Bat Shopping...

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Member

• Aug 10, 2008

• #1

Haven't seen any post here recently regarding bat preferences.... And I'm sure everyone could argue forever about "the best bat", but here's my question.

In the market for a new bat for my 12U DD. Considering purchasing a higher end bat (assuming I can find a "good" deal). Currently considering 3 options:

1. TPS Catalyst
2. Easton Synergy
3. Anderson RocketTech

Give me some opinions of each, pro and con. Any others I should consider? Anything I should stay away from? In the past she's swung a cheaper model Easton which she hit pretty well with. This past year she used a DeMarini Cat Osterman model which was really light so she got it around well but didn't seem like she got much power out of it.

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #2

I think the RocketTechs are too heavy for 12U. My DD uses an Easton Synergy which she likes a lot. Me too because it isn't as expensive as some of the others. I think it was under $200 but not sure.

 

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Member

• Aug 10, 2008

• #3

http://www.demarini.com/demarini/index.jsp cf3black
http://www.slugger.com/fastpitch/bats/exogrid.html loisville slugger
http://www.justbats.com/products/detail_view.asp?i=5676 akedemia xtension
http://www.justbats.com/products/detail_view.asp?i=8121 miken
these are a few we are looking at this year..hope this helps.Good luck! DD+FASTPITCH=$$$$$$$

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #4

We have the old yellow TPS Catalyst, light blue Catalyst and the dark blue Cat 2, along with the RockeTech.
The Catalyst is a good long lasting bat. Takes allot of hits and still keeps going. They say it gets better the more you use them.
The only reason we bought the light blue then the dark blue was sizes and weight changes as DD got older and bigger. Have had the yellow one since REC ball and it is still in use.
Sure the Rocketech is her favorite, but we bought the heavier dark blue TPS to slow her swing up for slower pitching. Has worked well for her.
The older ones we keep for indoor batting practices.
Picked up the light blue one on line pretty cheap. Might have been Ebay.

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #5

On the Catalyst...

'08 is orange - what year is the light blue?

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #6

TnTs_Dad said:

On the Catalyst...

'08 is orange - what year is the light blue?

Click to expand...

It is the '07 one.
The yellow one is '05
Louisville Slugger Catalyst 2 is a 2007 model also. Can pick some of these up still for under $200.

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #7

My DD loves her Easton, but it is the purple & white Stealth. We've been very lucky to not have any of the cracking problems with ours. (knock on wood) It has great pop to it without the end loaded weight of the Rockettech.

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #8

Just a few impressions for you TnT---16 yr old dd has two of the bats you mention.

1. She has had an Easton Synergy for the last 3 seasons, (sorry, don't know the model, but the barrel is black, lol). Have loved how this bat performs---fairly light, easy to swing, you're gonna do well if you hit the ball just about anywhere above the grip. Makes this totally sweet "click" when you connect properly and the ball will absolutely rocket off the bat.

2. We picked up an 08 Rocketech this spring and the first thing you gotta know is that it is a hammer. It is heavy and end-loaded, and unless your girl is a big strong beast---she's gonna have trouble getting it around in time. That being said---if she is a beast, then she is gonna launch them if she gets a hold of 'em.

It really depends on the size of your girl and what kind of batter she is. Good luck on your search---KJBM

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #9

tps fastpitch c1c composite buy one get one free $100 justbats.com dd swings one she loves it has good pop

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #10

I have shared my concerns with being able to keep a hitting thread going ....I will only say if you do not have a proper hand path you WILL not swing the end loaded bat correctly....so buy what you desire or want or can afford and try to understand what it is you bought and what or if you can handle what you purchased....and not everyone has the same hand path as the girl you just saw hit the home run with you fill in the blank....bat!

I and many others feel with the proper hand path you could hit a home run with a 2 X 4 with a bat handle attached to it....but that is my opinion.

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #11

I highly recommend the TPS Zepher. It is composite. Has great pop. Is very durable. Has a longer barrel than the Catalyst. Is cheaper than the Catalyst and has a -12 length to weight ratio.

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #12

dd had rt to end loaded for her

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #13

Hitter said:

I have shared my concerns with being able to keep a hitting thread going ....I will only say if you do not have a proper hand path you WILL not swing the end loaded bat correctly....so buy what you desire or want or can afford and try to understand what it is you bought and what or if you can handle what you purchased....and not everyone has the same hand path as the girl you just saw hit the home run with you fill in the blank....bat!

I and many others feel with the proper hand path you could hit a home run with a 2 X 4 with a bat handle attached to it....but that is my opinion.

Click to expand...

Howard is absolutely right as usual. The bat doesn't matter. It's the kid swinging it. Correct hand path is what is going to get you there. It's the same in golf. A few years ago a buddy of mine and I went golfing. He's a scratch golfer. He didn't have his clubs, so we picked up an old set at my dad's house. This set was over 30 years old with heads on them that are half of the size that they are now, with real wood woods and no driver. To my shock, and amazement, he shot 1 over par. It wasn't the clubs, it was the guy swinging them.

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #14

TnTs_Dad said:

Haven't seen any post here recently regarding bat preferences.... And I'm sure everyone could argue forever about "the best bat", but here's my question.

In the market for a new bat for my 12U DD. Considering purchasing a higher end bat (assuming I can find a "good" deal). Currently considering 3 options:

1. TPS Catalyst
2. Easton Synergy
3. Anderson RocketTech

Give me some opinions of each, pro and con. Any others I should consider? Anything I should stay away from? In the past she's swung a cheaper model Easton which she hit pretty well with. This past year she used a DeMarini Cat Osterman model which was really light so she got it around well but didn't seem like she got much power out of it.

Click to expand...

I picked up the Zephyer TPS for my Daughter 14U (coulda played 12 U) She drove a Buncha Hits into the OF and a few Over the OFers ..and she is a Skinny Chick !! The Bat has Pop and is Reasonable in Price...179.

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #15

wgman21 you can lead them to the water but you can not make them drink....after they understand ASA/ NCAA is taking the bat technology away...they will question what the swing mechanics are and what the difference is in technology versus swing mechanics.

Many of the hitters are betting on bat technology versus swing mechanics...lets see what happens next year...now we match technique verses technology!

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #16

Thanks for the responses everyone, please keep them coming. I've pretty much ruled the RT out - don't think that's the bat for her at this point. Likely needs something a little more forgiving.

 

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• Aug 10, 2008

• #17

started off 3 yrs ago with the liquidmetal rawlings. she liked it ok. then i bought her a rocket tech and she hated it. this past year i bought a used 05 catalyst for her cheap and she loved it and said it was her favorite of all time. has great pop to it, so that being said we'll probably stick with the catalyst from here on out.

 

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Member

• Aug 11, 2008

• #18

Take a look at the Miken Halo -10. 12U dd swung it this year and it works well for her. The bat is only a tool. Good swing mechanics enable the batter to use all the advantages that the bat offers.

 

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• Aug 11, 2008

• #19

Hitter said:

wgman21 you can lead them to the water but you can not make them drink....after they understand ASA/ NCAA is taking the bat technology away...they will question what the swing mechanics are and what the difference is in technology versus swing mechanics.

Many of the hitters are betting on bat technology versus swing mechanics...lets see what happens next year...now we match technique verses technology!

Click to expand...

While I agree....it is much easier to buy a hot bat than spend countless hours and dollars on a correct swing. Plus I can never get TheTruth down to give my kid 2x4 lessons.

 

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• Aug 11, 2008

• #20

you dont need countless hours, you have to have the desire to do it correctly...25 correct swings is better than reinforcing 200 bad swings... go blue ! thats for you howard !