Bats!

quote:

Originally posted by Baller4174:
Hey,
I'm about to purchase a new bat for christmas. Freshmen HS baseball player. I'm looking at the Easton Xl's. So here is my question...
Should I go with the XL1 XL2 or Xl3?

I am willing to pay the full price for the XL1 if you guys insist it's worth it.
I am just looking for the best value for price bat. I want durability also, and I have heard that the XL1 doesn't deliver that. Need some opinions.
Thanks

If you are looking for an end weighted bat I would buy last years XL1, no change this year other than graphics. If you want a balanced bat get last years S1 (Easton) same as this years S1. Son and most of his HS teammates swing last years S1.

What's the weight and height of your player?

My son's a freshman, and this fall he swung an Easton S1 33/30, with great success... He's 5'11" 170lbs. Very strong...

S1 is not end-loaded like the XL...

I highly recommend it.

Here's some video from this fall with him using the S1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj-2-BB0fZk

..........

We had a chance to demo all 6 Easton models before last season....and weren't at all impressed. We had several kids hit them and not one kid ended up going with Easton. We had a Marucci Cat 5 at the same time (32"...not the banned 33" and it out-performed the easton's for every kid there. My son ended up with one of the Cat 5's and loved it....until he got to hit a Rip It. He's got the new Rip It Air for this season. Hope to hit it tomorrow or Thursday if the weather stays good.

I saw a lot of BBCOR bats last year, and the S1 was the only one that really stood out to me. The ball just seemed to jump off of the barrel. I think you have to have an extremely powerful swing to get the same or more pop from the XL1.

JustBats.com says the 2013 S1 uses a new SIC Black Carbon Composite in the handle to make it more durable than the 2012. You can buy the 2012 S1 from legit dealers (think warranty) for about $275 now. I don’t think you can go wrong with either one.

What are the chances of a new “hot” bat emerging in the spring? If someone makes a hotter bat than the S1, they may need to revisit the BBCOR standard.

So from what I am getting from this, is that I need to get the S1? From all the reviews I was reading, it said the Speed series was more for people with good bat speed or a slap hitter. They said the XL1 was for more bigger, and powerful guys.

Also, I was considering the Murricci Cat5, and my friend Logan owns the Rip It, I didn't like it that much.

Also, I am 5'11 180 lbs

Also,
looking to buy a new glove, and was wondering what a good size for a third baseman might be?
Was considering the 11.75 vs. 12?
Don't know which one, need some ideas and or opinions

Either 11.75" or 12" will be good... Some guys go as big as 12.5"...

quote:

Originally posted by Baller4174:
Also,
looking to buy a new glove, and was wondering what a good size for a third baseman might be?
Was considering the 11.75 vs. 12?
Don't know which one, need some ideas and or opinions

Son is currently using a 11.5 (converted SS), he seems to be fine with it, but a 11.75 would be better. BTW he plays HS.

Try the new Rip It 2013 Air. You have 30 days to test it. If you do not like it, you can return it for FULL refund that includes shipping. How can you lose?
I have no connections with this company but I know a good deal when I see one.

Looked and tried a lot of bats; picked up the Akadema Apocalypse. Nice weight distribution, good pop. Became my son's (and then his teams) favorite pretty quick.

LS Omaha!

So,
11.75 and 11.50 is both good....
And as far as bats...
I really would like some more opinions, I really have no idea what bat to pick.
Right now I'm considering:
Rip It
Easton S1
Easton XL1
Murricci Cat5

PLEASE I need some more advice, I'm mostly looking for value. If it's 40 dollars but worth the money, then I'll pay if it's worth it.

quote:

Originally posted by Baller4174:
So,
11.75 and 11.50 is both good....
And as far as bats...
I really would like some more opinions, I really have no idea what bat to pick.
Right now I'm considering:
Rip It
Easton S1
Easton XL1
Murricci Cat5

PLEASE I need some more advice, I'm mostly looking for value. If it's 40 dollars but worth the money, then I'll pay if it's worth it.

My son switched to the Easton XL1 this past HS season.It's end loaded and he prefers this type of bat.This is the first Easton bat he has ever owned.All of his previous metal bats were DeMarini.Many of his HS teammates use the Easton S1,a few use TPX, and one uses the Marucci Cat5.He is the only one on the team that likes the XL1.

What's best for my son may not be best for you. Really,you should test each one of those bats,and buy the one that feels best in your hands.

