The Best Drop 8 Bats

To determine the best drop 8 bats, we look at high-speed sources, exit data sheets, swing weights, and player feedback. We also read many online reviews from confirmed purchasers and peruse the forums. Last but not nearly least, we hit with the bats. Armed with that, we think the current best drop 8 bats in USSSA is the 2023 Marucci CAT X, in USA we like the ADDV 360 (in either 2022 or 2023) and in Fastpitch we like the Ghost Unlimited. There are, of course, a lot of other bats out there that work well and we'd suggest you check out our AI Trained Bat Picker Model as well as our full list of best bats to get a feel.

The Best Drop 8 Bats

What is the Right Bat Size

Drop 8 baseball bats are made, roughly speaking, for the 11/12 year old looking for something with a little more weight than drop 10 but not quite sure about a drop 5 yet. Our bat survey data shows that most 12 year olds who choose a drop 8 are perfectly happy with---as satisfied as anyone who chose a drop 10. Our recommendation is that more 12 year olds swing a drop 8 as their transition to BBCOR and drop 5 ball is imminent. They will find, we submit, the drop 8 to feel great and give them more distance then they'd expect in a drop 10. Fastpitch drop 8 bats are made for the power hitter. Drop 8, actually, is the lowest drop of any fastpitch bat and only a few companies make performance bats with that kind of drop. The bats are made for big hitting collegiate and highschool players that can handle as much weight as the game allows. You'll find, as well, that most drop 8 fastpitch bats only come in a 33 and 34-inch length because, again, only strong hitters use them.

What is a Drop 8 Bat?

Drop 8 bats have a length-to-weight difference of 8—meaning the difference between the length of the bat in inches and the weight of the bat in ounces is 8. So, for example, a 30-inch bat in a drop 8 would weigh 22 ounces.

Who Should Swing a Drop 8 Bat?

In baseball, as a general observation, a drop 8 bat is best suited for the player not quite ready for a drop 5, but who wants to increase his bat’s weight to get ready for BBCOR. In Fastpitch, a drop 8 bat is for big-hitting, strong high school players and many collegiate players. It is the heaviest drop you will find in the fastpitch industry.

Drop 8 bats are almost always performance bats. In baseball, the window for a drop 8 is so small, it rarely makes sense for big-time bat companies to produce en masse via box stores. In Fastpitch, few players with little experience are good enough to swing a drop 8. As such, virtually no manufacturers make a ‘cheap’ drop 8 fastpitch bat.