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What’s New With the 2013 Louisville Slugger TPX Exogrid 3?

The Exogrid has been Louisville’s best selling bat for the last six years, and in 2013 they have introduced the Exogrid 3. It is a hybrid baseball bat that uses an internal carbon composite sleeve in the handle. That LS-2X composite sleeve makes the bat lighter and makes the handle extremely stiff. That’s saying a lot for Louisville who prides itself on stiff handles and has never made a flex handle model. The majority of the bat is made with their AC21 alloy which was introduced in the 2012 model along with the LS-2X composite sleeve.

For all intense and purposes it is the exact same design they’ve used since it was introduced. The change for 2013 is that they’re now claiming it has the “lowest swing weight available” for a 2 5/8″ barrel BBCOR model. They say this is due to “composite flex band technology” that uses thinner high strength and lightweight graphite fibers, adding more layers to the barrel for added strength while reducing the overall thickness of the barrel wall.

It had always been promoted as a balanced bat in the past, so this change is significant. The best indication of how it is received is to see the number of college players using it. As said, it is the preferred bat of college players on teams swinging Louisville. If this changes they’re not accepting this technology.

It has always been a great choice for both power and singles hitters and is a bat I recommend. It is available in Adult BBCOR, Senior and Youth models. The BBCOR model retails for $299.

Here’s are the specifications of the Exogrid 3:

The heart of the ExoGrid 3 is the carbon sleeve, which provides greater handle stiffness than aluminum alone ever could
Metal is trimmed in a grid pattern, then replaced with carbon composite inserts that are several times stronger and lighter than the metal they replace
ExoGrid Bi/Fusion process uses a combination of heat and extreme pressure to bond the carbon sleeve, carbon inserts and metal wall to function as one single unit
Using thinner high-strength and lightweight graphite fibers, Louisville is able to add more layers to the composite for added strength while reducing the overall thickness of the barrel wall, meaning more pop and less weight
Rather than thicken the walls to bring them in line with BBCOR standard, Louisville inserts a 1″ wide graphite band
This graphite band gives the bat the lowest swing weight available for a 2 5/8″ BBCOR barrel, and it’s small enough that the sweet spot feels just like your old BESR bat
LS-2X composite /AC21 alloy hybrid
31/32″ tapered handle
Synthetic grip
2-Color end cap

Slide over here to view all of the 2013 Louisville baseball bats.

2013 Youth and BBCOR Baseball Bats

There are going to be few 2013 Youth and BBCOR baseball bats on the market during the normal spring release season. The main reason is due to the BBCOR standard being implemented in 2012. The manufactures had to scramble to get their bats compliant and, hence, had to offer new 2012 models in the middle of the year. It didn’t make sense to come out with another model a few months later. Most will get their 2013 models on shelves in late summer early fall. Here are the few exc

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2012 Best Baseball Bat Recommendations

Here are my reviews and recommendations of the best youth, senior and BBCOR 2012 baseball bats. Everything is sorted by the composition of the bat and the price. I believe this simplifies a complex decision making it easier to pinpoint the bat that’s right for you.

My Baseball Bat Recommendations for the 2012 model year are:

100% COMPOSITE BATS

High Cost Recommendation:

Easton 2012 BB11S1 S1 (-3) BBCOR Adult Baseball Bat

Easton 2012 BB11X1 XL1 (-3) BBCOR Adult Baseball Bat

2012 Power Brigade S1 or XL1:
First here’s the difference, the SL1 has a low MOI (claims to be the lowest on the market) and balanced design. The XL1 has a higher MOI, is slightly end-loaded and has a longer barrel. Otherwise they are made with the same material and design. Choose the XL1 if you’re a power hitter and the SL1 if not. These are two-Piece bats with flex handles made from Easton’s new IMXTM composite material. Easton has always been the leader in composite bats and the 2012 model year is no exception. The Adult -3 model retails for $399. Continue reading →

2012 Easton Reviews

Easton is far ahead of the competition when it comes to BBCOR baseball bats, especially with 100% composite bats. Easton has always been the leader in composite bats and the 2012 model year is no exception. They continue to push their two-piece design in their top tier Power Brigade bats. They were the first to release a BBCOR approved composite bat, the Omen, and then quickly followed that up with new models (Power Brigade S1 and XL1). They are known for offering many options (sometimes so many its dizzying) to appeal to just about any player. Easton is the most popular bat brand in the market and it’s difficult to go wrong with one of their bats.

Here’s their youth and BBCOR offerings for the 2012 model year: Continue reading →

Composite, Hybrid and Alloy Baseball Bat Recommendations by Category

Everyone has their own preferences and needs in a baseball bat based on experience, aspirations, material and financial considerations. I’ve sorted my recommendations based on the composition and price of the bat to simplify the process. I believe this makes it easier to pinpoint the bat that’s right for you.