Btw,if you practice in the cage with wood, get physically stronger,and increase your bat speed,it will not matter which one of those metal bats you use in the game

The XL1 just doesn't swing well. It has an odd weight distribution. If you're looking for an end loaded bat, swing the Voodoo for comparison. It is definitely end loaded. The XL1 is just an odd bat. Didn't see many college players using it last year. The SL1 swings very fast. It was well represented in the college ranks last year.

Very surprised that no one has mentioned the Rawlings 5150 Velo (2012) or this years Velo. In prior years, Rawlings had not made quality bats, but the last few years have seen them really up their game. Son loves his Velo and I see it often in D1 college games.

Happy Thanksgiving to ALL!!!

My son is almost 14 and an 8th grader. But he's been playing up for the past 3 seasons on a 15u team that is temporarily disbanding for JV ball. (So my son has to find a team for the winter and spring).

He used a Rawlings 5150 Velo BBCOR. By the end of the season over half of the team was using it regularly. Great pop, balance, and price.

Rawlings 5150 is a very well balanced bat & has a good sized sweet spot. Baller, if you didn't like the RipIt I doubt you'll like the other end weighted bats like the XL1 & the Anderson Ignites. My youngest picked up a eBay bargain slight end loaded Anderson Ignite (liked it but dented it) & then was hitting really well slightly choking up on the 33" Cat5 that replaced the Ignite. That was last February in scrimmages.

The 33 Cat5 was banned at that time, & he ended up in a 32" Cat5. All through the Spring, he destroyed the ball & many other local players felt it was hard to beat the Cat5 as well. Can easily say, if the 33 Cat5's had not been banned, my boy would have a new one, just too hard to improve on. Last summer after rotating between a teammate's S1 & the Cat5, he picked up a 5150 & seems to like it fine. Swing a few in the cages & see what you think.

Yesterday, I bought an S2 for 150 dollars. Since then, I have seen that the bat has durability issues. I hit with the bat and it feels good and there weren't any problems. I was wondering how common it is for the S2 to have the problem of breaking.

Yep... A really nice Alloy bat is the Rawlings VELO (Red one) almost every kid on my son's High School team that doesn't have their own S1, uses his Back-up Velo... One kid even went yard with it... It's very loud though...

Thanks for all the good help everyone, in the end I went with the Easton S1.
Also, I am getting a new glove also. I was wondering what you guys thought was the best glove in your opinons? I have tried both Rawlings and Wilson in the past. I really like both of those brands. Although now, unlike the bat situation, I am looking for the cheapest glove that has the most value. Will pay up to $120 for it. So, do any of you old vets have any recommendations?

Baller,
You can't just go by brand. Rawlings makes gloves that sell for $40 and gloves that sell for $400. Other brands also sell across several price points.
You are going into HS ball and will be using your glove a lot. You need a good thick leather that will keep it's shape with heavy use. Go to a store that sells high end ball gloves and put a Wilson A2000, a Rawlings Heart-of-the-hide and a Rawlings Pro Preferred on your hand. Feel the thickness and quality of the leather. That's what you are looking for. Now find any glove of any brand that has that feel and has the right size and design that is appropriate for your position and feels good to you and buy it. Most gloves of this quality are about $200 and up, so you may find it worth while to spend a bit more than the $120 you have in mind.
If you have to stay under $120, look at Rawlings Gold Glove, Mizuno MVP Prime or Louisville Slugger Omaho Pro.

Thanks cabbagedad,
That was very helpful. I was looking at the Rawlings Gold Glove and Louisville Slugger Omaho Pro. I think I may go with the Rawlings Gold Glove. Although I'm still looking at some gloves that are over $120. You got any suggestions there?

Wilson A2000 for a glove over $120. During high school, my son used a Wilson A1000; it was a good glove for high school (fairly inexpensive). I bought him a Wilson A2000 for his freshman year in college. The Wilson A2000's leather is a lot thicker and better quality. However it took a lot longer to break in.

quote:

Originally posted by Baller4174:
Thanks cabbagedad,
That was very helpful. I was looking at the Rawlings Gold Glove and Louisville Slugger Omaho Pro. I think I may go with the Rawlings Gold Glove. Although I'm still looking at some gloves that are over $120. You got any suggestions there?

Go to Amazon.com and look up this glove. It is a Heart of the Hide glove with the mesh back. Good deal for the price. It comes in many sizes. The one here is 11.75. Good luck! Heart of the Hides are pro level gloves but take time to break in.



Rawlings Heart of the Hide Pro Mesh Glove
by Rawlings
List Price: $274.00
Price: $149.98
You Save: $124.02 (45%)

My son really likes the Mizuno 11.75 Classic Pro GCP 50 series pattern... They are great gloves...

Good luck!