The 2021 DeMarini CF is just like the 2020 line. That is not a bad thing. All versions have that flex feel handle. The BBCOR swings light. The USSSA drop 10, 8, and 5 will still be legendary. The USA version is still struggling to impress (as all USA bats are). Also, the 2021 bat is called the CF, not the “CF Zen.” But, plenty of people search or refer to the bat as the “Zen,” so we use it here. But, to be sure, it is the 2021 CF.

DeMarini’s CF for 2021 is a light swinging high performing bat with a long barrel and flexible connection piece. Compared to the 2020 version, the 2021 DeMarini CF Fastpitch bat is all the same. In our tests with real high school fastpitch players, we found that smaller players tended towards the CF over bats like the Ghost or Xeno. Specifically, the drop 11 2021 CF is hard to beat in that swing weight class. The Drop 10 has plenty of competition, and we’d recommend only for the players who prefer lighter swinging fastpitch bats.

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).

Our 2020 DeMarini CF Fastpitch review consisted of 400 hits, from 3 different players on both live pitching and tee work. Overall, we rated the 2020 CF Fastpitch bat as the best fastpitch bat for 2020. If that isn’t saying enough, we loved the exit speeds, sizing options, swing weight and feel. We think the bat, to say the least, is highly recommendable.

DeMarini’s CF Black is a limited edition USSSA version of the 2019 DeMarini CF Zen in baseball. That is, the bat is the exact same as the 2019 red/white version (which was pretty much the same bat as the 2018 version). We are big fans of the big barrel, great feel, and top-end performance of the Black CF. It’s a great bat and we’ve yet to hear of any player who did not like it.

We hit the 2019 CF Zen Fastpitch bat in a drop 10 several hundred times with a few different types of hitters. Exit speed, ball distance and the general feedback from hitters was recorded. As well, we spent considerable time discussing the bat with major vendors and reading any early report online reviews we could find. That data is put together in this 2019 CF Zen Fastpitch Review.

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 2018 lineup includes a CF Insane. That is, a two-piece composite bat built like the CF ZEN but with a heavier swing weight. The bat is intended for BBCOR players who prefer bats with the weight in the end cap. Generally, stronger players who have topped out on swing speed and bat control prefer this over the CF Zen. After a lot of work with the bat, below is our 2018 DeMarini CF Insane review.

DeMarini’s CFX (the new CF Zen) in fastpitch is a light swinging two-piece composite with a big barrel. The bat’s connection piece is less stiff compared to other fast-pitch bats like the LXT or Xeno. The differentiation between fastpitch bats is very little, and this bat, in the right hands, can perform as well as any hitter on the planet.

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.

Few bats hold a candle to the CF9 series of DeMarini Fastpitch sticks.

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.

We’ve spent 22 hours in total using and researching DeMarini’s 2016 CF8 baseball line specifically, and countless hours swinging everything else.

The forefather of modern-day two-piece bats is the CF7. We liked the CF5, but the CF7 is another level. It is the precursor to the CFs of the 2020s and not much has changed. If you can find one of these bats on a secondary market we’d say get it.