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March 4, 2021 | 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.
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 is a two-piece composite bat with a big barrel and a light swing. We don't see any differences between this bat and the 2018 (or its newer 2020/2021 version). That is not a bad thing. The bat dominated the USSSA space, is average in USA and a good to great bat in BBCOR. The USSSA bat likes to break, but in the meantime, it is a great hit.
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 2018 version is a good iteration and, despite using the rings in the barrel to compensate for the USSSA illegality in 2017, the bat is fantastic. We've yet to hear from a player who doesn't like the bats---and we've seen dozens at this point.
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 2020 Slugger META is legendary. Despite what the eBay price differences will suggest, the same bat as the red 2019 BBCOR Meta. Slugger literally changed the bat’s color, admitted as much, and resold it as the 2020 Meta. The bat has a huge barrel and has redefined what a two-piece composite should sound and feel like. Aside from its astronomical secondary market price and the 33-inch being illegal, we have no complaints.
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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