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By Bat Digest | Last Updated November 17, 2022
DeMarini’s 2018 lineup includes a CF Insane. That is, a two-piece composite bat built like the CF ZEN but with a heavier swing weight. The bat is intended for BBCOR players who prefer bats with the weight in the end cap. Generally, stronger players who have topped out on swing speed and bat control prefer this over the CF Zen. After a lot of work with the bat, below is our 2018 DeMarini CF Insane review.
Our swing speed measurements showed the CF Insane to have a 10% heavier swing weight than the CF Zen for any given size. That is, the CF Zen in 33/30 swings 10% lighter than a CF Insane 33/30. 10% is a weight we can measure and a weight difference you can feel.
If you prefer a bat with more weight in the end cap but still need a lot of bat speed help, then consider sizing down an inch on the Insane.
The best price to check prices is on Amazon. Most sellers have a store there, and the prices get driven down. You can also check places like JustBats and Closeoutbats, but their inventory will run out of stock at some point.
In 2016 there were several end-loaded two-piece composite bats on the market. Those, like the Easton MAKO XL, did not sell very well. Indeed, only a few types of players, mostly collegiate guys who could spend all day in the weight room, were in the market for this bat.
But, in 2017, Easton and a few others bailed on the heavier swinging two-piece composite bat. That left DeMarini’s end-loaded two-piece composite CF Insane as a lone wolf.
For 2018, in large measure, the CF Insane has no real comparable bats of its class. An end-loaded two-piece composite bat is a bit of an oddity for a standout hitter.
The most significant difference between the 2017 CF Insane and the 2018 CF Insane is a change in the connective piece. The connective piece, you may recall, is the device that removes vibration from the handle on mishits on the barrel. The idea is to give greater confidence and feel to players. It works. In 2018, DeMarini updates the D Fusion handled with a less bulky construction. This lack of bulk allows for DeMarini to more precisely dial in swing weight throughout the bat.
The change is a modest one at best. But, for a 2017 version that was highly rated by everyone, we dare say DeMarini need not change much. The new connective piece serves as a decent upgrade to a well-received bat.
The construction of the CF series of bats from DeMarini is something we have discussed on many occasions on this site. In short, the bats are two-piece composites built with a very high-grade composite barrel and handle. These two pieces are stuck together with a connective piece DeMarini calls the 3 Fusion. This 3 Fusion is a unique feature to the 2018 class of bats and has removed some weight from the connective piece, leaving it to be utilized elsewhere.
Specifically to the CF Insane, the bat’s balance point is found about an inch further down the barrel (towards the end cap) compared with the CF Zen. This allows more power at contact, assuming (and a big assumption) the swing weight stays the same.
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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