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March 3, 2021 | by Bat Digest Review Team | @BatDigest
Our 2020 Easton ADV 360 review is glowing. In BBCOR, behind the Meta, it rates out one of our favorite two-piece composite bat for 2020. The fact it’s $50 cheaper makes it very attractive. For USA, the drop 11 is legit. Winning our favorite USA Bat. It swings as heavy as some drop 10 bats, so don’t oversize it. The drop 10 isn’t terrible, but we prefer the Ultra Light Launch Comp in the 11. The ADV 360 in USSSA is robust with a perfect swing, big barrels, and the Power Boost knob. All in all, the 2020 Easton ADV 360 line may be the best overall bat line for 2020.
Our hitters like the ADV 360 for several reasons depending on the model. Overall, they like that it is the premier bat for Easton and those who are fond of the brand are also fond of the bat. Younger hitters and those who don’t have above average power prefered it more. The same type of hit… Jump to the full review.
Our hitters like the ADV 360 for several reasons depending on the model. Overall, they like that it is the premier bat for Easton and those who are fond of the brand are also fond of the bat. Younger hitters and those who don’t have above average power prefered it more. The same type of hitters who liked DeMarini’s CF, Slugger’s Meta or Rawlings Quatro Pro were the same hitters who gravitated towards the 2020 ADV 360 from Easton.
If we had to choose a BBCOR bat for most improved of the season we'd choose the ADV 360. The player feedback score from last year to this was a game changer and forced it into Diamond class territory. Our hitters loved the big barrel and great feel on hits and mishits. The 360 ADV in BBCOR ended the judging like this: 3rd highest rated BBCOR bat in player feedback; 4th best in performance; 9th in relevance and 1st place in tech specs---the barrel size is enormous and tech advancements with the Power Boost knob are real achievements. It only falls short in demand---which is no fault of its own but more its predecessors. When the public figures out the ADV 360 in BBCOR we wouldn't be surprised to see a run on the market. The ADV 360 is the best BBCOR bat we've swung from Easton in, probably, ever.
Hitters who are not that concerned with budget and want the best tech Easton has invented will like the ADV 360 in any model type. It is built for the hitter who wants bat speed, barrel size and a super smooth feel on both hits and mishits. Performance wise expect a top shelf bat that performs at or near the limit under any number of circustnaces. The sweet spot is generally large.
Note, too, the ADV 360 USA in a drop 11 (The red USA bat that looks like the BBCOR one) is the ONLY bat of the bunch that uses a different type of composite. This is why it drives a premium over the other ADV 360 USA bats. More on that below.
If we had to invent a BBCOR hitter that loves the 2020 Easton ADV 360 we’d put in a starting JV shortstop with a decent build that hits in the 2 or 1 hole. At the varsity level the kid still might like the ADV 360, but also might lend towards a stiffer or end loaded bat and the ADV won’t offer that. But, as a upper class-men with some swag, bright future and occasional gap power the 2020 ADV 360 will be a nice smooth feel and compliment his game well. Of course there are several other BBCOR players that might really like the 2020 ADV 360, but that’s our ideal hitter for this bat.
Price Check
We think the Easton ADV 360 is their best USA bat yet. It will give the top spot Rawlings Quatro and Select Series from Slugger a run for their money. We are particularly impressed with the drop 11 (red version not pictured here). It swings like a drop 10 (in its swing weight) so don’t oversize it. It is lighter than the yellow drop 10, but is lights out. The drop 11 Ultra Light Launch Comp is $50 more, but we like it at least $50 more. In any event, we think the 2020 ADV 360 USA bat worthy of any serious players bag and fully expect Easton to take back some of the market share they lost in the Little League space when the switch to USA bats happened.
Price Check
The perfect USSSA 2020 ADV 360 player depends upon the drop. Recommending the Big Barrel version of Easton’s flagship bat becomes more of a chore when you realize there are so many options. A drop 10, 8 and 5 run the slate of player types. If we had to pick the perfect drop 10 player we suggest the kid who thinks he wants the DeMarini CF but dad has heard to many issues about the CF breaking. For a drop 8 player we’d like to see a strong 11 or 12 year old batting in the 2 or 3 hole that plays left field and occasionally first base. He likes power, but still wants a smooth feel. The drop 5 is built for the very serious 12 or 13 year old who can swing a BBCOR bat but luckily still gets to play some USSSA ball and lets it fly. Of all these bats we’d suggest the drop 5 as Easton has a great history of making ball busting drop 5 USSSA bats.
