BASEBALL BAT REVIEWS BLOG

noreply@blogger.com (BBALLPRO34) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:21:00 +0000

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WELCOME TO THE BASEBALL BAT REVIEWS BLOG!

noreply@blogger.com (BBALLPRO34) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:24:00 +0000

This site is dedicated to help you become more knowledgeable about baseball bats, their construction, the terms and tricks used in the industry.

Selecting a baseball bat for you or your son can be an agonizing and expensive experience. I’ve purchased many bats over the years for my sons and have had okay, good, bad and horrific experiences. I love the game of baseball and have attended over 900 games my son’s have played in. But it frightens me to think of how much money I’ve spent on bats and how I wish I would have been more knowledgeable from the beginning.

You can navigate through the site by clicking the links under the Blog Archive tab on the left side of the page. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Enjoy!

Easton Stealth IMX & Synergy IMX Baseball Bat Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (BBALLPRO34) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:22:00 +0000

Easton has been the leader in composite bats for the last several years and will undoubtedly continue this trend with the IMX, their new 100% composite bats for 2009. Easton is extremely smart to their approach in manufacturing baseball bats by not putting all their eggs in one basket. They leave no stone uncovered by making top notch models in every category and design. Their top priority is pushing the 2 piece design and flex handle which they pioneered some 6 years ago with the Connection introduction. But they also make and market quality one piece bats with stiff handles that directly compete with manufactures that rely on this design, most notably Louisville and Rawlings.

They say the IMX or Integrated Matrix Technology optimizes composite design, materials and process for maximum performance. With the IMX Easton offers two bats made from the same IMX composite material in two distinct designs. They are the:

Stealth IMX 2 piece bat with a flex handle they say increases the trampoline effect. The flex handle has a rating of 75. This has been Easton’s traditional bread and butter design for the last several years.
Synergy IMX 1 piece bat with a stiff handle. Easton added stiff handles to their Stealth Comp bats last year to combat Louisville. They upped the ante in 2009 by making the stiff handle IMX a one piece bat. The handle has a rating of 90. They claim this design provides increased balance and bat control through the hitting zone. The Synergy IMX is aimed directly at the heart of the Louisville baseball bat consumer. As mentioned, an extremely smart move by Easton.

Both are quality high grade bats that are by far the most popular new composite bats on the market. You’ll see these bats at every age level from youth to college. The Stealth IMX is more popular at the moment which indicates a preference for the 2 piece design. Last year the Stealth Comp stiff handle was more popular than the Stealth Comp flex handle, both Stealth Comp models were 2 piece bats.

The IMX is my top choice for those looking to purchase a high end composite bat.

Louisville Slugger TPX Triton Baseball Bat Review

noreply@blogger.com (BBALLPRO34) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:32:00 +0000

Louisville has finally responded to Easton and Demarini’s multi-piece bat designs with the Louisville Slugger TPX Triton, a unique 3 piece bat. What I find amazing about this bat is the size of the barrel. This is the largest barrel I’ve ever seen on a baseball bat. My initial thought is this thing looks like an oak tree! The unique 3 piece design allows the barrel and the handle to be designed and built as individual units. They are then fused together via what is called the Bubble Transition Zone. Louisville claims this makes the bat function as a more advanced one piece bat (I’ll get to this claim in a second). The bat is made of 100% composite material and includes the standard Louisville stiff handle. The Adult -3 model retails for $399 and the Youth -12 at $249. Louisville has long promoted the benefits of the 1 piece design and stiff handle for baseball bats. The success of 2 piece bats from Easton and Demarini has finally forced them to manufacture a multi piece bat. Unfortunately, being stubborn, they won’t admit to the general public that their new multi piece bat is actually a multi piece bat! They claim it’s “really” a one piece bat that is fused together from 3 pieces. This is insane!!! Louisville’s entire marketing department should be fired immediately. Louisville has to either admit multi-piece bats have merit or stick to a true one piece design, we’re not fools. I’m skeptical to purchase a bat for $399 when the manufacturer is telling me little white lies. What’s next, saying they’ve developed a flex handle fused to act like a stiff handle?