First, I segmented my recommendations into the following categories based on the material:

Composite Bats
Hybrid Bats (composite handle, alloy barrel)
Alloy Bats

I then provided a high and low cost recommendation within each category. This breaks it down into neat, manageable areas that will help your decision.

My Baseball Bat Recommendations for the 2010 model year are:

100% Composite Bats

High Cost Recommendation

Easton/Synergy Speed: The difference between the two being the Stealth is a two-piece bat and the Synergy a one-piece bat. The Stealth comes with both a flex and stiff handle while the Synergy comes only in a stiff handle. Both are made from the identical composite material. Which version you choose is simply a matter of preference. These are by far the most popular composite bats on the market from the youth to college level, and the Stealth Speed is more popular than the Synergy Speed. Most College teams have contracts with a manufacturer and their players must swing a bat made by that manufacturer. Many of the players on teams swinging Easton choose the Stealth and Synergy Speed composite bats. While teams swinging other manufacturer’s bats rarely choose that company’s composite model. Just keep in mind these bats are slightly end-loaded and may be a little more difficult for the inexperienced player to swing. The Adult -3 models retail for $399.

Low Cost Recommendation

Louisville Dynasty Comp: Hands down the best option for those who must have a composite bat but don’t want to break the bank. It’s hard to beat this bat at a retail price of $249 for the Adult -3 model. You get a 100% composite bat in a model that’s been around for several years and has a good reputation. It’s a one-piece composite bat with a stiff handle and balanced design.

Combat B1: At $299 for the Adult -3 model Combat has FINALLY given players who loved the B1 in youth ball the opportunity to continue using it in a big barrel design. The B1 youth has a lot of avid fans and now there’s no reason not to continue using it in Middle and High School. It’s also a one-piece composite bat with a stiff handle and balanced design.

Hybrid Bats

High Cost Recommendation

Demarini Voodoo Black: This is a quality bat with a proven reputation that has always had a reasonable price for a high end hybrid bat. It is a favorite among college teams that use Louisville bats. It’s a two-piece hybrid bat with a balanced design that retails for $299 (Adult -3).

Easton SV12: Another very good choice. What I like about this bat, and Easton in general, is that you can buy it with the handle design you prefer as it comes in both a flex and stiff handle design. I believe the stiff handle design will become one of the most popular bats on the market. It’s a two-piece bat with a balanced design that retails for $299 (Adult -3).

Low Cost Recommendation

Demarini Vexxum: Demarini owns the the low cost hybrid category and the Vexxum is the clear choice for those looking to purchase in this category. It’s a two-piece single wall bat with a flex handle and balanced design. It has the same SC4 alloy barrel as Demarini’s other hybrid bats (Voodoo and Vendetta) but the C6 composite handle is made from their older composite material. The Vexxum has been a quality bat for a long time and can’t be beat at a retail price of $199 for the Adult -3 model.

100% Alloy Bats

High Cost Recommendation

Louisville TPX Omaha: The Omaha is a solid bat with a long and trusted reputation. It’s a one-piece bat with a stiff handle and a balanced design. You can’t go wrong with this bat if you desire a 100% alloy bat. The Adult -3 model retails for $199.

Easton V12: The V12 has Easton’s stiffest handle and lowest swing weight. Because of the very low swing weight this bat is a better option for the inexperienced player. If you’re experienced the Omaha is a better choice in this category. The V12 is a one-piece bat that retails for $199.

Low Cost Recommendation

At this point you’re just looking for something to hit a ball with. Any alloy bat in the $129 – $169 range will fit your needs. If I had to choose I’d say the Easton Titan, a one-piece stiff handle bat would be the top of the class. But it retails for $169 (Adult -3) which is too close to the Omaha and V12.

Best of luck with your decision and keep swinging for the fences. You can check out all of my bat reviews by manufacturer by clicking the links on the right side of the page.

Baseball Bat Reviews: The Ultimate Baseball Bat Guide to Crush it

Welcome to our dedicated baseball bat reviews blog, your trusted hub for unbiased insights. Gain expert knowledge for informed buying decisions. We stand independent of manufacturers and retailers, providing honest reviews and analysis for your confidence.

Explore top-notch baseball bat reviews with our unbiased reviews covering Youth, USA, USSSA, and BBCOR models. Cut through the clutter and hype to make an informed decision before your next baseball bat purchase – a must-read for any buyer.

Discover reviews on renowned brands like Louisville Slugger, Demarini, Easton, Rawlings, Marucci and more. Dive into our comprehensive analysis of the best BBCOR, USA and USSA bats here.

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