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By Bat Digest | Last Updated March 3, 2021
We’ve hit with the 2021 Louisville Slugger Meta over 1,000 times. Compared to the 2020 version, there are very few changes. However, the sound of the bat, due to a new end cap, as well as a minor barrel restructuring gives it a different sound. No bat is anticipated, much like the 2021 Louisville Slugger Meta.
Expect a USSSA meta in a drop 10, 8, and 5 in October of 2020.
In June of 2020, Slugger releases the 33″ version of the 2021 Meta. This is mainly meant to replace the 2020 33″ which was made illegal. Expect to see the remaining sizes of the Meta in October, when Slugger releases the bulk of their BBCOR bats. You can check Slugger’s 2021 Meta page here for available sizing.
$499.95
Original Price
Certification: BBCOR
Sizes: 31/28, 32/29, 33/30, 34/31
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
Drop: 3
Swing Weight: Balance - (Between 5 and 10% lower than Industry Average).
Serial Number: WBL2463010
Original Price: $499.95
Release Month: August 2020
Related: Best BBCOR Bats
$349.95
Original Price
Certification: USSSA
Sizes: 29/21, 30/22, 31/23, 32/24
Barrel Size: 2 3/4
Drop: 8
Swing Weight: Balanced (Within +/- 5% of Industry Average)
Serial Number: WBL2468010
Original Price: $349.95
Release Month: November 2020
Related: Best USSSA Bats
$349.95
Original Price
Certification: USSSA
Sizes: 30/25, 31/26, 32/27
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
Drop: 5
Swing Weight: Balanced (Within +/- 5% of Industry Average)
Serial Number: WBL2469010
Original Price: $349.95
Release Month: November 2020
Related: Best USSSA Bats
$349.95
Original Price
Certification: USSSA
Sizes: 27/17, 28/18, 29/19, 30/20, 31/21, 32/22
Barrel Size: 2 3/4
Drop: 10
Swing Weight: Balanced (Within +/- 5% of Industry Average)
Serial Number: WBL2467010
Original Price: $349.95
Release Month: November 2020
Related: Best USSSA Bats
2021 Louisville Slugger META BBCOR
$499.95
Original Price
Meta BBCOR Drop 3
The 2021 Louisville Slugger META in BBCOR is a near-perfect bat. The only thing it lacks, we think, is a smaller 30-inch size. Otherwise, the balance, barrel size, feel and performance are all on point. The 2021 Slugger META in BBCOR is for big hitters who like as much stiffness as possible in their BBCOR bat won't appreciate the Meta. Those who need bat speed, want a huge barrel, and want a great blend of giving and power in the connection piece will like the 2021 Meta. This bat swings about 10% lighter than the 2021 META PWR.
Certification: BBCOR
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
Sizes: 31/28, 32/29, 33/30, 34/31
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
Drop: 3
Swing Weight: Balance - (Between 5 and 10% lower than Industry Average).
Serial Number: WBL2463010
Release Month: August 2020
Related: Best BBCOR Bats
2021 Louisville Slugger META USSSA Drop 8
$349.95
Original Price
Meta USSSA Drop 8
The drop 8 in Louisville Sluggers 2021 Meta line is a near-perfect bat. In fact, we can't think of anything we would change other than the price. It's got a huge barrel, swings light enough for that bigger drop 10 kid in the 10U and 11U space can wield it without issue, feels fantastic, and can hit the ball with the best of them. When all is said and done, we think this might be the best drop 8 USSSA bat for 2021---although bats like the CF and Marucci CAT 9 are right there too.
Certification: USSSA
Barrel Size: 2 3/4
Sizes: 29/21, 30/22, 31/23, 32/24
Barrel Size: 2 3/4
Drop: 8
Swing Weight: Balanced (Within +/- 5% of Industry Average)
Serial Number: WBL2468010
Release Month: November 2020
Related: Best USSSA Bats
2021 Louisville Slugger META USSSA Drop 5
$349.95
Original Price
Meta USSSA Drop 5
The 2021 Louisville Slugger META has a huge barrel profile, great feel, and very good performance. We liked bats like the CF and CAT 9 Connect better in the drop 5 space, but the light swinging drop player will really like the drop 5 Meta.
Certification: USSSA
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
Sizes: 30/25, 31/26, 32/27
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
Drop: 5
Swing Weight: Balanced (Within +/- 5% of Industry Average)
Serial Number: WBL2469010
Release Month: November 2020
Related: Best USSSA Bats
2021 Louisville Slugger META USSSA Drop 10
$349.95
Original Price
META USSSA Drop 10
The drop USSSA Louisville Slugger META is all we ever wanted in a drop 10. It's a light swing, big barrel, and a stiff enough connection to feel different than the CF. It also has really good performance and competes with the best in the space. Although demand for doesn't quite match the more popular Marucci CAT 9 USSSA series, it paces real close to the popularity of the CF which has defined the space for more than half a decade.