Having said all this about their marketing, or lack there of, I will say that I do think the Louisville TPX Triton is a quality bat. That huge barrel makes it very appealing and it seems to hit very well. But I can not recommend it now due to some doubts about the design and its durability. At the present time I recommend the Easton IMX (Stealth or Synergy IMX) or Demarini CF3 in this category. We’ll keep an eye on the Triton and report back in the near future.

Baseball Bat Recommendations By Category

noreply@blogger.com (BBALLPRO34) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:18:00 +0000

Everyone has their own needs in a baseball bat, based on player experience and financial considerations, so I broke things down in a way that will make it easy for you to pinpoint the bat that’s right for you. I did this by providing recommendations in several categories and price ranges. The categories are:

100% Composite,
50% Composite/50% Alloy (Hybrid)
100% Alloy.

Then I provided a high and low cost recommendation within each category. Again, this will help you break through the clutter and hype and help you pinpoint what makes sense for you.

Without further adieu here are My Baseball Bat Recommendations:

100% Composite Bat

· High Cost Option:

Top Choice: Easton Stealth IMX or Easton Synergy IMX.
The difference between the twp being the Stealth IMX has a flex handle
and two piece design. The Synergy IMX has a stiff handle and one piece
design. This is simply a matter of preference. As noted on this web
site, there is little scientific evidence regarding the handle and
one/two piece designs. Easton is the composite bat leader and there’s
no reason to go anywhere else at the present time.

Honorable Mention: Demarini CF3. A bat that is very similar to the IMX, same two piece design and flex handle, and is very popular at all age levels.

· Low Cost Option:

Top Choice: Louisville Omaha Comp.
A 100% composite bat with the renowned Omaha name at a retail price of
$299 (for an adult -3 model), $100 less than the “high priced”
composite bats. Hands down the best option for those who must have a
composite bat but don’t want to break the bank.

50% Composite, 50% Alloy Bat (Composite Handle, Alloy Barrel Hybrid)

· High Cost Option:

Demarini Voodoo Black.
This is a quality bat with a proven reputation at a reasonable price. Blows away the Louisville H2 Hybrid and Easton SV12 hybrid models which cost $70-$80 more (for the adult -3 model). As mentioned, a hybrid should cost less than a 100% composite bat, and this is a quality bat priced correctly.

· Low Cost Option:

Demarini Vexxum.
Demarini sweeps the hybrid category. The Vexxum has been a quality bat
for years. It is a quality hybrid option at the lower end of the price range. Excellent option for the younger player.

100% Alloy Bat

· High Cost Option:

Stealth CNT:
This has been an extremely popular bat over the last several years.
Easton dropped the price on this bat and is focusing on its composite
and hybrid lines. So if you love 100% alloy bats and want a tested and
popular bat this is your choice. The Louisville Exogrid is its equal
but it costs about $100 more, so it’s no contest.

· Low Cost Option:

Louisville Omaha:
The Omaha is back, this time with its 100% alloy bat that has been a
consistently good bat for the last ten years. If you want a reasonably
priced proven 100% alloy bat this is your choice.

I hope this helps you better understand baseball bat reviews and makes your decision easier.

COMbat Baseball Bat Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (BBALLPRO34) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:48:00 +0000

Combat (the company) started in 1998 when they began manufacturing softball bats for other brand name companies. Combat bats were born in the last few years when they decided to put out the same bats they make for other companies in their own name, including baseball bats.

This is the dirty little secret in many industries. The well known manufactures hire an outside company to produce products with their name on it (just like some American cars are really Japanese cars with different name plates. The Chevy Nova comes to mind). I’ve not been successful finding out the bats they’ve made for others, but I’m inclined to believe it was for softball bats.

