Okay, so by now, we have all heard of the Easton Power Brigade BBCOR baseball bats. What you may NOT know is there are SIX different BBCOR bats in the Easton Power Brigade line up.
Basically, there are white barreled bats, and black barreled bats in the 2012 Easton bat line.
What’s the difference between the white and black Easton Power Brigade?
White barrel Power Brigade bats have a larger sweet spot, BUT are more end loaded/heavier feeling.
Black barrel Power Brigade bats have a smaller barrel/sweet spot, allowing for a faster swing.
BBCOR Easton Power Brigade Infographic
Easton Representative Bryan Kaye compares the new BBCOR bats pretty well in this video.
Since launching the original Cat 5 BBCOR baseball bat, Marucci has been taking over high school and college baseball fields across the United States.
Not willing to rest on their accomplishments, Marucci is getting ready to launch a followup to the EXTREMELY successful Cat5 BBCOR. Marucci is being tight lipped about the new Black BBCOR bat.
Shipping from dealers in November, 2011, the Marucci Black will have several new options that the current Cat 5 BBCOR does not offer. The BBCOR Marucci Cat5 will still be offered at the price of $199.95
Marucci offered up a video with about 30 seconds of close up pictures of the new Marucci Black BBCOR
Are you looking at a new baseball bat and can’t decide between the DeMarini Voodoo and DeMarini Vexxum? You want the best BBCOR bat on the market, so we put two popular new DeMarini BBCOR bats up against each other in hopes to make your decision easier.
Head to head, here is a brief rundown of the Vexxum vs Voodoo.
Both the DeMarini Vexxum and Voodoo use the proven SC4 aluminum alloy (exclusive to DeMarini) in the barrel of the bat. The main difference between the two DeMarini’s is the handle and the balance. Voodoo and CF5 use the TR3 composite in the handle, which is the strongest composite on the market according to DeMarini. The Vexxum gets the older C6 composite handle for 2012. Many baseball players like the Vexxum BBCOR because it is the most balanced bat in the 2012 DeMarini lineup, and the Voodoo is one of the most end loaded DeMarini BBCOR for 2012.
We suggest you try and swing a friend’s bat before you spend $200 + of your hard earned cash.
Here is the dirty little secret DeMarini doesn’t want you to know (Not really, but it sounds good): The DeMarini Vexxum is every bit as good a baseball bat as the DeMarini Voodoo! Spend $199 on the Vexxum and save the extra $100 for a down payment on a new Wilson A2000 baseball glove (Wilson owns DeMarini). Much like the less expensive Easton Salvo softball bat is every bit as good as it’s more expensive cousins, an extra $100 for a slightly different composite material in the handle on the Voodoo is not worth it.
But the Voodoo costs more, it has to be better, right? NO! It is all about personal preference and hitting style. The only difference you can really feel between the Voodoo and the Vexxum is the weight distribution (Vexxum Balanced, Voodoo End Loaded). If you are 6′ tall and strong, you should swing a Voodoo because you will be able to swing faster and generate more bat speed despite the added weight at the end. If you hit line drives, are not a bulky individual or you just want more bat speed, buy a Vexxum.
Just as many college teams and players use the DeMarini Vexxum as they do the Demarini Voodoo.
Quick Observations of the two 2012 DeMarini BBCOR Bats:
2012 DeMarini Vexxum
Feels absolutely solid
As good as the 2011 Easton Surge or better
Better than the Easton Rival
Very good pop
Average sound. Not a loud ping at all, but not dead sounding either
ZERO vibration
Very well balanced
$100 cheaper than the Voodoo
Grip looks a little different but feels the same as the Voodoo
Kind of ugly
Made in USA
2012 DeMarini Voodoo
Also feels very solid when you make contact
No vibration or stinging at all
Harder to swing than the Vexxum because of the Voodoo being end loaded
We have heard from a few sources that the Rip It Prototype BBCOR baseball bat was banned by the NCAA for being too hot for BBCOR standards.
