A friend asked what 2015 HS BBCOR bat to get for his son who previously used an S1.
What better place to ask that ? than here:
Catalogs are arriving with the new Mako, Rawlings, etc. some as high as $550.
What new bat do you recommend?
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I have a few players that use the 5150 and really seem to like it. I am going to give you my opinion about the new Mako, stay away from it. The new Mako has a handle that forces your hands inside the ball. On the surface it sounds like a good idea. The big problem I see with it is that as soon as a player gets a normal bat in his hands he might struggle.
My 2017 just started using the Rawlings 5150 VELO and really likes it. Of course, he has used earlier model year versions of this bat since 2012 so no big surprise. I got it off Ebay for $250 instead of $300 (everywhere else).
My son started using the 5150 last year and seems to like it.
Originally Posted by Catcherdad:
A friend asked what 2015 HS BBCOR bat to get for his son who previously used an S1.
Why doesn't he want another S1?
My son is a 2015....he's used Rip It the past 3 years...HS and summer. He just bought a Louisville Prime 915 because the college he's attending uses Louisville and he figured he'd better get used to it. Has only hit in the cage so far, but really likes the feel of it. We'll know more when (if) we ever get outside.
My son is staying with his S1, 2012. Last of 3 2012 S1's he's had, other two cracked after a year or so each respectively just above the handle.
Hard to find online.
Just hope it lasts one more spring, then wood for the summer and whatever his college team uses.
My friend's son is looking at all of these mentioned above.
Does not want another S1.
Yes, ebay is good find if you win a bat at 100-+ less than retail
If his son is using a 34/31 there are tons of good deals, but if he is not 6'4 210 and is looking for a 31" or 32" then I would try to few things. Search on 2014 and 2013 BBCOR clearance. The bats are still brand new but are the last two model years and in general bats are like cars you will pay a premium for the new 2015 model year.
Since BBCORs are all supposed to have similar performance characteristics I think you can group them into 3 groups. Super budget bats that you can use in the batting cage with dimple balls at ($49 to $100) and not feel guilty about voiding the warrenty. Older model year bats like DeMarini Voodoo Paradox or some of the Rawlings 5150 (Recommendations above are great for Velo) at ($100 to $275) or the show bats $275 and up. In this range you can purchase the $550 Mako Torx and the $469 Mako and the $399 nearly every other top of the line Rip-IT, Easton (S1 included), DeMarini, Marucci etc.If the boy is currently using a big barrel or senior league non BBCOR -5 bat he will think all BBCOR bats are pretty lousy when he loses 20 to 30 feet per hit.
At the end of the day if the player can square the ball up and make solid contact with sound fundamentals any of the BBCOR bats will work just fine.
However I should note you will not have bragging rights or get the pleasure of your kids friends whining to their parents about the cool awesome bat that "little Tommy" has with the handle that spins and why their parents won't get them one...
I have never seen a bat make a hitter at the BBCOR level but I have never bought a $550 bat so who knows...
90% Indian
10% Arrow
My son always purchases a older model bat. I don't thinks he has paid much more than a hundred dollars for any of them in the last five years. Most all have seem to work just fine compared to the high dollar current year model ones. I really think you could take the paint off 2013,2014,2015 brand xxxx bat and not be able to tell them much apart.
Originally Posted by Catcherdad:
My friend's son is looking at all of these mentioned above.
Does not want another S1.
You won't find a better "balanced" bat than the S1 (any year), so I wouldn't bother with a different brand.
If he wants to change to a one-piece, JustBats still has the 2014 Rawlings 5150 Alloy BBCOR in 32 and 33 for about $140. Great bat for the money.
CatcherDad, MDBallDad is right on the money here (pun intended). You can go to WalMart and spent $30 on an Easton BBCOR bat, or you can spend $550 on an Easton Mako Torq. It comes down to which bat feels best in your hitter's hands. Granted, those WallyWorld jobs feel like logs, but I've yet to see anybody shouting from the rooftops about how much more pop the Torq has this year. With BBCOR standards, it has become more about feel than anything now.
Usually the more expensive bats allow for more balance or better MOI (why yes, that IS a propeller hat I'm wearing...thanks for noticing). The best thing your friend's kid could do is swing a friend's bat or get to a demo day. There's really no other way for that hitter to know what will work/feel best for him.
For the record, GHHS jr swings a 2012 LS Z-1000. He's on his last 33/30 for this HS season (they tend to lose pop after a season), with 2 34/31s waiting in the wings for next HS season (his senior year). Several of his teammates also swing the same model (but they swing 32/29s). Best BBCOR bat he's ever swung (that's still legal).
PS: I paid $50 a piece for them on eBay last summer, but they're pretty scarce now.
Good advice, his kid is a strong hitter, no question, going into senior season next month. Think he uses a 33/30.
@MD, I was at the barber last night and as he cuts my dwindling hair, he says some of my other customers say they buy new expensive bats every year and their kids take lessons, they spend a lot of money,and then they wonder why their son does not have a scholarship.
