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July 3, 2020 | by Bat Digest Review Team | @BatDigest
The 2020 DeMarini CF review comes on the heels of hours of testing the BBCOR, USSSA and USA versions. Our testing gave the 2020 USSSA CF a near perfect rating (save the potential for durability issues). The USA version rated out well but, like all composite barrels in USA bats, lacked great performance. BBCOR CF testing didn’t go so well and it’s the biggest disappointment of the bunch. We’re not sure what to think of that. We liked the 2019 version. Still, our BBCOR 2020 CF hitters and exit speeds were uninspired. Our Score 9.9/10 (USSSA); 9.0/10 (USA); 8/10 (BBCOR).
Some of our hitters like everything about the 2020 DeMarini CF. They like the swing weight, the feel on contact, the bats big barrel and performance on balls you square and and even miss. We like the sizing options–as it comes in drop 10, 8 and 5s in the USSSA; a drop 10 in the USA and BBCO… Jump to the full review.
Some of our hitters like everything about the 2020 DeMarini CF. They like the swing weight, the feel on contact, the bats big barrel and performance on balls you square and and even miss. We like the sizing options–as it comes in drop 10, 8 and 5s in the USSSA; a drop 10 in the USA and BBCOR.
The only thing that people complain about with the CF, especially for the USSSA version, is the bat’s durability. Most don’t argue with the fact the bat performs, in the USSSA space at least, better than all the others. But, the durability, or lack thereof, does drive at least some crazy.
My son is kind of between sizes on bats.
With that being said he is very fond of the CF from Demarini. He has gone through 29 drop 10, 29 drop 8 and 30 drop 10 as he has grown. As these bats are currently hard to source, I am wondering if you can tell me the difference in the barrel lengths on the 30-32 inch CF Zen in the drop 10 and drop 8 categories. I know this is a strange question but looking at the bats that I have, I have noticed that in the 29 drop 10 that the barrel is shorter than a 29 drop 8, but the 29 drop 8 barrel is the same size as a 30 drop 10 and 30 drop 8 with just the handle being longer.
If you could possibly answer this it would be a great help.
Thank you.
~James
Advice:James,
Great observation, by the way. Not until you’ve done this for some time do you realize that the barrels are often the same on different size bats while the handle changes sizes. Other times, its just the barrel that changes size and the handle shortens up or stays the same.
We hate that we don’t have a great answer for you, but the truth is the models of the CF seem so carried over the years that we don’t keep track of the barrel sizes on the handles based on the drops. But, we do know it changes. It’s why charts that show a usable barrel to bat length ratio only make sense for a particular model and length. Even sizing up an inch or moving over a drop will change that entirely.
For what it is worth, you’ve at least given us an idea for an article and data survey that would put together a spreadsheet or image helping us understand the method to the madness. (If there even is a method at all).
Wish we could be of better help in the short run. But hang in there and thanks for reading!
My son is 4’11 and weighs 69 pounds. Good contact/gap hitter. Current swings a Rawlings Quatro 28/18. Looking to get him a longer bat in a 29/19. What is the lightest swinging drop 10 and do you have an opinion about the Quatro 2021 vs CF Zen 2020.
~Randy
Advice:Randy,
The 2021 Quatro is not yet out, and we’ve yet to hit it. We hope that changes in the next couple of weeks. More to come on that front.
The CF Zen in USA is the lightest swinging of the drop 10 USA Bats. So, if you want the lightest swinging one in a drop 10 29/19, that would be the best bet.
Of course, you can always go for a drop 12 in a 30/18 for Rawlings Quatro Pro. But, we have yet to find someone who is anything but unimpressed with that drop 12. (The drop 10 Quatro Pro for USA is good, but the drop 12, to put it nicely, lacks).
As the USA space sorts itself out, the last few years a few bats have risen to the top. Included in that group is DeMarini's CF. For 2020 it gets some of the best user feedback scores the space got. That is, players tend to love the feel, balance and vibration (or lack thereof) in the USA CF. As well, it's demand is off the charts---easily ranking in the top 5 of USA bats by popularity everywhere we checked. Throw in a decent set of bat tech as a very big barrel on an ultra light swinging (one of the lightest) USA bats on the market and you have yourself a Diamond level USA bat. Most serious USA players looking for a top end bat wouldn't do much better with any thing else.
Not only is DeMarini's CF in USSSA a diamond level winner, we award it the Youth Baseball Bat of the Year in USSSA. (See that award here).
DeMarini’s CF (Zen) defines the USSSA space. For the last six years other bats in the space have done nothing but try and catch up. Try as they might, the gap is still considerable. Consider this, just counting composite barreled USSSA bats, the CF line is more popular than all of them COMBINED. The drop 10 is the perfect blend of balance and power, the drop 8 is dreamy (our favorite of the bunch) and the drop 5 is legendary. It is a relevant choice for 100% of serious USSSA players. Their parents eat its inventory alive.
In BBCOR, the CF shines best in its player feedback. Users love the way it feels, sounds and how their hands respond to hits and mishits alike. It ranks in the elite class of player feedback for 2020 BBCOR bats. As well, the bat is very relevant---with a swing weight and numerous size options to fit the vast majority of serious BBCOR players. Although the BBCOR market is replete with options, the 2020 DeMarini CF has reasonable demans and ranks among the top 8 BBCOR bats everywhere we looked. Year in and year out, DeMarini's CF BBCOR line continues to be a recommendable bat far and wide.
If you are in the USSSA space then we have a hard time suggesting you buy any other bat but the CF. Granted, it might break. No doubt, you’ll find a user review online that hates the bat and the company stemming from a CF breaking. But, we feel confident the lack of durability is directly correlated with how hot the bat performs.