As of writing this, I have NOT been able to confirm this to be true or a rumor. From a very reliable source, I have seen a copy of a memo that was allegedly issued by NCAA regarding the ban, however I have been unable to find other evidence anywhere else.
The Easton Salvo softball bat may be the hottest softball bat ever made for ASA in the ABI (Advanced Break In) era. The Salvo was released in 2010, since then it has set sales records at Easton. Easton has decided NOT to change the Salvo (SRV5) for the 2011 softball season. It is a pretty bold claim, but the Salvo may be the best bat purchase for ASA you could ever make.
Easton Salvo Conspiracy? – Some competitors, softball reviewers and message boards have claimed that after “break in” the Easton Salvo does not conform to the ASA softball bat standard of 98 MPH. Others have even claimed that ASA is looking the other way on the Easton Salvo being too hot because of the 2009 debacle of Easton’s line of softball bats that were supposed to prevent shaving and rolling. Easton’s “see through” softball bat were a sales disaster when no other manufacturers did anything to discourage cheating and ASA did not live up to it’s end of the bargain on enforcement. It is important to note that this is a RUMOR and not likely true. One would have to believe that ASA and Easton would get into heaps of legal trouble if it were true and someone got hit by a Salvo.
Easton Salvo Specs – The Easton Salvo came onto the market at a price of $199.99 and has remained unchanged since it was launched. With a 12″ barrel, the Easton Salvo has a smaller sweet spot than most softball bats. The Salvo has a very slight end load which helps the batter whip the barrel of the softball bat around the zone. The composite used is Easton’s IMX or Integrated Matrix Technology, developed for use in the aerospace industry. In order to allow for better feedback to the batter, this bat is one solid piece of composite, there is no rubber Connexion separating the handle from the barrel.
Easton Salvo Break In takes about 100 to 200 swings according to most owners we spoke to.
Easton Salvo Durability is overall, very good. Some Salvo owners have put several thousand hits on their softball bats with only minor wear and tear. There will always be some bats that break early in their life due to a defect in the manufacturing process, but that is why you get a warranty on most softball bats.
Easton Salvo End Cap – When Easton first released the Salvo softball bat, it came with an all black molded plastic end cap with an Easton logo on it. Early in 2011 Salvo’s started hitting the market with Easton’s updated “Orange E” end cap. Some owners claim that the different end caps indicate “first batch” or “second batch” Salvo’s. From my experience, most people think the “second batch” with the orange sticker is hotter, but many believe that the new “Orange E” end cap is merely a sticker and has nothing to do with how the bat will perform. (Note: Many incorrectly believe the orange E indicates first batch)
Easton Salvo Orange End Cap Sticker
Easton Salvo Vibration – Vibration is minimal on this Easton softball bat. Even on poorly hit balls, the consensus is this bat feels solid.
Summary – At below $200 it hits as well as a $300 dollar bat. Almost illegal pop, durability and value make the Salvo a great choice. All things considered, the Easton Salvo softball bat for ASA is currently the best bat buy in softball.
We have confirmation that some sizes in the BBCOR CF5 and Little League DeMarini CF5 baseball bats have been shipped from DeMarini headquarters in Oregon to at least a few of their dealers.
CheapBats.com said they should have the DeMarini CF5 in the sizes and models listed below by Thursday this week.
The new DeMarini CF5 bat is the most highly anticipated baseball bat we have seen in a while. DeMarini is using a new, lighter composite that will help the bat feel lighter and swing easier, a huge advantage in BBCOR bats. For Little League, this will be the first all composite baseball bat to hit the market since the new Little League composite bat testing procedures went into effect at the beginning of 2011.
For the ASA side. The two piece Stealth Speed XL Easton SSR4 sports updated graphics for 2012 and is the same bat as of the blue/silver SSR2.
The Easton Brett Helmer SRV6BH Synergy has a smaller but more responsive 12″ barrel and replaces the red SRV3 (also the same bat with new graphics).
As for USSSA goes, the Stealth SCN19 with Tri Zone technology is a two piece softball bat with the patented Easton Connexion rubber piece to prevent sting.
