Best BBCOR?

So far, the Easton Surge, Louisville Omaha 2012 and the DeMarini Voodoo appear to be getting the nod. Make no mistake, none of the BBCOR's are going to perform like the better BESR's. That was the objective. Therefore, they are all getting early mixed reviews.
I see you are in Oklahoma where, I believe you have one more year with BESR. You may want to consider waiting out the BBCOR at least until all of the new 2012's are out (in the next few months). Surely, some of the bat makers will make some positive tweaks for year two.

Thank you, those seemed to be the best as far as I have seen. I am not planning to make any purchases at the moment because just like you said, the 2012's will be out in not too long so might as well wait it out to see what they have.

Just an FYI... A Vexxum broke the other night in practice. Right where the handle meets the barrel.
The kid didn't hit the ball bad but now the handle slides inside the barrel. Watching college on
TV looks like the Voodoo was the most popular.

I was at a game this weekend where a DeMarini broke as well... Not anything dramatic, just cracked. It made a funny sound and the ump had the team check the bat. Of course, the fact the 3 game series was being played in sub 40 temps (with most of it around 31) probably didn't help the bat either.

BTW - BBCOR in <40? Ball goes nowhere... Longest shot of the day was probably 320 feet.

This one worth a look.

2012 Anderson Nanotek XS BBCOR Approved Adult Baseball Bat (-3

All alloy.

http://www.wcsportinggoods.com...bbcor-adult-bat.html

08Dad -

Welcome to the reality of what we in the North face every year - cold temps and composites don't mix! I've seen several comps break in previous seasons due to the cold. Usually never hear of weather related breakage in Cali though!

The Birmingham-Southern team is using DeMarini, and really likes them.

Regarding comments on what colleges are using...

Keep in mind that most colleges are under contract with a bat manufacturer who provides them with free bats and sometimes more so all players on that team have to swing that brand. Not saying they aren't good bats, just saying it can slant the perception. You may have a bat from a smaller company that's just as good as an Easton or Demarini but the company isn't in a position to provide thousands of free bats plus $$ to programs, etc., so you don't see nearly as many of them out there. However, it does offer some assurance in that a college team wouldn't swing a bat that was a piece of $#@% even if it was for free.

OK, possible exception a few years back - Nike/USC

Take this for what it's worth!

It is fairly well known inside the top college baseball circles that the Rawlings 5150 bat is way ahead of all BBCOR competition in performance at this time. We talked to one SEC (college world series team)coach that did a study on the BBCOR bats and they found the Rawlings BBCOR outperformed all other bats.

It has been explained to us that the wall construction is different than all other BBCOR bats. Seems as though most college teams would be using it if it weren't for sponsorship. Some, like U of VA, are using it.

We were also told that by next year other bat manufacturers will probably catch up with the technology.

Someone came to our facility and said a bat named Rip It...was also very good. No details or feedback.

http://www.ripitsportinggoods.com/bats/baseball.php

Last night in a game two HRs were hit with the Omaha BBCOR and a couple of long doubles.

I would also urge you to get a BESR this year and wait a year for BBCOR. There is no comparison says my son to the one we purchased off the approved list and the Easton Surge and Louisville Omaha purchased by two on his team.

Just released...

Last year's College World Series Champion South Carolina has just announced they are going to the Rawlings BBCOR bat.

They have joined other top programs like U of Virginia, Georgia Tech, Tulane.

Ray Tanner South Carolina Coach said, "The Rawlings BBCOR bat is a step ahead of its class. It's the bat my players want to use."

I don't know that much about the BBCOR bats, but this sounds like a pretty good endorsement to me.

It is interesting that there is such a variance in the performance of these BBCOR bats. It seems like the "spirit of the rule" is being violated. But maybe that's just because my son's team uses the Demarini...

Son came home from practice and said one of the players had a new T-1000 Omaha TPX bat and that the coach had tried to get one from one of the local suppliers who said he had gotten 120 in and were already gone. Tried to look it up on the Louisville Slugger web site but no info on that model. Anyone else heard about it?

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Just released...

Last year's College World Series Champion South Carolina has just announced they are going to the Rawlings BBCOR bat.

