2017 Axe MB50 Review | Best Looking Bat of 2017

By Bat Digest | Last Updated November 17, 2022

Of all the bats we have hit in 2017, the MB50 is the best looking. In more detail, the following comprises our 2017 Axe MB50 Review.

Price Check

2017 MB50 Video

2017 MB50 Video

2017 MB50 Models

After several hours of hitting with the 2017 Limited Edition Axe MB50, we have enough information to make recommendations. On the whole, a big barrel player looking for the honest feel of a single-piece bat, who also prefers a lighter swing should have the MB50 on their shortlist. The asymmetric end cap and barrel built for predictive impact are useful and proven tools.

USSSA –10

…/10

General Recomendations

Players who like the smoother feel of a two piece bat, or the deep pop sound of a composite barrel, should not consider the MB50 from Axe a viable option. As well, those who need anything but a drop 10 swing are out of luck, as this is only a drop 10 bat. (BBCOR hitters should see the 2017 Axe Hyperwhip Fusion).

Model Recommendations

USSSA Drop 10 Review

MB50 USSSA Drop 10 Ratings (key)

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

…
OVERALL/10

Price It

Players in the big barrel space who need a light swing and also like the power and direct feel of a single-piece bat should consider the MB50. We would recommend it to players with a few years of experience, developed mechanics and those hitters who generally have good bat speed. The asymmetric handle should be a reason to purchase it, not a reason to shy away. Also, those players who want the best-looking bat on the market should seriously consider this beautiful piece of equipment.

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

Release Date:

Serial: AXEMB50USSSA

Bat Type: Single Piece Alloy

Barrel Size: 2 5/8

See other Drop 10 USSSA Bats

Comparable Bats

In terms of a light swinging senior barrel aluminum bat in the single piece space, there are a few examples. Most prominently, the Rawlings 5150 and Marucci CAT 7 fit the same bill. However, neither of those have an asymmetric end cap or knob, and claiming the bats are similar isn’t fair to the innovative nature of the MB50.

Construction

In-depth discussions of the Axe’s asymmetric handle and asymmetric end cap can be found on this site. Each element contributes to the idea of a faster bat and a barrel built for predictive impact. The MB50 takes each of those principles and applies them in a drop 10 2 5/8 senior barrel in a single piece of aluminum. It is a remarkably unique baseball bat.

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.