Combat is focused exclusively on composite and hybrid baseball bats. They’re priced less than the well known manufacturers; as they should be since they don’t have name recognition.

Combat has a limited line-up of baseball bats. They are:

· Combat Virus – One piece, multi-wall (the senior league is a single wall) bat with a stiff handle. The Virus has different codes for it’s adult (AB), youth (YB) and senior league (SL) bats. While it’s less than the IMX, Triton and CF3 the Virus is not in their league. The Virus competes with the Omaha Comp, and I’d take the Omaha Comp.

· Combat B2 Da Bomb Only available in youth models – One piece, single wall bat with a stiff handle. This bat has a cult following (coming from the Combat B1) that has produced rabid fans. To the best of my knowledge this began during the 2007 LL World Series when the winning team hit a walk off home run with a Combat B1. While it’s inexpensive for a composite bat I’m not sold on this bat being better than the Easton IMX. As with the Virus, it competes with the Louisville Omaha Comp. I prefer the Omaha Comp but the B2 is the clear second choice for the youth player is this category.

As mentioned, I know there are some rabid Combat fans out there. But I believe it’s more hype than fact. Sorry Combat fans, your comments are welcome.

Don’t forget to view My Baseball Bat Recommendations By Category for my recommendations in each bat category and price range.

Nike is a relatively new member of the baseball bat ranks and is doing their best to make a name for themselves. Many still have a problem associating Nike with anything other than athletic shoes and may never accept them in the baseball bat industry. But there is a small following that is enthusiastic about Nike bats.

Nike has limited entries in the baseball bat category and in 2009 their main (almost exclusive) focus is on the Aero Fuse CX2. Here’s what they’re offering:

· Aero Fuse CX2 – Two piece, 100% composite bat with a flex handle and “power belt”, “speedlink” technology (don’t worry about what this means, just their hype). This is a decent bat but in my opinion the jury is still out. This bat is rarely seen in little league and high school ball, and only in college due to sponsorship deals. I’d go with the proven commodities in this category, the Stealth IMX (or Synergy) and then the Demarini CF3.

· Aero Fuse – composite handle, alloy barrel two piece bat featuring a flex handle. There are better options in this category.

· Aero Torque – One piece, 100% alloy bat with a stiff handle. This bat has been around for awhile. Again, better options elsewhere.

Nike is still struggling to become a player in the baseball bat category, and I don’t see a reason to take a risk when there are better options on the market.

See the My Bat Recommendations tab for top recommendations in each bat category.

Demarini Baseball Bat Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (BBALLPRO34) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Demarani has come out of nowhere to become a major player in the baseball bat industry and a top brand in baseball bat reviews. Founded in 1989 Demarini bats are now in the hands of over 100 college programs. Demarini focuses on the two piece bat design and flex handles. The have a very similar philosophy to Easton. Although Demarini doesn’t mention the flex handle often and finding the rating number is no easy task. I’d assume the majority of their handles would be around a 75 rating. One complaint about their bats is the small diameter of the knob, some players complain that they feel the bat is going to slide through their grip.

In 2009 Demarini is touting their “pitch black” composite technology claiming it is stronger than competing composite technologies. Here’s what they’re offering:

· CF3 Black (or special edition White) – 100% composite, two piece bat with double walls and “pitch black” technology. Solid competition to the Easton Stealth IMX (and why not since it’s a similar design). When push comes to shove I take the Stealth IMX. Stealth is the leader in composite bats and I’d stick with a proven commodity at the top of the price range.

· Voodoo Black – composite handle, alloy barrel two piece bat with a flex handle. Now we’re talking. This is a quality bat with a proven reputation at a reasonable price. Blows away the Louisville H2 Hybrid, which is also a composite/alloy bat but cost $70 more (for the adult -3 version).

