Tag Archives: Reviews

New 2024 DeMarini The Goods Baseball Bat: Everything You Need to Know

2024 DeMarini The Goods

2024 DeMarini The Goods Review

The 2024 DeMarini The Goods epitomizes a BBCOR baseball bat catered specifically to power hitters. Notably, its key features encompass a large X14 Alloy Barrel designed to foster a broader sweet spot and enhance power upon contact. The barrel construction, resulting in a more robust sensation and elevated performance rigidity. Moreover, a new addition is the introduction of a novel metal compound knob. In the following sections, we will explore these differentiating factors in comparison to the 2023 DeMarini The Goods model in this review.

One of the key features of the 2024 model of The Goods is the Fortified Metal Compound Knob. Significantly, this knob is made with a combination of alloy and composite materials, which provides it with enhanced leverage. Consequently, it becomes stronger and more durable compared to traditional knobs.

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Learn What’s New With the 2013 Rawlings Baseball Bats.

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.

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2013 Demarini CF5 Review

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:

Here are Our 2013 Louisville Slugger Bats and Reviews

The Louisville name is synonymous with baseball bats and in reviews it’s impossible to separate them. Unfortunately they’ve been fighting an uphill battle in the industry to regain the top spot in the industry. The problem has been in the 100% composite category where they have failed to manufacture a bat that has caught on. Last year they took a step in the right direction with the Z-1000 composite. It has received much more acceptance and you’ll actually see college players using it. They’re hopeful it will become a staple in their line-up with the long running Omaha and Exogrid.

No surprise that Louisville is sticking to a one-piece stiff handle design for their 2013 line-up. They finally got the message last year and returned to the design that has defined and what people expect from them. All bats listed below are BBCOR Certified for high school and collegiate ball or approved for play in Little League, Babe Ruth, Dixie, Pony, AA Continue reading →

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 Louisville Slugger BBCOR Baseball Bats

Louisville has a long and respected history in the baseball bat industry and was considered the holy grail of baseball bats. That distinction has long since faded and they are trying to catch up. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a long recovery as they were slow to get out of the BBCOR bat gate.

For 2012 they’ve made significant changes to their line-up. They’ve discarded the poor selling multi-piece bat design of the last few years and have gone back to their core, a one piece bat design (say bye-bye to the Triton and H2). Not to say I told you so, but these were my comments regarding their 2011 models: “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.”

Louisville needs a strong entry in the 100% composite category to b Continue reading →

2012 Marucci BBCOR Bat Reviews

Marucci Baseball Bat Reviews
First, yes the Cat 5, 33 inch Adult -3 has been banned as of February 2012. You can read more about that here.

The Marucci Bat Company has a great story behind it. In 2002 Jack Marucci saw his 4 year old son Gino slide head first into home plate at his first T-ball game he knew his son shared his love for the game. However, after two seasons of hearing the “clink” of the metal bat in the backyard, Jack and Gino could bear the sound no more.

Searching for a child-size wooden bat proved to be quite difficult. Marucci, who had inherited some woodworking tools from his late father had been slowly teaching himself the craft of woodworking. He purchased a small lathe and kit of tools and taught himself how to use it to craft wooden baseball bats. Before too long Marucci wood bats were at the MLB level in the hands of Ryan Howard, Albert Pujols and 300 other MLB stars.

Marucci then expanded into the aluminum bat category, with the Cat 5, and quickly generated a lot of buzz in the market. The buzz is quite hot right now and in my opinion is over the top. It reminds me of the insanity about Combat following that LLWS walk off home run in 2007 (and Miken bats before it). That has long since faded and so will the crazyness over the Cat 5. Nonetheless, Marucci has done a fantastic job of incorporating MLB stars into it’s advertising which is helping to stoke the fire.

Here’s what Marucci has to offer in 2012:

Marucci 2012 The Black BBCOR Baseball Bat
The Marucci Black is their new entry for 2012 and brings them into the hybrid category.

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Learn What The BBCOR Baseball Bat Standard Is, and Why It’s Important.

BBCOR (Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution), the baseball bat standard that replaced BESR (Ball Exit Speed Ratio)

Many are still confused with the BBCOR standard and exactly what it means. Here’s a very simple explanation.

Rather than measuring the ratio of the ball exit speed to pitch and bat speeds (like BESR), BBCOR measures the trampoline effect of the bat. With the BESR standard, when a pitched ball made contact with an alloy or composite bat, the barrel would flex inward somewhat and the ball would retain a portion of its energy. This resulted in hits that were longer and harder. Wood bats don’t have that give to them and the ball loses much of its energy upon impact. The BBCOR standard ensures that non-wood bats perform more comparably to wood bats in an attempt to level the playing field.

It also accounts for how bats perform after they’ve broken in. Since the dawn of composite bats, it was found that the more they were used the better they performed. This led to tampering with the bats to artificially accelerate the break-in process and improve bat performance (rolling anyone?). With BBCOR, bats are now tested after various stages of simulated use in the lab, so that a bat never performs beyond the BBCOR standard at any point during its useful life.

Here are Oure Reviews of the Easton Power Brigade Bats

Easton’s long awaited Power Brigade series has finally hit the market. This lineup follows Easton’s format of offering a 100% composite two-piece bat, hybrid two-piece bat and 100% alloy bat. The difference is that they will come in two different series. The Speed Series has a low (Easton says the lowest) swing weights (MOI), and the XL Series has a higher swing weight (MOI) and claims to have a longer barrel. The pricing is the same for both series, it’s just a matter of preference. All of the Brigade bats are BBCOR certified.

The Speed Series Bats:

S1 – Two-Piece IMXTM Composite

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