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By Bat Digest | Last Updated November 17, 2022
We have covered Easton’s TORQ-handled bats since their release over two years ago. There is not a version we haven’t hit, seen hit or tested extensively. Although not available at major vendor sites, Easton is producing the TORQ in several versions for 2017 directly on their site. Count this as our 2017 Easton TORQ reviews overview.
There are seven different 2017 TORQ models. The three flagship BBCOR bats (Z-Core Speed, Z-Core Hybrid and Beast) come in a TORQ option. Three Big Barrel bats do too (2 5/8 drop 8, drop 5 and 2 3/4 drop 10). Easton will also release a 2 1/4 youth barrel in a drop 10 TORQ option.
If you are looking to learn more about the genesis and reasons behind the TORQ, then a few sources can get you started. Our “What A Bat Should Do” is helpful, as well as our Baseball Life Hack video. Reading Amazon reviews on the Beast might be helpful too, as they are essentially the same bat. We spent some time on Easton’s product pages for this review, as well.
As we cover in our 2017 Easton Z-Core Speed Review, the Speed line from Easton is a single piece aluminum built with an ultra light swing in mind. Although not quite as light as the Beast, the Z-Core Speed is as light as any single piece aluminum on the market. It also boasts a remarkably sized barrel for a single piece alloy bat.
The TORQ version is literally the same exact bat with a spinning lower handle. It only comes in 33 and 34-inch lengths, and because of the TORQ, has a different grip structure on the bottom hand. Other than those features, expect the same exact performance.
As we cover in our 2017 Easton Z-Core Hybrid Review, the Hybrid is a two-piece bat with a middle of the road swing weight. It is built for the player that prefers the buttery smash of a two-piece stick, but likes the aluminum barrel’s ping, durability, and hot out of the wrapper performance. It is the easiest way to get the largest aluminum barrel possible.
The Z-Core Hybrid is exactly the same with the obvious exception of the spinning handle. It also only comes in a 33 and 34 inch size and has a different grip structure due to the TORQ element.
As we cover in our 2017 Easton Beast Review, the Beast is Easton’s flagship two-piece composite baseball bat. This beauty took the world by storm just a few years back and the bat market has not been the same since. We named the 2017 Beast as our Best 2017 Baseball Bat for a reason.
The TORQ versions of the Beast are exactly like their non-TORQ counterparts with the exception of the spinning handle. The offering is not as large in the TORQ. Lengths are fewer and the options are only in the drop 5 and 8 2 5/8, drop 10 2 3/4 and BBCOR. But for those who have equivalent sizing, expect the same impressive barrel performance and swing weight.
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.
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