We are starting the search for a new bat a little early, so wanted to see if anyone had any reviews of the newest bats. Has anyone heard from the users at the high school or college level of any brands and models that are exceptionally great or weak? Has anyone gone to any demo events? Son has always liked a more balanced bat, but is considering a bit more end load this year. Thanks!
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I am a HS coach and most of my players swing the Eastons, nobody yet has a Mako. I, and my players are very pleased with the bats.
Watch college baseball and see what the players swing. I you'll see plenty of Eastons, but not the Mako, I would bet. From what I have seen most college players prefer bats with alloy barrels, not composite. I've seen more players use the DiMarini Voodoo than any other bat. It's an end-loaded bat. My own kid doesn't like it because he thinks it has too much flex.
Ran across this bat demo night in the Baltimore/Washington area on 10/23.
http://pst360.com/events-and-leagues/bat-demo-night
Watch college baseball and see what the players swing. I you'll see plenty of Eastons, but not the Mako, I would bet. From what I have seen most college players prefer bats with alloy barrels, not composite. I've seen more players use the DiMarini Voodoo than any other bat. It's an end-loaded bat. My own kid doesn't like it because he thinks it has too much flex.
It seems to me that many top college teams have sponsorship deals that require them to use a particular manufacturer's equipment. I'm not sure looking at what they are swinging implies that it is the player's preference.
Remember all the problems that Miami, Alabama, and others had with their Nike bats in 2011? Nike had to let all schools out of their bat deals in 2012.
Watch college baseball and see what the players swing. I you'll see plenty of Eastons, but not the Mako, I would bet. From what I have seen most college players prefer bats with alloy barrels, not composite. I've seen more players use the DiMarini Voodoo than any other bat. It's an end-loaded bat. My own kid doesn't like it because he thinks it has too much flex.
It seems to me that many top college teams have sponsorship deals that require them to use a particular manufacturer's equipment. I'm not sure looking at what they are swinging implies that it is the player's preference.
True, but Easton, DeMarini, etc make a range of products. Each player may have to swing an Easton, for example, but can swing whatever Easton he wants. So which Easton the players like to use may be instructive.
I had the owner of a shop send a brand new Mako to my son to test. He used it for a couple of weeks and really liked it!
Thanks for the responses. I agree that the colleges are a bit of a slippery slope based on their contracts, but I can't imagine any of them would use an inferior bat. I have searched for Mako reviews and they seem good, but not sure you can trust reviews on the internet.
I was at a recent event with several high level HS players. They were hitting in cages and there was a Mako floating around. Quite a few of the kids started migrating toward it and it looked like the ball was jumping off the bat well.
Of course, it's still the indian more than the arrow.
If its anything like the S1 it should be good. A lot of kids on my sons HS team swung the S1 or the XL1 last season. Both of my boys have a CF5(2012 model) and they both like that bat as well.
The one my son hit with was more like the XL1. He uses last years S1 and he seemed indifferent to the MAKO. I watched HS players hitting both and if you weren't looking at them hit you could not tell the difference in the sound made by the two bats. I believe the MAKO is supposed to be stiffer in the handle!