Price Check
Compared to the 2019 Easton ADV in BBCOR the bat has very few changes. They did upgrade some things in the handle and make the connection piece a bit lighter. But, on the whole, the BBCOR versions of the bat should be close to similar (with hopefully some more durability). It did get good ratings last year and we expect the same this coming year. The USA and USSSA versions did not exist in 2019. The Easton Ghost Evolution compared to the ADV 360 is virtually a different bat. New barrel, connection piece, soft knob and end cap. Granted, they are still two piece composite bats with smooth feels. But, in terms of a piece by piece comparison expect a different bat altogether.
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.
The 2019 Easton Ghost X Evolution (Evo) is the next generation of Easton Ghost X in the USA and USSSA (Big Barrel) bat space.
The 2018 Easton Beast X is the progeny of the 2017 Easton Z-Core line of bats.
There are several high end bats that come in a two piece composite. While each of those have their own zing, Easton’s ADV 360 is the only with the soft knob (which they call the Power Boost). They also use a unique end cap although that might not be something you can tell on the swing. If you’re looking for something similar or something to compare it too look at DeMarini’s CF, the 2020 Rawlings Quatro Pro and Sluggers’ Prime.
See the CF Review 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).
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 Prime Review Our 2020 Louisville Slugger Prime review consists of years of data collection for the Slugger Prime bats. The 2020 edition will be the 6th edition of the Prime. As expected, the 2020 version is a two piece composite bat built with a balanced swing weight, big barrel and comes in a number of sizes in the BBCOR, USA and USSSA space. There are virtually no changes in the construction of the bat from the 2019 versions.
Price CheckEaston’s 2020 ADV 360 uses a two piece connection with a big barrel and a soft knob to help dampen sting. The two piece connection allows for hits and mishits to not hurt the hands as bad. The big barrel extends the sweet spot of the bat. A balanced swing makes allows smaller or growing players more chances to barrel up the ball. In some sense, the Easton ADV 360 is the evolution of Easton’s long line of two piece composite bats starting with the Mako almost a dozen years ago. Several serious players at all levels of the sport are committed to making Easton’s flagship bat theirs.
The bat comes in a lot of sizes. More than any other baseball model. In short:
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Do you suggest me getting the 2020 Easton ADV 360 or the 2020 Louisville Slugger Meta? What’s the best bat of 2020 right now?
Madden,
Great question and the tough decision. But, if you’re okay spending the money we say the Meta all the way. If of whatever reason you don’t want the Meta we think the ADV is a great next choice.
First off a big thanks to Bryan and his Staff for all the great reviews. This is my go to spot for all bat advice. Took a shot on this one based on BD reviews. My 9 year old has been using this 2020 Easton ADV -11 29/18 for about a month now and loves it! He is crushing the ball off the bat. By far the best USA Bat he’s been able to swing. It does feel like a drop -10 and weighed in at 20.5 oz. Let’s also not forget that it’s still a USA bat and will not hold a cup of tea to USSSA bats (my son loves that Marucci Cat8). At the end of the day this is still a phenomenal bat and my son could not be happier. I think BD nailed this review. Easily the 2020 USA bat of the year!
Just a little confused – this is a composite bat and the theme on this site is that composite USA bats don’t perform as well as aluminum. So is this really the top USA bat? Or just the top composite bat?
Hey Jason,
The ADV 360 is the best of all of them. See our best USA Bats article.
We thought it would take longer than a couple of years for a composite to compete against aluminum. In 2018 and 19, it was metal all the way. But, we think, Easton’s composite is the first composite bat to be measurably better than the aluminum. That said, as always, it just depends on what you need. We like the DeMarini Voodoo a lot still and think it a smart value buy.
We are getting the 360-11 already but seen in earlier post that y’all liked the Demarion voodoo…..?? Which one exactly?? 2019,2020, one piece?? Our team is wanting to try a few different bats to see what players prefer . We are strictly on USA bats, would love to hear back, keep up the good work!!
We thought the 2019 version was the best of the 2019 USA Bats. The 2020 version hasn’t changed much and still like it. But, we really like that 2020 ADV drop 11.