As we have for the last several years, we recommend the 2020 DeMarini CF for serious players in the travel and high school space. The bat has a lighter swing and massive barrel profile. The connection piece makes for as smooth a smash as you can find. The bat even comes in a huge range of sizes from a 30 through a 34-inch.
Price Check
The industry has really struggled to make a great composite barrel USA bat. To date, now in our 3rd season of USA bats, the winners tend towards single piece aluminum and hybrid designs. The DeMarini CF is no exception here. Although a good bat in terms of balance and feel at contact, the USA standard on a composite bat has still yet to be cracked. If you must go composite barrel then the 2020 CF is as good a choice as any.
Price Check
As we mention above, the CF in USSSA is fire. Sure, it will suffer from durability issues so we’d struggle buying it from shady sources with no warranty. As well, there aren’t enough changes in the 2020 CF version compared to previous years to justify any serious price increase. But, the CF from 2020 in the USSSA space is worth getting if you want the top performing bat. If you want the most durable one then look elsewhere.
Price Check
It’s too early to tell if DeMarini addressed the only serious complaint folks have with DeMarini’s Senior League bat. That is, of course, its durability. But, our sentiment is that DeMarini has proven willing to keep pushing the performance limit at the expense of bats that aren’t as durable. To date, based on sheer market dominance, the strategy has worked.
For 2020 they did update the end cap to one they are calling the “ReACTION END CAP”. If that solved the problem we must wait and see. But we aren’t holding our breath.
We have hit with the BBCOR, Drop 5, Drop 8 and Drop 10 2019 DeMarini CF Zen. The bat rakes. Plain and simple. [rwp_snippets box="0"]
DeMarini's CF line of baseball bats are, arguably, the most popular bats on the planet. We have hit, and reviewed, every CF series since the CF3.
The 2017 CF Zen is a legend. The 2 3/4 blue one was banned from USSSA play and the 2 5/8 green drop 5 was and is an absolute ball killer. At the time of this updated writing you can still find it on Amazon in exchange for your kidney. The bat is the perfect blend of balance and performance. Long sweet spot in every size and dominates the USSSA space. The only downfall is that it has some durability issues---but that is directly correlated to how hot the bat is from day 1.
In the Senior League arena few make the case the CF series from DeMarini has an equal. It dominates the USSSA big barrel bat space, and we see no reason that will change 2020. Of course, though, the jury is still out.
In terms of two piece composite USA bats you have a few options. Slugger’s 919 Prime, Easton’s Ghost Evolution and Rawling’s Quatro are the most common similar bats.
In BBCOR the world is your oyster. It feels like everyone makes a two piece composite that swings light and has a big barrel. The field is mixed. Rawling’s Quatro and Slugger’s Meta Prime as well a Easton’s ADV all compete for the top end performing BBCOR bat.
See the Meta Review The most popular and highly rated BBCOR bat for 2019 is back in the 2020 Louisville Slugger Meta Prime. We took to the cage, spoke to some folks at Slugger and write this 2020 Meta Prime Review. After recording exit speeds, measuring barrel sizes and recording player feedback we think the 2020 Meta the best BBCOR bat on the market today if the price doesn’t matter. Of course, we wish it cost less. But, even at a premium above all bats vendors find it hard to keep in stock. Our Score 9.9 (BBCOR).
Price Check
See the Quatro Pro Review Our 2020 Rawlings Quatro Pro review consists of hitting with the USA, USSSA and BBCOR versions of the bat. Our hitters thought the USSSA and drop 10 USA versions are highly recommendable. The BBCOR version, one of our favorite BBCOR bats in previous years, fell short this year with its feel and performance lacking compared to the 2019 and 2018 versions. The Drop 12 USA version is terribly light, maybe too much so, and sounds broke–although it’s exit speeds were decent for a drop 12.
Price Check
See the Project 3 ADV Review Easton’s top end bat for 2019 is called the Project 3 ADV. The ADV comes with a few features we’ve yet to ever see on other bats including a Power Boost knob and an improvement in the connective piece.
Price Check
For the 2020 College World, DeMarini released a limited edtion of the 2020 DeMarini CF. It is called the DeMarini Nightfall. This is, in short, a BBCOR only bat uniquely numbered from 1 to 100. It drives a premium price but is limited edition–pricing out much like a custom DeMarini CF might.
In any event, the bat is the same as the 2020 DeMarini CF which is available later in the summer of 2019.
If you want the 2020 CF now then you can have it. But, like most things, it will cost you.
Don’t expect to see much information about the 2020 DeMarini CF Insane. That is, a heavy swinging two piece composite bat built with the structure of the CF but with more end load. That’s because DeMarini really isn’t pushing it with the major outlets.
But, you can find some updated versions of the CF Insane for 2020 directly on DeMarini’s website.
DeMarini uses a two piece composite bat structure for the 2020 CF. The two pieces are made from composite materials. The composite is the same as it was in 2019 CF Zen and is referred to as Paraflex Plus Composite Barrel.
The connection piece, where the bat’s barrel and handle are fused together, intends to remove sting from the hands and keep energy in the barrel. There is more tech in the connection piece than we’ll give time for it here. But, for what it is worth, DeMarini has long been the leader in top end connective pieces in their two piece bats. DeMarini refers to the connective piece on their 2020 CF as the 3 Fusion Connection.
New to the 2020 line is a redesigned end cap. DeMarini’s CF calls this the ReACTION End Cap and, atleast they claim, is built with stronger and lighter materials to “increase barrel performance without sacrificing swing speed.” Of course what we think is the new end cap doesn’t change the swing weight of the bat but may very well improve its durability. We will see…
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