Certification: USSSA
Barrel Size: 2 3/4
Sizes: 27/17, 28/18, 29/19, 30/20, 31/21, 32/22
Barrel Size: 2 3/4
Drop: 10
Swing Weight: Balanced (Within +/- 5% of Industry Average)
Serial Number: WBL2467010
Release Month: November 2020
Related: Best USSSA Bats
We’ve yet to speak to a high school ballplayer who didn’t love the Meta. Now, they may have liked something a bit better—like The Goods or the value buy like the Omaha. But, every player who swings the Meta loves it for its big barrel, balanced swing, and huge sweet spot. For three years running the bat has dominated best BBCOR bats lists for a reason. Of the few complaints, the largest is that it isn’t cheap and doesn’t come in non-BBCOR styles. As well, it is a light swinging bat so very much not made for big-time hitters. The Meta is the ideal bat for the average to above-average High School ballplayer.
We’ve yet to speak to a high school ballplayer who didn’t love the Meta. Now, they may have liked something a bit better—like The Goods or the value buy like the Omaha. But, every player who swings the Meta loves it for its big barrel, balanced swing, and huge sweet spot. For three years running the bat has dominated best BBCOR bats lists for a reason. Of the few complaints, the largest is that it isn’t cheap and doesn’t come in non-BBCOR styles. As well, it is a light swinging bat so very much not made for big-time hitters. The Meta is the ideal bat for the average to above-average High School ballplayer.
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.
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.
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.
To make sure the 2021 Meta passed the ABI test that the 2020 Meta failed mid-season, Slugger redesigned the sleeve inside of the bat. Now, instead of a single sleeve, they split it into two smaller ones. These sleeves, we were told, are not performance governors. The 2021 Meta got the same exit velocity scores as the 2020 Meta in testing. Instead, it helps the 2021 Meta pass the ABI test (accelerated break-in test), which is where the 2020 version failed. In short, the ABI test measures if a composite bat will break before it exceeds the limit (it should break). The division of the single sleeve into two smaller ones solved the ABI test issue.
That said, the two sleeves also added more weight to the bat. But, to keep it within a similar swing weight, the 2021 Meta has a redesigned end cap. This new GT1 is the lightest end cap Slugger has ever put in a BBCOR bat.
We measured the swing weight of the ’20 and ’21 Meta in a 33″. We found the ’21 version to be 2% heavier. However, 2% is within the margin of error and manufacturer tolerance. Most cannot feel the difference between bats with a less than 5% swing weight. In other words, the difference between the 2021 and 2020 Meta swing weight is all but nothing.
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.
The 2019 Louisville Slugger Meta is the best a BBCOR bat has ever been. The barrel is massive, the sound is perfect, the feel is amazing. Every hit feels like a tank and every swing feels perfect. The only problem is the bat is nothing short of wildly expensive. This bat is THE SAME as the 2020 Meta (the blue one). However, the 33-inch version of this bat is not illegal. Hence it gets the perfect 10 from us.
We hit with the 918 Prime for an entire season. One of our BBCOR players used the 32/29 during his high school play.
We’d recommend the 2021 Meta to those who like a balanced swing and want the biggest barrel in the game. It also has a slightly stiff feel when compared to other two-piece composites (namely the Rawlings Quatro and CF). This more rigid feel, we think, is what sets it apart from other two-piece bats and gives it that extra pop at the plate.
If budget is no issue, you are an average to an above-average base-hitter type, and you’re looking for a new BBCOR bat you really can’t go wrong with the 2021 Meta. Of course, if you’re going to spend that much money, we suggest you make sure you buy from a certified vendor so that the warranty is intact for the full year.
Big hitters who like as much stiffness as possible in their BBCOR bat won't appreciate the Meta. Those who need bat speed, want huge barrel, and want a great blend of giving and power in the connection piece will like the 2021 Meta.
Price Check
The 2021 Meta also comes in a USSSA version. That's very exciting. It will use both the same composite barrel and end cap that is found in the BBCOR version of the bat. However, it will also use a new connection piece called the VCX2. That connection piece is new to the slugger lineup. It's smooth and feels great.
Price CheckThe 2021 version updates to a lighter end cap and changes the sleeving inside the bat. Instead of one sleeve, it uses two smaller ones to pass the ABI test (which got it in illegal territory for during 2020). The double sleeves instead of the one single larger sleeve are on every size (31 through 34-inch) of the 2021 Meta.
The bat uses the same EKO Composite barrel material and 3FX Connection piece found since the 2018 version.
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