and liked it or knows if its a good bat?
I bought the 5150 for my son. He loves the bat. It has the pop that the stealth has or better. I think it has a longer sweet spot. It was also cheaper than the stealth.
I bought the 5150 composite -5 and it was terrible. It sounds like a wooden bat. Has no pop and scratches the paint easily. I do reccomend the exogrid 5150 because my teamate lets me use his and it is AMAZING.
my son is 14 he swings the hybrid and likes the feel. the sounds sure get the attention at tryouts. we were looking at the new 5150 exo grid or the new 2011 voodoo . any thoughts on that .
Hi Hansen,
My best advise for you, if your son likes the feel of a composite bat, is go with the Demarini CF4, or Voodoo 2011. Since these products have been proven time and again! Also, the 2011 CF4, & Voodoo has been approved by the BBCOR committee, unlike the Rawlings Exogrid (they haven’t come out their certified bats yet)! Me personally, when shopping for my son (13), I look for Durability & Performance, in that order… So why not use a composite, if it’s allowed??
Ok, this is the honest truth… im a twelve year old boy who plays baseball. the 5150 exogrid SUCKED in my opinion and in my teams opinion. The grip hurts barehanded,it hurts when hit, and the ball goes nowhere… THIS BAT SUCKS
I got the Rawlings Rush for my 9th grade season and it broke in half when a senior hit off a D-1 headed pitcher(Clemson). I got the 5150 Hybrid as a replacement in time for summer ball and i have used it for the past year and a half. I’m not sure if it will be legal in my state for this year, but the ball jumps off the bat and it feels great to hit. The ONLY downside is that the paint chips of very easily so the bat looks as though it is old and torn up, but it is the best bat i have ever had. I also hit my first homerun ever with it, a line shot into the trees on a 325 field.
New Exo used for tryouts and an 8 year old who hit one just below the barrel and the bat snapped in half! Broke below the comp inserts. Looked inside and the metal was thick on one side and paper thin on the otherr side. Quality control problem!!! Rawlings is too good a company to let a bat like that get to the public. If this one made it to store, how many made in the same batch are out there?!!
I don’t understand, if all these bats have to meet the same exit speed ratio what difference does it make other then the feel of the bat to the batters preference! I think we are paying for the marketing of the bat more then the preformance!
I ordered a replacement Rawlings 5150 composite bat because it broke during BP and I only used it like twice. So I ordered a replacement 32″ 20 oz 2 1/4 bat and they sent me a 2 3/4 barrel 31″ 22 oz bat! Rawlings SUCKS!
My buddy is trying to sell me a Rawlings Rush Gold 29”, 2 1/4, 16 oz drop 13, for $50 are these bat any good? is worth it? my son is 7 years old.
Not worth it. This is an older bat that is most certainly not BBCOR certified. You can get a 2012 Youth Rawlings Plasma for $59.99. It is Approved for Play in Little League, Babe Ruth, Dixie, Pony, AABC, and USSSA. You can also spend another $50 and get a Louisville Omaha which is a great low cost aluminum bat and is BBCOR certified.