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By Bat Digest | Last Updated November 17, 2022
While the world waits for DeMarini’s new CF7 and Voodoo FT to be released, the 2015 DeMarini NVS Vexxum is also in lift off mode.
The Vexxum line has always been a two-piece hybrid bat (composite handle, aluminum barrel) with blue-chip out of the wrapper pop yet a price point more in line with one piece full aluminum bats. As a result, it has been rated as one of the best value bats at its price point for a good few years now.
Overall we expect the 2015 DeMarini NVS Vexxum to continue the a long tradition of fantastic two-piece bats at a one piece aluminum price. The bat has always been and should continue to be a very smart buy.
I get asked quite often what the difference are, besides the price point, between DeMarini’s Voodoo Overlord line and Vexxum line of metal bats. The Vexxum usually runs about $50 to $100 less expensive than the Overlord FT. At first glance the two bats can be considered similar: Both bats are a two-piece hybrid designs with composite handles and aluminum alloy barrels; Both are made by DeMarini; Both have names that start with a ‘V’.
But on closer inspection you’ll find some differences that, for some hitters, could justify the price difference.
First and foremost is the connective piece. The Voodoo Overlord FT uses the D-Fusion connective piece while the Vexxum uses, what appears to me, the same connective process the Voodoo used three or four years ago.
The alloy barrel material has also been updated with DeMarini’s special aluminum blend. The claim is the new X12 Alloy, versus last years X10 Alloy, allows thinner walls with the same amount of durability. We have no reason to think this isn’t the case. The X12 alloy was also put on the top shelf and newly minted 2015 Voodoo Overlord FT.
Demarini also updated the design. Noticeably the knob is shaped like a D and the end cap has a pretty sweet look to it.
The overall rating uses seven different weighted metrics to determine our overall score. Half of total rating comes from the player and our exit speed tests (Player Rating: 25%, Performance: 25%).The other categories are Relevance (20%), Demand (10%), Durability (10%), Resell Score (5%), and Tech Specs (5%).
*: When a bat is denoted by a star (*) it is a preliminary rating. Expect it to be updated as we learn more about the bat and gather more data.
(PlaRa) Player Rating: We measure player rating from user reviews. Those users include our own hitters that we test at the lab as well as reviews we find online.
(ExVe) Performance: Performance measures the exit speeds and distances we capture in our hitting lab with HitTrax using these bats.
(Relv) Relevance: We measure the number of sizes and the MOI of the bat. Bats with a wider range of options get a better score.
(Dmnd) Demand: Demand is measured by consumer sentiment and the buzz around the bat.
(Drb) Durability: A bat’s durability is measured by user reviews as well as feedback from manufacturers.
(ReSl) Resell Score: Based on the price the bats go for used. Higher prices mean greater user demand which means, generally, a better bat. A resell value closer to its original price means a higher score.
(Tech) Tech Specs: We rate the bat on its technological advancements from previous years and compared to the industry at large. This is our chance to reward companies who are trying to innovate.
MOI
MOI or Mass Moment of Inertia is a measurement of bat swing weight. This quantifies how difficult it is to swing a bat. The industry often refers to this as things like End Load or Balanced but those words have been overused to the point of meaninglessness. We measure the actual swing weights of each bat we test using the industry-standard pendulum period, balance point, and scale weight. You can read more about that here.
Price
The price is the original MSRP price of the bat.
Type
The types of bats are single-piece alloy (SPA), two-piece composite (TPC), single-piece composite (SPC), hybrid (Hyb.), and wood (Wood). Hybrid bats are made of composite handles and alloy barrles.
Date
The estimated date the bat began distribution.
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