They apparently then discussed my son.
(what did they spend, how does he get these invites, etc)
I replied to the barber that we spent a pretty fair amount of money too over the last few years, however a kid needs to have the talent, and even that alone is not enough, he must have the drive to work at it and improve.
It seems to surprise people that being a VP at a bank does not automatically mean your son will be a great baseball player.
Last night after a 2 hour HS practice running and catching bullpens, our son went to the gym for an hour for extra agility drills.
I am sure many of your sons do the same.
$wise, you are right. A $500 bat does not mean your son will start hitting homeruns.
The talent has to be there, fast hands, power, etc.
We are sure happy that most of the events son has gone to this year were invite only and many were free.
It took a while to get to this point as everyone on this website knows.
The other thread on getting people on the HSBBW covers this topic well.
BTW: my own son refused a new bat, likes the 2012 S1,
he led his league in homers last spring so he has a point.
(he would use wood if he could).
Again thank you for the recommendations, I emailed them to my buddy.
Son just text me on the bat he ordered last week.
He was looking for a Louisville Slugger z-1000 but could not find one, so he went with a Louisville Slugger EXO3. Cost $77 with a 2012? list price of $299.
I was highly irked to pay $250 for a new 5150 Velo for my son. I had previously always bought the previous model year for close to $100 but could not find any in 33/30. He does tend to wear out his older Velos about evey year. Bat just sounds dead and exit velocity appears to decrease by may 5-10%. Just my experience with the bat.
EXO3 is a bit end-loaded, but still has decent pop. The Z-1000 is quickly becoming the purple unicorn of BBCOR bats. It has as much pop as the Cat5 (squared) 33 and the original Red Rip-It (the one with the cool razor wire graphics). Those two were declared illegal within months of their roll-out, but the Z-1000 lives on. You can still see NCAA teams who are sponsored by LS using them instead of the newer models.
Rather than buy from a catalog, I would try to find a place where you can actually hit several different bats. I have done this twice with my kid and each time we walk in thinking lets get this one and always end up with that one. I got really lucky this year -- the 5150 was the bat. Only $200. Beat all the LS, Makos, etc.
Originally Posted by 2ndMarDiv:
Can't go wrong with a Voodoo. Seems like you seen more college power hitters swinging that than any other bat. OTOH it is end-loaded, which won't work for all kids, and it is also a 2 piece with a fair amount of flex, which some kids (mine included) do not like.
My son has always loved the 5150. He has used one for the last 3 years I believe. This year, he wants the Marucchi Cat 6. ( I think that is what it is called.) He loves it!
My 2016 has always used the XL1 since it came out and loved it. This fall we went to a bat demo and he tried all the Eastons, except the Mako which is IMO a gimmic and potentially harmful to a hitters development. After a ton of reps he had a clear winner, the S3. I was shocked and he was surprised by how good the ball jumped off. The best part is that it is the cheapest.
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My son used a 32/29 DeMarini Voodoo last year and also used the Easton XL1. He liked the feel of the XL1 better than the Voodoo.He hasn't liked any of the DeMarini's since he had the CF4 back in LL. (Bought on Ebay for $125).
This year he's ready to move to a 33".
Monkey Sports just opened a store near us and they have a batting cage inside and have demos of all the new bats in the store, so my son was able to try several models - 33/30 BBCOR.
tried the CF7, Easton S1, XL1, 5150 and Mako- we didn't bother with the Torq (too gimmicky).
After trying them all he liked the XL1 the most. It came down to feel. They all have the same pop (or lack thereof).
I would recommend trying several of their friends or teammates and seeing which one feels best.
One tip is that even though the store allowed him to hit with all models off of the pitching machine, he found it easier to compare models by taking swings off of a batting tee.
Good Luck
My boys have switched over to Marucci's...2016 will be swinging a Cat6 after using a Marucci Team last season. Got my youngest (2020!) who plays MS and Travel a Marucci Black on clearance. Sweet bat.
I use this link to see what's what with legal play in NFHS:
oops, I meant Torq in my last post.
@GHHS & Selkirk, though son was not looking & has one 2012 S1 left, I roamed ebay in search of a Z1000 and found a few.
Was able to negotiate dealer down to $99 for a Z1000 he says was only used in last springs HS season.
We'll see how it is.
Great advice from all, now my pal has some homework to do for his son
Good job Catcherdad. Hopefully it didn't get used all year by the entire team. They're outstanding bats for a full season and summer--even longer if only one kid is using it. In my son's case, no less than 3 players use the bat during the HS season (another 3 players use the 32 inch version of the bat)
Finding a new 33/30 for under $250 is near impossible today. I got my son's 33 and 2 34s for $50 a piece last summer, which was a heck of a deal. I know you've already bought one but just in case: The eBay vendor (ddsporto) may have one or two squirreled away somewhere. Never hurts to ask.
Have ordered from ddsporto before, agreed- a good ebay dealer.
Have a nice weekend