Bat Demo results/opinions

I know of one location that demos Eastons, what my boy really wants to feel is the new CF7 dimarini - where are did you find the demo and any chance they have the cf7?

I just did a google search and got lucky to find the announcement. We went to Extra Innings in Elkridge, MD. They also were demoing a weighted bat that seemed legit. I forget the name but it had a weighted nob and is intended to strengthen the hands, forearmes, wrist. My boys hit with it in the cage and and liked it, but at $180 I dont think it will be on our list of must haves. i would deffinately pay$80-100 bc it would probably be a good tool.

My son also swung a lot of bats before deciding on the best feel for him.  he also ended up with the S3 over the S1 or the DeMarini's  

I know it is personal taste, but I am glad it is not always the most expensive option :-)

My kid has been using a 33/30 LS Omaha Balanced, I couldn't get it out of his hand if I tried... I bought a new back-up and a new 34" (just in case) for around $80 shipped - for BOTH! 

the marketing for the CF7 was be pretty good because 3 months ago it would have taken an army to get the S1 out of his bag...LOL it ain't the arrow!!

I have given up on being worried about the cheapest or most expensive piece of equipment - i have been beated down into this - it is what is important to him (and me for that matter) it is a temporary expense in life and whatever...LOL it makes feel better that way!

plus composites at least for a year or two and can be replaced easily enough and could send back and replaced free...wood bats at 90 bucks or more per are the real cost! he broke 2 in a game earlier this summer...that sucked! lucky for me he hasn't broken one since +1

old_school - i agree that the last few yrs of marketing new composits will leave you drained at the end of the day. word of advice on the wood bat issues is to look into a Baum bat. My friend and I went in on one at the beginning of the summer and split the cost ($210 shipped). Our boys have been pretty happy with it. Used in the cage as well as games with no issues. Also have not had issues with it being allowed at PG etc as it is BBCOR cert .50. From all accounts they should be able to get 2-3 yrs out of it with heavy use.

Being in the business myself, I see the dilemma faced by parents when it comes to the world of bats.  I also have two sons who play.  There is a whole lot of , ahem, "marketing" out there that I can attest has very little basis in reality.  With the advent of the BBCOR rule, success in metal bats comes down to marketing and graphics because there is not much else to differentiate them.

About the Baum bats, they are now out of business.  While they were very durable, they always sort of stuck in my craw as they were only about 1% wood and the rest was foam and fiberglass.  I get the "pain point" of wood bat durability though and that is why I invented the Powerwood bat a few years ago.  It is laminated in a unique way but is 100% real wood and carries a 4 month breakage warranty.  Not to mention it outperforms the other composite type wood bats as well as the "pro maple" bats.  It is also BBCOR certified and approved by all the major youth baseball organizations.  I'm chiming in here because I don't have a bajillion marketing dollars and grow by word of mouth.  I'm happy to answer bat questions anytime.  www.MacDougallBats.com

My son is a 15u and uses a McDougall bat for wood bat tourneys and loves it.  Great durability (about 25 games in so far), and he really likes the weight/balance and, importantly, the way it hits.  And, it's a good looking bat as well...his teammates voted it the "coolest" wood bat on the team (not that it matters, but for some reason it does to them ). 

Anyone have a kid swinging Bamboo?  I see a lot of them for sale, and depending on the model, they come with warranties anywhere from 30 days to 1 yr.