2017 Axe Element Review

By Bat Digest | Last Updated November 17, 2022

In what stands to be confusing, the 2017 Axe Element looks almost exactly like the 2016 Axe Element Hyperwhip. Both are green and black and have an asymmetric end cap. Those two bats are quite a bit different, as the Hyperwhip has an elongated composite end cap for ultra-light swing weight. Do not confuse the two or you will experience vastly different bats. Our 2017 Axe Hyperwhip review is found here. The 2017 Hyperwhip Fusion is red and pictured above.

Price Check

2017 Element Video

2017 Element Video

2017 Element Models

We have hit with the Axe Element for well over a season. That experience, combined with meticulously combing user experiences for feedback on the 2017 Axe Element, gives us some insight for this 2017 Axe Element Review.

BBCOR

…/10

USSSA –10

…/10

General Recomendations

The 2017 Axe Element may serve a few in the batting practice market, too. It runs a bit heavy in terms of swing weight and is ultra-durable. The asymmetric knob caters to the player who takes a lot of hacks, and in the long run, will feel better on your hands.

Our experience with the bat showed a decent-sized sweet spot.

Model Recommendations

BBCOR Review

Element BBCOR Ratings (key)

MOI	Tech	Drb	Flx	Prof	ReSl	PlaRa	ExVe	Relv	Dmnd
3	5	5	4	2	2	4	4	3	2

…
OVERALL/10

Price It

The Element, on the whole, is the entry level bat for the Axe lineup. You can expect a stiff feel and a moderately balanced swing weight. The new asymmetric endcap to the already asymmetric knob make it a unique choice. We would recommend this for hitters who want the stiff feel of a one piece, the hot out of the wrapper performance of an aluminum and are willing to give an asymmetric knob a whirl.

Sizing: 31, 32, 33, 34-inch

Release Date:

Serial: AXEELEMENT2016

Bat Type: Single Piece Alloy

Barrel Size: 2 5/8

See other BBCOR Bats

USSSA Drop 10 Review

Element USSSA Drop 10 Ratings (key)

MOI	Tech	Drb	Flx	Prof	ReSl	PlaRa	ExVe	Relv	Dmnd
3	5	5	4	2	2	3	3	3	1

…
OVERALL/10

Price It

The only person we would really recommend the 2017 Axe Element for is the person looking for a stiff single-piece alloy bat with a moderate swing weight that also doesn't want to afford the Axe Hyperwhip Fusion. We suspect that group of people to be rather small. The Fusion, at least by today's pricing, appears to cost about $100 more. It has the same barrel size, same 'asymmetricness' but an added composite end cap to help increase bat speed.

Sizing: 28, 29, 30, 31, 32-inch

Release Date:

Serial: AXEELEUSSSA2016US

Bat Type: Single Piece Alloy

Barrel Size: 2 5/8

See other Drop 10 USSSA Bats

Comparable Bats

In terms of a single-piece aluminum alloy bat with a moderate to lighter swing weight, your options might as well be endless in the BBCOR, Big Barrel, and Youth Barrel spaces. Bats like Slugger’s 517 Omaha and the Warstic are just a few.

But, in terms of an asymmetric handle and end cap found on a single-piece aluminum bat, your options are next to zero. The only comparable bat would be the 2016 or 2017 Hyperwhip Fusion from Axe, but as we state above, that bat has an extended composite end cap to lower swing weight.

Previous Models

The 2017 Axe Element is a single-piece bat made of aluminum. Axe claims to use a very strong aluminum alloy, and we have no reason to doubt them. Durability concerns from users are non-existent. This is the same as the 2016 version.

Yet the changes in 2017 from 2016 are significant. In 2017, in addition to the famous asymmetric knob, the endcap is also asymmetric. Axe’s 2017 Element takes advantage of the predictive impact made possible by the asymmetric knob. This asymmetric endcap helps lower swing weight because less material is needed at the bat’s end. As such, the 2017 Element has a lighter swing weight than the 2016 version, in addition to an asymmetric end cap.

Overall Ratings

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.