2016 Axe Element Hyperwhip Review

We spent 2 hours in the cage with the 2016 Axe Element Hyperwhip and really appreciated the design's thoughtfulness. It's hard to remember you are swinging a one-piece alloy in the thick of cage work since the bat feels as balanced as any composite bat we've hit with. The over-sized barrel on the Hyperwhip adds to this illusion. Yet there is definitely some stiffness in the swing. As well, those who have never swung an Axe bat may need a handful of hacks to get accustomed to the asymmetric handle.

If any company receives extra points for pushing the limits of alloy and composite bat design it has to be Axe bats from Baden Sports. The decrease in swing weight while keeping the barrel size similar when compared to the 2015 version is made possible through two unique features, both of which are new to the 2016 Hyperwhip. First, the 2016 version replaces the alloy end cap and three inches of the end of the barrel with a lighter composite. This decrease in end weight drives the balance point of the bat more towards the hands---giving it a swing weight more in line with a balanced composite bat---without decreasing effective barrel size. Second, because the bat's handle forces once sided hitting, Axe shaved off the backside of the bat's barrel towards the end cap. This again decreases weight towards the end of the bat and pushes creates a balance point more towards the hands for a lighter swing without decreasing effective barrel size.