Are the remaining legal BESR Composite bats any better than the new BBCORs?

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What I'm confused about though is Are the still-approved BESR composite bats any better than the new BBCOR bats?". If so, why weren't they banned too? If the DeMarini's and other legal composites perform just like a BBCOR, then why not just buy a BBCOR?

Are they better???? Maybe not but the exit speeds are higher which is the name of the game if you can get away with it (which you can in HS except California). Don't buy the BBCOR until next year when you have to.

I know they're different tests, but do we know yet that the new BBCORs do not allow the ball to exit as fast as the old bats that were BESR certified? (I'm referring to the remaining LEGAL BESRs)

Sandman,

To start, all BESR bats with an aluminum barrel are legal in high school this season (except CA). The BESR-ABI compliancy is only for composite barreled bats that can be used this season.

You should try calling Easton and see if they will replace your sons Stealth with a legal bat. They replaced my Stealth Speed with a brand new Surge.

Back to your question, I swung a BBCOR Surge, and a BESR Surge, and the BESR is much better. Sweet spot is bigger, and there is more pop.

Interesting Catcher. Was your Easton still within warranty? My son's is 2 years old now.

Thanks for the info. I'm looking at the Demarini CF4 for him. Most places sell it for $399 but one (through Amazon) has it for $325. I'm going to check local today too.

Buy bats off ebay and save big money. You can get an Exogrid 2 for $225. I got my son's for $212 shipped, brand new in the wrapper. Son loves it.

In California we are using BBCOR's and a few of the "wavered" bats by the NHSF

http://www.nfhs.org/content.aspx?id=4155

We see a whole array of bats being used; some BBCOR's of various makes, and probably 50-60% CF4's, and a handful of wood bats. My son's team is using CF4's and a few BBCOR's and frankly I don't think the CF4's are much different than the BBCOR's which is probably why they were waived.

We have played 4 games and 3 home runs have been hit which I don't think is any different from last year. A squared up ball is going to go out regardless of the bat used. Two of the HR's were with CF4's and one with wood.

The major difference I have seen are that outfielders are playing shallower and are going back on balls. Hits in the gap that used to be doubles are now singles, and some balls in the gap hang up longer and allow OF’ers to get to them. A good OF with makes a huge difference as well as a good fielding infield. We have had two games end with 3-2 scores, and one 2-2, so scoring is down, but the tension late in the game is higher so they are more fun to watch IMO. Pitchers are most definitely pitching inside more this year.

I think it is too early to decide which BBCOR’s are the best, and I expect that each manufacturer will make improvements on their models during the year. I have heard that the new Louisville bats are slightly better than some of the earlier BBCOR’s but that is just hearsay. We decided early on to purchase some CF4’s for the team so we bought two used CF4’s off of Ebay. I doubt you will find anymore there, but I would check it out. I have found over the years that I can get the best deal on bats off of ebay and I always purchase them for dealers with receipts in case they broke.

Our team has a bunch of Sr’s so we did not need bats to last beyond this year so we went the used team bats - CF4 route, but if I had a younger player I would still wait and see if I could get the team (or a group of parents) to purchase a few bats to use for the season and then buy him a bat late this year for next season. One parent mentioned at the last game that it reminded him of when he played LL and that players were not swinging their own bat and that the on deck guy picked up the bat from the kid hitting in front of him. I am not sure if this really answered your question, hope it helped.

Thanks for sharing your approach. I ended up buying him a CF4. He'll let his teammates use it too, and maybe that'll help break it in faster. We realize it's a stiff purchase for one season of use. But hopefully it was worth it.

Also in CA (San Diego) and it's about 90% CF4's here (BESR-ABI). We finally caved and got a cheap CF4 off eBay to replace the 2011 TPX Omaha so to not be at a distinct disadvantage. Will go back to wood for summer and next year will be BBCOR.

Our HS team has a BBCOR voodoo and nobody even touches it! Everyone uses sv12's or the BESR voodoo's. They seem to have way more pop than the BBCOR bats.

Hows this. Demarini Vodoo.

Current: BESR - Composite handle, SC4 Alloy Barrel. $299 Maroon

New: BBCOR - Composite handle, SC4 Alloy Barrel,. $299 White

Should we keep the BESR this year or buy the new BBCOR so that you can get 2 years out of it? Have the BESR stll with wrapper on it.

Not a composite Barrel so theoretically no difference - correct?

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Originally posted by 2013leftydad:
Hows this. Demarini Vodoo.

Current: BESR - Composite handle, SC4 Alloy Barrel. $299 Maroon

New: BBCOR - Composite handle, SC4 Alloy Barrel,. $299 White

Should we keep the BESR this year or buy the new BBCOR so that you can get 2 years out of it? Have the BESR stll with wrapper on it.

Not a composite Barrel so theoretically no difference - correct?

They are NOT the same bat. Buy the BESR for the reasons stated. Your bat won't make it much longer than a year anyway.