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By Bat Digest | Last Updated November 17, 2022
Although still early in the 2017 bat season, we think of the 2017 HyperWhip Fusion as Axe’s marquee bat for 2017. We don’t know if it will be, but we think it should be their best seller in the BBCOR space. A few reasons drive this:
Lack of sizing could force many to miss out. We wish the bat was offered in a 30-inch as many 14 and 15-year-olds need as light a swing as possible. (Of note, the smallest VELO size is a 31-inch too, but the 617 Slugger comes in a 29-inch). We would hope, as well, that a big barrel 2 5/8 or 2 3/4 is in the works.
The EndoGrid knob and ergonomic feel of the Axe handle do dampen handling, but not like a two-piece composite does. Some hitters might find that a deal-breaker.
Aside from the 2016 model with the name Axe Element Hyperwhip, there really are no comparable bats to the 2017 Hyperwhip Fusion. Sure, there are single-piece aluminum bats with an extended end cap, but none of those have the asymmetric knob or endcap.
If we were stretching, we’d suggest the 2017 Louisville Slugger 617 Solo. That is also a single-piece aluminum with an extended end cap that only comes in a BBCOR. As well, the 2017 VELO from Rawling has a similar intent as a single-piece aluminum with the extended composite end cap for a light swing. The VELO has the benefit of other size options outside of BBCOR. However, neither of those bats come with the ergonomic knob nor the barrel made for one-sided hitting.
2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
MOI | Tech | Drb | Flx | Prof | ReSl | PlaRa | ExVe | Relv | Dmnd |
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Price It
We cover the intricacies of the Axe Hyperwhip in our 2016 review on the Axe Element. For that discussion, we point you there. The 2017 and 2016 models are identical aside from color. Here we give some short overviews of the very unique construction of the 2017 Hyperwhip Fusion.
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.