And finally, the Easton SCN20BW Synergy rounds out the four new Easton softball bats. The new USSSA Easton Synergy is a one piece composite bat that provides ultimate feedback to the hitter with every swing.
Easton is not saying much about the new BBCOR Power Brigade bats for the 2012 model year, but it seems that along with new technology in the Power Brigade bats, Easton will offer several choices for different types of players and “a little more pop”.
Easton Power Brigade Baseball Bats Debut
The Arkansas Razorbacks and Florida Gators toke the field last night at Baum Stadium in an SEC showdown. The game was televised live on ESPNU (immediately proceeded by the College Baseball Studio Show on ESPNU).
If you tuned in you saw two of the best collegiate programs in the country square off and the debut of two new Easton BBCOR bats.
The new Speed S3 (Black Barrel/Gold Handle) and XL X3 (White Barrel/Gold Handle) all aluminum bats will be in play for both teams. Bats were sent out to the teams on Tuesday and the initial feedback has been great.
With the Surge and Rival BBCOR bats being the most productive in the country, Easton is supplementing its industry leading bat line with further innovations that will continue to dominate the NCAA baseball landscape with the introduction of the first “Power Brigade” bats.
By constantly pushing ourselves to improve technologies and provide elite players with multiple high-end options, we are achieving our goals of making hitters better. That is why Easton makes bats.
It is was an exciting night with two great program and the debut of Easton’s new Power Brigade bats.
CompositeBats.com has learned that NCAA and Easton have mutually pulled the 2011 Easton Synergy Speed SRV5B -9oz fast pitch softball bat from play in NCAA. We are unaware if a bat replacement program will be initiated by Easton but it is extremely likely that Easton will replace the bat for effected customers.
Please note that the Synergy Speed SRV5B is still legal in High School play.
We have a few details about the new Combat B4 Baseball Bat for youth league and Little League play. First of all, the new Combat B4 is approved on the Little League website. Combat expects the B4 to be released and arrive to dealers in early to mid June of 2011. Like most Combat youth bats, initial Combat B4 availability will be extremely limited.
The B4 will come in a drop -10 ounce and drop -12 ounce.
Maximum Perforance
Ultra Soft Feel
Super Sweespot Size
Variable Stiffness Technology
Blended Fiber Technology
Single Wall Construction
Long Barrel
2011 Approved for Play in Little League BBP 1.15
USSSA BPF 1.15
Approved for play in Babe Ruth Baseball, Dixie Youth Baseball, PONY Baseball, AABC
2 1/4″ Diameter
Forget everything you have ever known about composite bats. This is it! Combat’s Single Wall construction allows for longer barrel lengths and lighter bats, resulting in maximum allowable performance.
The 2012 DeMarini Voodoo Baseball Bat will use the same all new composite material in the handle as the new Demarini CF5 baseball bats. The new Tri Strut TR3 Composite is claimed to help balance the new Demarini Voodoo and help keep your swing consistent and efficient during every at bat by transferring energy to the aluminum barrel of the Voodoo.
The barrel of the new Voodoo bat is made from the same alloy as previous years. Demarini has no need to change one of the best baseball bat alloys on the market. The SC4 barrel on the Demarini Voodoo is, like years prior, thinner in certain parts of the barrel to help balance the baseball bat while keeping it strong where it takes the most abuse. I am sure it happens, but I have never seen a cracked Demarini Voodoo, ever! I deal with bats all day, every day and SC4 alloy Demarini baseball bats are the most durable bat ever made.
The Ion End cap remains the same for the 2012 Voodoo. It is supposed to reduce vibration and point that energy back to the barrel to give you more power. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell how much the Ion End Cap actually helps in the real world.
Looks: This bat is ridiculously good looking. In what looks to be a salute to the late Demarini founder Ray DeMarini, the 2012 DeMarini Voodoo sports a punisher inspired skull that dominates the barrel of the Voodoo.
The Demarini headquarters in Hillsboro, Oregon has left Ray’s office unchanged since the day he left.
Demarini Voodoo Baseball Bat End Cap2012 Demarini Voodoo Handle with Faded Grip
