Big Bats

This week on BSBL 101 we will talk about the things that make up a good baseball bat and some of the best bats that are on the market right now. First thing to know is some basic knowledge about the different styles of bats and compositions of bats. Some baseball bats are balanced differently. They can be end heavy, that means that most of the weight distribution of the bat is in the barrel making the sweet spot have more power but also making it smaller, making it ideal for power hitters.  The more balanced bats that are on the market right now have the weight distributed more evenly throughout the bat making the sweet spot bigger but have less power, making it ideal for contact hitters. The three baseball bats that we will be comparing this week are the Rawlings VELO, the Demarini CF Zen, and the Louisville Slugger Prime 919.

First off the Rawlings VELO, this is a one piece bat made out of aluminum alloy. This bat is designed for the top of the line up, it has a lot of barrel through the zone when being swung. One thing too that helps the VELO stand out from the other bats on the market now is that it makes one of the loudest “ping” noises out of baseball bat. This bat cost about $300 and is a good price for the quality of the bat. 

Second is the Demarini CF Zen, this is a  two piece bat made out of composite. The composite barrel is designed to help the hitter get the most amount of “pop” from the bat. This bat is similar to the VELO in that it is designed for the top of the line up because of how balanced the bat is. This bat has a price tag of $450, which is a bit steep for the bat. If you had the money this is a high quality bat that would help out any hitter.

The final bat is the Louisville Slugger Prime 919, this bat is a two piece composite bat that is more end heavy than the other two. This bat is made more for the power hitters or “ the Big Boys” of the team. One additional thing that this bat has is the Lizard Skin grip tape that is put on all of their bats, this is some of the best grip tape on the market. This bat has a price of $450, which fits all of the materials and R&D on the bat.

Overall the best bat this week is the Rawlings VELO. First because of the low price tag of the bat for the quality if the bat. Secondly it’s good because almost any one in the line up can use the bat, although it is designed for the top of the order. Third it is just a good bat, i have had some hands on use with it and it felt really good in the hands. So if your on the market for a new bat the VELO should definitely be on the list.