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August 7, 2019 | by Bat Digest Review Team | @BatDigest
In addition to the offerings we’ve come to expect from the Rawlings 5150, the 2016 iteration will also contain a hybrid bat in the senior league big barrel market.
This two piece 2 3/4 bat will use the same alloy found in the other 2016 5150’s for the barrel, but also add a composite handle on the bat to help dampen sting.
Jump to the full review.This two piece 2 3/4 bat will use the same alloy found in the other 2016 5150’s for the barrel, but also add a composite handle on the bat to help dampen sting.
While in the cage, we noticed this end loaded, stiff stick doesn’t have much sympathy for your hands on mishits. But, when hit well, the 5150 drills balls into the stratosphere the best we’ve seen under BBCOR standards. Cage time makes it quickly obvious why it is the sole bat responsible for the Virginia Cavaliers winning the 2015 NCAA Colllege World Series (although some Rawlings VELO lovers will have something to say about that).
Price Check
The 5150 is made for hitters who prefer the power that comes from a single piece bat and like hot out of the wrapper sticks. The single piece bat will ring your hands on mishits, but those who can manage that are rewarded with an increased slugging percentage. The added swing weight is also built for hitters who prefer more of a sledge hammer type feel in their bats. We like the 2016 5150 single piece bat for bigger hitters that hit the ball well. The hybrid version will be interesting to pay attention to this year and is a fun addition to the respected 5150 line.
Price Check
Before last year, the 5150 was considered an end-loaded bat. In 2015 (and 2016) Rawlings added a composite end cap–the same one found on the VELO. This lowered the swing weight of the 5150 dramatically. As a result, many vendors’ websites and YouTube videos claim the 5150 is now balanced. But that information isn’t particularly helpful considering the Rawlings VELO—which vendors also claim is balanced—has a noticeably lighter swing weight than the 5150. To make it clear, we like to refer to the VELO as having a hand-load while the 5150 is balanced. Hopefully, one day, the nomenclature will catch on.
Few bats have more traction in the high performance bat space than the 5150. That's because it has a lot of things going for it. First, it has a great pedigree. Second, it has a nice price point for a high end bat. And third, its reviews, year after year, have always been stellar.
By way of comparison to other bats on the market:
See the Z-Core Review
The 2016 Easton Z-Core (Amazon Price Check) is a single-piece and balanced swinging aluminum alloy bat. The Z-Core, not to be confused with the Z-Core Torq or Z-Core XL, incorporates an internal composite reinforcement along the barrel’s length. This gives the bat a considerably large barrel for a single piece alloy. Easton’s marketing literature often refers to this as ‘Mako-sizing’ the bat, which is about, obviously, the Easton MAKO’s considerable barrel size.
Price Check
See the NVS Vexxum Review
The 2016 DeMarini NVS Vexxum is back with some color ups and a longer barrel. It remains one of our favorite hybrid bats on the market, focusing on a more balanced swing and a more balanced price point. Swinging this sweet singing two-piece from DeMarini Bats and getting to write about it is one of the highlights of our year. Weird, we know. But the 2016 DeMarini NVS Vexxum Review was well worth the wait.xum.
Price CheckOther than that unique senior league big barrel hybrid, the other 2016 Rawlings 5150 will continue to be a single piece of alloy from the handle through the barrel. Like last year’s model, it also has an extended composite end cap covering about two inches of the end of the barrel. While this makes the traditional 5150 a multi-piece bat, it is often referred to as a single piece alloy simply because there is no transition between the handle and barrel to a different material.
The 2016 single piece 5150 will come in a BBCOR size as well as a drop 5 and drop 10 in the 2 5/8 big barrel version. It will also have a drop 13 youth barrel (2 1/4) size. The new hybrid will come only in a 2 3/4 drop 10.
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