2018 Louisville Slugger 718 Select Review

Name: 2018 Louisville Slugger 718 Select
Brand: Louisville Slugger

By Bat Digest | Last Updated November 17, 2022

The 718 from Slugger is a remarkably endloaded two piece hybird bat built for a strong that likes the hot out the wrapper feel of an aluminum bat but prefer the more forgiving swing of a two piece bat.

Price Check

2018 718 Select Video

2018 718 Select Video

2018 718 Select Models

After a hiatus in 2017 (there is no 717, for example) the 718 responds to a number of collegiate players who were in love with the big swing of the 716 but were left out of the mix. This 2018 Louisville Slugger 718 Select fills that need and our review of the bat is below.

BBCOR

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…/10

General Recomendations

The 718 Slugger is recommendable for strong players who want a heavy swinging bat in the two piece hybrid realm. For most that means the bat is not for them. Players who don’t have all day to spend in the weight room and, even those that do, players who prefer a single peice bat instead should look elsewhere.

Model Recommendations

BBCOR Review

Select 718 BBCOR Ratings (key)

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

…
OVERALL/10

Price It

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Hybrid construction with ST 7U1+ alloy barrel and composite handle for maximum durability and power New Speed Ballistic End Cap for increased swing speed and control TRU3 Technology allows for independent movement between the barrel and the handle that controls vibration and provides unmatched feel on contact. TRU3™ technology creates a feel unique to each sport and player type. Slightly endloaded swing weight score: 3.0 New custom Lizard Skin™ premium performance grip BBCOR-certified 1-year warranty

Sizing: 31, 32, 33, 34-inch

Release Date: October 1, 2017

Serial: WTLBBS718B3

Bat Type: Hybrid

Barrel Size: 2 5/8

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Comparable Bats

Although there are a lot of two piece hybrid bats in the market, not very many of them come in a significant end load like the 718 Select. The notable exception, that swings a lot like the 718, is DeMarini’s Voodoo Insane. This, too, is a two piece hybrid bat with a serious endload.

If you are in the market for a hybrid bat that swings heavy then the 718 and Voodoo Insane are about your only options. And, good for you, both bats rate high on the scale of 1 to Bomb Maker.

Previous Models

In short, the 718 Select is an upgraded 716 Select from 2016—that boasts a two piece hybrid structure. In the college world series we found this bat more often than any other Slugger bat. And, since this bat is built specifically for stronger hitters in the hybrid niche then it is no surprise college players preferred it over other Slugger bats. All other bats in the Slugger lineup, including the 918, 618 and 518 are built for the hitter that prefers a more balanced swing.

Construction

The major difference between the 716 and the 718 is that the 718 swings heavier. The 718 also uses a redesigned endcap, made from composite, that helps dial in the swing weight. But, aside from those two MAJOR changes, the only differences are color scheme.

Both bats, like many of the top line Slugger bats, use the TRU3 connective piece. The 7 series of bats also use the same composite handle found in the 918 Primes. The barrel of the 718 is the same barrel found in the Omaha 518. The 718 is designed as a hybrid of the 918 and 518 bats.

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.