They have joined other top programs like U of Virginia, Georgia Tech, Tulane.

Ray Tanner South Carolina Coach said, "The Rawlings BBCOR bat is a step ahead of its class. It's the bat my players want to use."

I don't know that much about the BBCOR bats, but this sounds like a pretty good endorsement to me.

a pretty good endorsement for the school. Kinda like Coke or Pepsi In the cafeteria best deal get's you served. Or is this different than that?

Last year's College World Series Champion South Carolina

I would imagine they got more than just free bats.

Does anybody know or have an opinion on what the best balanced BBCOR bat is? I currently swing a 2010 voodoo BESR 32/29 and the thing I love abut it is it feels more like 25 oz rather than 29 oz. Any BBCOR bats that are like that?

Marucci Cat 5, in my opinion is the best bbcor, it has very little sting and good pop for a bbcor. Plus its $100 less than the Voodoo or Omaha or 5150.

I used the white exo once, and it seemed decent. I've seen the all black omaha with some pop. I also heard the Rip-it is good.

Mine also uses Cat5squared. Bent the first one in 3d BP but was promptly replaced. No problems with it but I swear I think he hits wood just as well - if not better. Besides, I'd rather listen to the sound of wood on ball over a "doonk" any day.

If you search "besst BBCOR" you'll find a site that tested all the top bats. Voodoo and Easton surge were at the top if I remember as well as high marks for the Marucci Cat 5 which is $100 cheaper. I bought a Voodoo and wish I had waited or just went and bought two really good wood bats.

We have both rip it bats and the red one is the best. Has anyone heard about it being banned. That's the reason I got the prototype 2.

quote:

We have both rip it bats and the red one is the best. Has anyone heard about it being banned. That's the reason I got the prototype 2.

From what I understand, you're ok if you have the "recertified" marking on it.

Best BBCOR by far is wood.

What if you don't get it recertified, it still has the bbcor stamp on it. Rip it prototype 1 bat.

I have to agree about the Marucci Cat 5. My son has used his all summer and fall. I have not heard anything bad about it. Most of the kids wanted to use it. The ball gets through the infield and into the gap pretty quick and it has a decent sweet spot.

Well my team has a pretty good selection of BBCOR bats.

Two different years of VooDoo's.
Rawlings 5150.
TPX Z1000
Exo.
Omaha.

I just ordered my kid a Rawlings BBCOR Plasma. Should have it this afternoon. I'll give a review after he hits with it. Hard to beat for less than $100 shipped.

quote:

Originally posted by ctandc:
Well my team has a pretty good selection of BBCOR bats.

Two different years of VooDoo's.
Rawlings 5150.
TPX Z1000
Exo.
Omaha.

I just ordered my kid a Rawlings BBCOR Plasma. Should have it this afternoon. I'll give a review after he hits with it. Hard to beat for less than $100 shipped.

I would be interested to hear how the Plasma performs. It is supposed to be a contender with the 5150. How does your team/players like the VooDoo? Some players on my son's team like the VooDoo... Others don’t. Those who like the VooDoo have been hitting it pretty good the ones who don’t like the VooDoo... eeehhh. Matter of preference and feel for the bat i guess.

I would look into the Anderson Ignite. My son swings it and it does not sound like other BBCOR bats. Have not tried any other BBCOR, might be a sleeper.

I've asked this on other parts of HSBBWEB but I haven't gotten any response. Guess I will try it again. Does anyone make a 35 inch BBCOR? Son swings 34.5 or 35 inch wood and he would love to try a 35 inch bbcor.

Some posted that reflex makes a 35 inch. I guess I will check it out if no other high end bats are available.

There is no one BBCOR bat, or any type bat for that matter, that is the absolute BEST for all hitters.

Good hitters most often choose a bat that FEELS the best to them, not the one that is perceived to have the best "pop" according to others.

Sons Team is entering their second year of BBCOR use. They demo all the manufacturers bats every fall and bring in some of all the ones they prefer. From the players choices, you can see there is not one clear cut leader.

Doughnutman; I am not aware of anyone that produces a BBCOR, for public sale, in a 35" model. The majority still use a 33" which is surprising to me as I think many of those boys should be swinging 34's. Perhaps they are available directly to teams but haven't seen one in our dugout.

