2016 Anderson Centerfire Bat Review

Updated September 30, 2023

After three serious, long batting practice sessions, among several different hitters, using the 2016 Anderson Centerfire drop 11 youth barrel and drop 5 senior barrel, we've pinpointed who these hybrid bats are most likely to please.

Price Check

2016 Centerfire Video

2016 Centerfire Models

In particular, those looking for lighter swing weight, a decent-sized barrel, a two-piece bat that naturally dampens swing with a slightly tapered knob, and/or a performance aluminum alloy barrel hot out of the wrapper may very well find their weapon of choice in the 2016 Anderson Centerfire bat.

General Recommendations

It's with that backdrop the 2016 Centerfire from Anderson takes center stage. The bat addresses the hand sting issue with a two-piece design. The composite handle eliminates much of the hand sting the player may have found in a one-piece while the aluminum barrel (made from similar material found in the barrel of the Techzilla 2.0) still delivers the ball crushing power we've come to expect. Additionally, the bat is made in a drop 5 senior barrel.

Reviews By Model

Previous Bats

To date, Anderson has produced only one-piece aluminum bats. Those bats, like the Techzilla, were famed far and wide for their stellar performance. In fact, many consider the original youth barrel Techzilla circa 2006 one of the best bats ever made. It was, and still is, one of our favorite bats and, although now illegal in a handful of leagues, can still be found on ebay with a search like this at a serious premium. A 2006 bat selling for above retail 9 years later is solid proof of the prowess of that beautiful bomb dropper.

Construction

The 2016 Anderson Centerfire is a traditional hybrid baseball bat design. Meaning, it comes with a composite handle merged onto an aluminum barrel. Those who prefer these hybrid bats appreciate the lighter swing when compared to a fully aluminum bat but still maintain the hot the out of wrapper taste of peak performance aluminum barrel. Compared to a fully composite bat, you can generally expect hybrid bats to have a heavier swing weight, no break-in time, and longer durability. They also tend to have smaller barrels and sweet spots when compared to full composites.