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By Bat Digest | Last Updated November 17, 2022
The Axe Elite One is a single-piece aluminum bat with a stiff feel and ax shaped handle. The bat comes in a BBCOR, USSSA, and USA. The BBCOR version has a significant end load while the USSSA and USA Bats are within the middle 25% of industry average swing weights for their particular length.
Our hitters like the stiff feel and end load in BBCOR. Of course, those features aren’t a preference for everyone. But, for those that like a hot-out-of-the-wrapper bat with virtually no flex and an alloy barrel, then the 2021 Axe Elite One BBCOR is a reasonable choice. In USSSA and USA, the lower drops (8/10) were preferred over the lighter swinging bats. For most younger hitters, feel matters a lot. So, stiff feels from lighter swinging aluminum don’t feel the best on mishits.
We recommend the Axe Elite One to power hitters who want a stiff feel and all the barrels they can handle. The profile is decent and the Axe Handle is preferred by many. In terms of performance, if you prefer the Axe Handle, our experience is the bat does as well as any bat on the market.
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While no other bats have the Axe handle (they can’t because it’s patented at least for a couple more years), there are several single piece aluminum bats with end loads and stiff feels. As well, the Warstic Bonesaber, although not as endloaded a the Axe Elite One, is a single-piece bat with a unique shaped knob. It is the most similar bat. Other than that, bats like the Omaha in a 33 and 34-inch is similar in swing weight. Smaller sizes of the Omaha swing light—not like the Axe Elite One.
There are no considerable changes between the 2020 and 2021 versions of the Axe Elite One. From 2019 to 2020 the addition of the hyperwhip end cap was a big change. The hyperwhip end cap is a slanted end cap that is only possible on a bat like Axe which forces once sided hitting due to the handle.
The 2021 Axe Elite One (as well as the 2020 version) is a single-piece alloy bat with a stiff feel and ax-shaped handle. The 2020 and 2021 versions use a slanted end cap made possible only by the Axe’s unique knob. The knob is the most prominent feature on the bat and uses some tech to help dampen sting too. On the whole, the bat is an impressive engineering feet.
The overall rating uses seven different weighted metrics to determine our overall score. Half of total rating comes from the player and our exit speed tests (Player Rating: 25%, Performance: 25%).The other categories are Relevance (20%), Demand (10%), Durability (10%), Resell Score (5%), and Tech Specs (5%).
*: When a bat is denoted by a star (*) it is a preliminary rating. Expect it to be updated as we learn more about the bat and gather more data.
(PlaRa) Player Rating: We measure player rating from user reviews. Those users include our own hitters that we test at the lab as well as reviews we find online.
(ExVe) Performance: Performance measures the exit speeds and distances we capture in our hitting lab with HitTrax using these bats.
(Relv) Relevance: We measure the number of sizes and the MOI of the bat. Bats with a wider range of options get a better score.
(Dmnd) Demand: Demand is measured by consumer sentiment and the buzz around the bat.
(Drb) Durability: A bat’s durability is measured by user reviews as well as feedback from manufacturers.
(ReSl) Resell Score: Based on the price the bats go for used. Higher prices mean greater user demand which means, generally, a better bat. A resell value closer to its original price means a higher score.
(Tech) Tech Specs: We rate the bat on its technological advancements from previous years and compared to the industry at large. This is our chance to reward companies who are trying to innovate.
MOI
MOI or Mass Moment of Inertia is a measurement of bat swing weight. This quantifies how difficult it is to swing a bat. The industry often refers to this as things like End Load or Balanced but those words have been overused to the point of meaninglessness. We measure the actual swing weights of each bat we test using the industry-standard pendulum period, balance point, and scale weight. You can read more about that here.
Price
The price is the original MSRP price of the bat.
Type
The types of bats are single-piece alloy (SPA), two-piece composite (TPC), single-piece composite (SPC), hybrid (Hyb.), and wood (Wood). Hybrid bats are made of composite handles and alloy barrles.
Date
The estimated date the bat began distribution.