· Vendetta – “rails” composite handle (we’ll talk about this), alloy barrel two piece bat. So what the heck is “rails technology”? They say this: “rails re-enforced frame for perimeter strength and stiffness combined with rlexible handle interior provides reduced vibration zones. Essentially here’s my thought “this is one weird bat!). It looks and feels odd, and I’m not a guinea pig so I’ll stay away from this for the time being.

· Vexxum – composite handle and alloy barrel with a flex handle. This is a quality hybrid option at the lower end of the price range. Excellent option for the younger player.

Demarini is a player in the industry and a leader at both the top and bottom price range. Except for the new Vendetta you can’t go wrong with a Demarini bat.

See the My Baseball Bat Recommendations tab for top recommendations in each bat category

noreply@blogger.com (BBALLPRO34) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Louisville Baseball Bat Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (BBALLPRO34) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:51:00 +0000

Easton Baseball Bat Reviews

COMbat B2 Composite: B2YB1 -12 Youth

noreply@blogger.com (BBALLPRO34) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:20:00 +0000

Working off of the very popular B1 and Virus youth bats, COMbat has improved
durability and performance with the addition of Nanocomp and Gear
technology. Gear technology is revolutionary in that the bat is
engineered with grooves in the shape of a gear where the barrel tapers
to the handle. The innovative shape of the interior grooves provides an
extended sweet spot from the center of the barrel and also reduces
vibration. The end result produces a softer feel and greater
performance on hits toward the barrel taper. The single wall
construction of the B2 allows for longer barrel lengths and lighter
bats, resulting in greater bat speeds and maximum allowable
performance. Durability of the B2 is enhanced with the addition of
COMbat’s proprietary Nanocomp Technology. With Nanocomp Technology,
carbon nanotubes effectively fill in relatively low strength
microscopic gaps between fibers to dramatically increase bat strength
and durability. The B2 is approved for play in: Little League, Babe Ruth
Baseball, Dixie Youth Baseball, Pony Baseball, AABC, and USSSA. This
bat has a 21/4” diameter barrel and meets the BPF 1.15 standard.

Rawlings Baseball Bat Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (BBALLPRO34) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:18:00 +0000

Rawlings is one of the oldest names in the baseball equipment industry. Unfortunately, they’re the Rodney Dangerfield of baseball bats and baseball bat reviews.

They get no respect. You rarely see a Rawlings bat on a little league, high school and most definitely a college field. In a nutshell, it’s not cool to have a Rawlings bat.

Rawlings and Louisville have very similar baseball bat philosophies.
The stiff handle one piece bat is the center of their universe. Here’s
what Rawlings is offering in 2009:

Rush Composite Lite
– One piece, 100% composite bat featuring a stiff handle. Rawlings has
entered the composite bat category and, as they should be, is priced
below the top composite bats of its competitors. But it’s not priced
low enough so I’d go with the Omaha Composite if you must have a 100%
composite bat and don’t want to pay top dollar. Plus, Rawlings doesn’t
even provide any hype for the material of this bat. No “pitch black”
composite, “double weave”, etc. This is unheard of in the industry. We
must have spin!
Rush Gold Lite
– Two piece, composite handle, alloy barrel bat that features a stiff
handle and “liquid metal” allow. I can’t recommend this one either as
there are better options. .
Plasma – One piece, 100%
alloy bat with a stiff handle and Rawlings “liquid metal” alloy. Okay
for the younger player, but otherwise I’d pass on this one as well.

Now, I have seen players hit the ball a long way with a Rawlings bat. But as mentioned, I’d only purchase a Rawlings bat for a young player or if you’re on a budget. Oh, yeah and if you want to be laughed at.

noreply@blogger.com (BBALLPRO34) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:53:00 +0000

Baseball Links:
Great baseball forum to discuss bats, teams and leagues.

The Baseball Pitching Grips Blog: Everything you need to know about pitching grips.

The Baseball Bat Reviews Blog:

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Softball Bat Reviews