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Updated August 4, 2022
By Bat Digest
After over 100 hours of testing and writing about drop 10 baseball and softball bats we have whittled down our lists to the best. Our favorite USSSA drop 10 bat, although there are several options, are the 2021 CAT 9 Composite. In USA we like Easton’s 2022 ADV 360 and for fastpitch we like Easton’s Ghost. All great bats and you have many options. If you are in the drop 10 space this should get you started.
Certification: USSSA
Sizes: 28, 29, 30, 31
Barrel Size: 2 3/4
Drop: 10
Swing Weight: Light
Serial Number: MSBCCP910
Original Price: $350
Release Month: October 2020
We are huge fans of the Marucci CAT Connect in a drop 10 for USSSA. The bat has a huge barrel, great feel and everyone who swings it really likes it. Of course we also like bats like the META and CF in the drop 10 space, but if we were forced to choose one drop 10 at this very moment, the CAT 9 Composite just feels right.
Certification: USSSA
Sizes: 28, 29, 30, 31, 32
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
Drop: 10
Swing Weight: Light+
Serial Number: MSBCCPX10
Original Price: $400
Release Month: August 2022
The best USSSA bat for 2023 is tight race, but if the average to good hitter wants a big barrel, light swing, fantastic feel and top-end performance on a great-looking bat, then the best USSSA bat for 2023 is the CAT X Composite for Marucci. Are there other options? Of course. But if you force us to choose, this is the best.
Certification: Fastpitch
Sizes: 30, 31, 32
Barrel Size: 2 1/4
Drop: 10
Swing Weight: Mid
Serial Number: FP22GHAD10
Original Price: $500
Release Month: March 2022
Most major fastpitch bats are excellent; their best version is a drop 10. Consider bats like the LXT from Slugger, Prism from Demarini, and Quatro from Rawlings. Each is a fantastic drop 10 bats. But no bat gets quite the buzz as the Easton Ghost. It does swing a bit heavier than those others on this list, but it’s a great bat that can hit the snot out of the ball. If we were forced to choose, the Easton Ghost is our favorite drop 10 fastpitch bat.
Certification: USA
Sizes: 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
Drop: 10
Swing Weight: Mid+
Serial Number: YBB22MX10
Original Price: $280
Release Month: October 2021
$280
Original Price
We think the best drop 10 USA Bat is Easton’s Maxum Ultra. Granted, it’s a single-piece bat so you can expect more feedback in the hands-on mishits, but the full composite design does have some forgiveness over a single-piece bat like a SOLO or Vandal (that we also like in the drop 10 space). We shy away from the Easton ADV 360 not because we don’t like it but because we both want to change it up a bit and are slightly concerned about the durability issues in the ADV 360. In any case, our favorite drop 10 baseball bat currently is the Easton Maxum Ultra.
Why We Love the 2021 CAT 9 Composite
We are huge fans of the Marucci CAT Connect in a drop 10 for USSSA. The bat has a huge barrel, great feel and everyone who swings it really likes it. Of course we also like bats like the META and CF in the drop 10 space, but if we were forced to choose one drop 10 at this very moment, the CAT 9 Composite just feels right.
Certification: USSSA
Barrel Size: 2 3/4
Sizes: 28, 29, 30, 31
Drop: 10
Serial Number: MSBCCP910
Release Month: October 2020
Why We Love the 2023 CAT X Composite
The best USSSA bat for 2023 is tight race, but if the average to good hitter wants a big barrel, light swing, fantastic feel and top-end performance on a great-looking bat, then the best USSSA bat for 2023 is the CAT X Composite for Marucci. Are there other options? Of course. But if you force us to choose, this is the best.
Certification: USSSA
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
Sizes: 28, 29, 30, 31, 32
Drop: 10
Serial Number: MSBCCPX10
Release Month: August 2022
Why We Love the 2022 Ghost Advanced
Most major fastpitch bats are excellent; their best version is a drop 10. Consider bats like the LXT from Slugger, Prism from Demarini, and Quatro from Rawlings. Each is a fantastic drop 10 bats. But no bat gets quite the buzz as the Easton Ghost. It does swing a bit heavier than those others on this list, but it’s a great bat that can hit the snot out of the ball. If we were forced to choose, the Easton Ghost is our favorite drop 10 fastpitch bat.
Certification: Fastpitch
Barrel Size: 2 1/4
Sizes: 30, 31, 32
Drop: 10
Serial Number: FP22GHAD10
Release Month: March 2022
Why We Love the 2022 Maxum Ultra
We think the best drop 10 USA Bat is Easton’s Maxum Ultra. Granted, it’s a single-piece bat so you can expect more feedback in the hands-on mishits, but the full composite design does have some forgiveness over a single-piece bat like a SOLO or Vandal (that we also like in the drop 10 space). We shy away from the Easton ADV 360 not because we don’t like it but because we both want to change it up a bit and are slightly concerned about the durability issues in the ADV 360. In any case, our favorite drop 10 baseball bat currently is the Easton Maxum Ultra.
Certification: USA
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
Sizes: 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
Drop: 10
Serial Number: YBB22MX10
Release Month: October 2021
A drop 10 bat means a bat whose length (in inches) is 10 units higher than the bat’s stated weight (in ounces). So a 31-inch drop 10 bat has a scale weight (roughly) of 21 ounces.
Bats are categorized by their “drop” to help players find similar bats across brands. However, we note that scale, stated, and swing weights differ.
Every bat that made this best drop 10 bat is relatively expensive in the bat space. We are asked all the time if it is worth the money.
Is it?
The answer, of course, depends. In terms of performance, feel, and general swagger, the bats, are improvements over less expensive options you generally find in a big box store.
But, asking if the extra cost is worth it depends on your budget. No one can make that determination but you. And we won’t pretend as if we can decide that. We do know that the bats are better, and reasonably so. But is it worth the extra cost in your situation? Good question.
Take a look at our bat size chart to find what size/age player should be swinging what size bat.
In terms of expectation, remember that young baseball players will be in BBCOR leagues soon enough. Most, around the age of 13 or 14 need to swing a drop 3. If you are still swinging a drop 10 at age 12 then expect even more difficulty in the transition.
Drop 10 bats in the baseball space are tailored to that 9, 10 or 11 year old.
In fastpitch, a player could swing a drop 10 all the way through college. Most players truly swinging a drop 10 are 12+. It is not uncommon to switch to a drop 9 or 8 as you get into highschool, but many stick with the drop 10, forever.
The right bat size is the single most important thing in choosing the right bat. Hitters from 8 to 12 can swing a drop 10 bat in baseball, in fastpitch the age range is bigger as a few freshman are swinging drop 10s too (as well as some junior and seniors although they likely should not be).
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