IT's definitely a feel issue.

Some kids like end loaded bats, some like balanced. Most times the kid doesn't even know what these terms mean, they just know which bat feels better for them.

Last season, 2 34" Vexxums broke. Handle came loose and would slide inside the barrel.

Saw a LS Z1000 at a showcase get sawed off at the top of the grip.

LS Exo has the same balance and so far the same durability as the BESR models.

First BBCOR VooDoo (white) is good so far but end weighted so it has a high MOI and a slower swing speed. New BBCOR VooDoo is supposed to be better balanced.

I saw where Baum has a 35 inch composite maple. Maybe the bigger bat will increase pop over a 34 BBCOR and it is the right size. Any ideas on the subject? Son likes swinging wood.

quote:

Originally posted by Doughnutman:
I saw where Baum has a 35 inch composite maple. Maybe the bigger bat will increase pop over a 34 BBCOR and it is the right size. Any ideas on the subject? Son likes swinging wood.

How do you define “pop”?

Do you think its how far a bat will hit a ball under strict criteria, or how far it will hit a ball when a specific hitter uses it under varying conditions?

Does you son pick his bats based on their “pop” or how they feel to him? If its on feel, then by all means he should be swinging nothing but wood.

There have been several people that have stated that there is no "perfect" bat and I totally agree. It is a matter of finding the right fit. My son likes the Marucci because it has the same feel as their wood bats and that is the only wood bat he will swing. Bats are kind of like shoes, one son likes Nike, the other likes Adidas. They both do the same job, one just feels better than the others. I would suggest taking BP with as many different bats as possible and see which one fits best.

He picks the bat. I think he uses magic to decide. I was more wondering if the larger size wood would be comparable to a smaller BBCOR for pop and sweet spot. The Baum 35 inch maple should last just as long and with a similar price to a lot of the bbcor's.

He worries about feel, I worry about price. But he would need to convince his coach that the larger wood bat would be just as powerful if not more powerful than a smaller bbcor if he will have any chance of being allowed to use it in HS.

quote:

Originally posted by Doughnutman:
He picks the bat. I think he uses magic to decide. I was more wondering if the larger size wood would be comparable to a smaller BBCOR for pop and sweet spot. The Baum 35 inch maple should last just as long and with a similar price to a lot of the bbcor's.

He worries about feel, I worry about price. But he would need to convince his coach that the larger wood bat would be just as powerful if not more powerful than a smaller bbcor if he will have any chance of being allowed to use it in HS.

I don’t doubt at all that magic is as good a way to describe it as anything else.

I guess I just don’t quite understand what it is you’re asking or looking for, and it all depends on what you see as “pop”. Wood is pretty much all the same. Let’s say you take 2 billets from the same tree and use the same lathe and template to make a 34” and a 35”, they’re gonna be pretty much the same as far as performance goes.

But, depending on the players using them, one may end up giving player “A” more pop because he can swing it faster, while the other one give Player “B” more pop because while he swings it slower, it has more mass. The same thing would be true comparing a BBCOR bat with a wood bat. But, if you could get a wood and a BBCOR that were identical in size, shape, weight, and weight distribution, you should find the BBCOR has slightly better performance, and when I say slightly, I really mean slightly.

As for how long any wood bat lasts compared to a non-wood bat, that’s really hard to say. A non-wood bat can break, but it takes a lot more than it does to crack a woodie. Trying to compare their “value” is pretty difficult because a woodie may last a whole season, or just one swing. If it lasted an entire season and cost less, it would of course be a better value, but if it got turned into toothpicks the 1st game, it would sure look like a bad decision.

As for convincing his coach he should be allowed to use wood, that’s a whole different matter. I’ve heard of a lot of players who used wood last year in both HS out here in Ca, and in college all over the country, but as much as I tried, I could never prove it true for more than just a couple players, and then not as an every AB thing. I suppose some of that is because even if the performance edge is very small, it is an edge, and no coach likes giving up a sure edge on one that might happen.

At any rate, I wish him luck, and you the smallest bite out of your wallet as possible.