Here are the 2020 Easton Baseball Bat Reviews

Easton 2020 Baseball Bats

Easton has launched four new bats over three model lines for the 2020 season. Here’s are my reviews of their baseball bats. First, here’s their “claim” on each of their brands. Then we’ll go into a detailed breakdown.

ADV 360: The most advanced 2-piece composite bat in the game.
Maxum 360: The longest barrel and biggest sweet spot in the game.
Fuze Hybrid 360: 2-piece hybrid design with the thinnest walls in the game.
Alpha 360: Traditional 1-piece solid feel with the thinnest walls in the game.

The ADV 360, Maxum 360, Fuze 360 and Alpha 360 all use names that connect to Easton’s 360 Engineering technology designed for a 360-degree barrel-tuning design, creating new lines of bats that fit the BBCOR, USSSA and USA regulation designations.

The ADV 360 leads the lineup with a two-piece composite bat offering Launch Composite technology to optimize the barrel profile. A new, lighter iSo ConneXion made with proprietary Nitrocell foam is supposed to isolate the handle from the barrel for a solid feel and enhanced power through the zone and a new Dynamic Feel System carbon handle, using 90 percent carbon fiber, to provide more of a stiff feeling.

It includes their Speed Cap design designed for more flexibility at the barrel and has a more natural sound on impact. It also includes Easton’s Power Boost Soft Knob technology.

The ADV 360 is absolutely a very technologically advanced bat that is a top pick for those who are more advanced players. It will also help those not as advanced but are willing for fork over the hefty price.

The NCAA Has Banned White Baseball Bats and Mandatory Compression Testing

For the 2020 season NCAA baseball (not High School Baseball) is implementing a couple bat rule changes. They include details on the White Bat Ban as well as compression testing before each game.

Compression Testing Before Each Series

Compression testing is standard college fastpitch bat procedure stuff. But, the NCAA baseball world has yet to enforce it during regular season. They do it in the NCAA world series and each bat gets certified before it can be taken to the plate. In fact, you’ll see a small sticker on each bat in the NCAA World Series. Now, NCAA baseball has decided to make that a requirement in the regular season as well. This starts with the 2020 season.

Apparently, there is serious concern among coaches about bat tampering.

These test will be done before a series start. You can read more about the NCAA ruling here. But, we stand by the idea, that the real tell tail sign would be WEIGHING the bats. Shaved bats lose a significant amount of volume on the inside of the barrel and, therefore, drive down the total weight. Most bats in the BBCOR space are 1 to 3 ounces heavier.

White Bat Ban (NCAA only)

Also, for the 2020 season, the NCAA is no longer allowing white bats. This is a safety concern that will allow pitchers to pick up the ball earlier off the bat—assuming its coming right back at him.

This white bat ban is NOT FOR HIGH SCHOOL.

The rule applies to every bat. So, even older Adidas Aero Burners, CAT 7s or Beast Whiteout Speeds from Easton will be retroactively made illegal.

How White is Too White?

We can’t get much clarification as to how white is too white of a bat. We’d guess things like white writing and logos are fine. But, bats with a base and background color that are white (like the 2019 Marucci CAT 8 or 2019 DeMarini Voodoo Balanced) would be illegal in NCAA 2020 play.

The most important bat we can think of in the BBCOR space, that is white, will be Marucci’s CAT series. But, that bat has enough iterations (like the Camo CAT and the OTM CAT 9) that the average NCAA player could find a replacement.

The Best BBCOR Bats for 2019.

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.

Here are Your 2019 Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat Reviews

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.

DeMarini 2019 Baseball Bat Reviews to Better Your Game.

DeMarini has been a staple player in the in the baseball bat industry for years and is known for their doublewall two-piece bats.

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:

DeMarini CF Zen: $349.95 Adult -3

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.

Paraflex Composite construction for more precise weight distribution
3Fusion Handle for greater weight control and feel
3Fusion End Cap optimizes sweet spot, sound and feel through the barrel
X-Lite Knob is ergonomically designed to perfectly fit players’ hands

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.

Here is the Marucci CAT 8 Baseball Bat Review

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.

Here is Our DeMarini CF8 Review

Demarini CF8 Baseball Bat Review

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

Our Review of the Louisville Slugger Prime 915 Baseball Bat

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).

Continue reading “Our Review of the Louisville Slugger Prime 915 Baseball Bat”

A Review of the Easton Mako Torq Baseball Bat

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.

Continue reading “A Review of the Easton Mako Torq Baseball Bat”

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.