7 Best USA Bats we hit the FARTHEST (2022/2021)

Why yes we do. Thanks for the catch. Changing now.

Full single piece wood bats do not need the USA stamp. But composite wood bats do.

https://batdigest.com/best-bats/hit-composite-bat-cold-weather/

That should help you a bit in this regard. The real issue is the temperature of the baseballs and softballs, not the bats. There is no set number, but most manufacturers suggest less than 60 degrees.

It showed up late to the game this year so never made it to our big testing day. But, we will have the 719 when it comes out here soon. thanks!

Jason,

Thanks for the question. The drop 8’s follow the drop 10s pretty well in terms of barrel performance. The only difference is they add some weight towards the end cap—so there isn’t much change in the actual barrel. But, in a drop 8, you get more durability with the same performing barrel as the drop 10s. In fact, most drop 10s and 8s have the same barrel–it’s just a function of weight distribution.

As such, we really like the CF for USSSA in a drop 8. It helps a ton with durability issues too. I know it sounds cliche to go with the DeMarini CF, but in USSSA, it really is the king of the hill. If you want to get away from the two-piece composite market, we’d say something like the USSSA CAT 9 Connect or CAT 9. You can also check out something new like the Victus Vandal.

Derek,

For that age, we really like the 27/15 or 27/16. We also are big, big fans of the drop 11 ADV. However, at that age, it’s very difficult for players to generate the kind of bat speed that really engages the barrel. They also rarely see the kind of pitch speed that can benefit from a top-notch barrel. In other words, at 7/8 we think finding the right bat weight in a less expensive bat like the Marucci F5 or Easton Speed series might be a better fit for now. Save those dollars towards hitting lessons, a sweet bat bag, or a nicer leather glove he can start working in for that 9/10U season when bats really start to matter more.

Hope that helps!

James,

The good news here is that most 7-year-old players and pitchers can’t generate the type of collision speeds that make it, so the bat’s barrel matters. They are subject to the same speed tests that see 65+ pitches and 65+ swings. As a result, the small guys seeing 30mph at the plate and swinging 30mph don’t really engage the barrel.

That’s good news because it means the model/brand you buy doesn’t really matter in scientific performance. There may be some psychological advantages kids have from believing they have the best bat.

That said, We’ve always liked the F5 in a drop 11.5 from Marucci. At under $100, it’s as legit a bat you’ll find for that age. The other high-end option is the Easton Ghost X Hyperlite, but we’d struggle to pay that much for a 7-year-olds bat who will use for max, 30, or 40 games and then be done with it. Those things are cheap on the secondary market for a reason.

Thanks.

Randy,

We agree with the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it mentality. So much so that we even suggest he stick with the 27/17. On our bat size chart, most 7 and 8-year-olds are plenty happy with a bat that weighs 17 ounces.

At some point, pitch speeds increase enough that a single piece bat will not be what he wants (or needs). That usually happens around the 9/10-year-old mark depending on his competition. Until then, we say save your money (because you’re going to need it to buy that two-piece composite when he’s 10) and have fun with the Omaha in a 27/17 while you still can.

Hey Brandon, Yeah. For sure. Bats don’t change much year over year so it’s usually pretty smart to find some deals on older models or check the used market.

Hey Pete,

Thanks for the question. Unless we are misunderstanding something, the CAT 9 Connect doesn’t come in a USA version. Marucci’s USA Bat is called the CAT Composite and that is a single-piece bat.

We think most younger kids in USA baseball prefer the feel of two-piece bats. It’s nicer on the hands-on mishits and gives a better perception of performance. There isn’t anything in terms of ball flight that is different between the two. That said, we’ve seen a lot of kids with single-piece bats at 9U do just fine.

Our suggestion would be a hybrid bat like Easton’s Beast Speed Hybrid, Slugger’s 719 or 2020 Select, or DeMarini’s Voodoo Balanced. If we had to choose between those three we’d likely choose the 719 Select in a drop 10 due to its discounted price at the moment. The 719 Select will give you the aluminum barrel you want for cold weather and that two-piece feel. So, the best of both worlds.

Hope that helps and good luck.

Pete,

Wow. Thanks for this. We generally feel like we’re in the know on these things. But, all be danged. There it is. We’ll get one of these in house and check it out. Thanks for the heads up.

Terry,

Lots of decent bats in the USA. Our favorite is the drop 11 ADV 360. Our exit speed tests showed to have top-end performance. Although it says it is a drop 11, it swings like a balanced drop 10. In fact, depending on the size, it likely swings with the same swing weight as a drop 10 Victus Vandal. Knowing nothing more than you’ve said above, we’d go for a 32/21 ADV 360 from Easton in USA.

We’ve found that youth level players really prefer the feel of a two-piece bat. The Victus Vandal isn’t bad. But, in terms of the best feel and performance, we’ll think he’ll get that in the ADV drop 11. If that bat is not big enough, then you can get away with a drop 8. However, the Vandal doesn’t come in a drop 8 USA. If that is the case, we suggest the Easton Beast Pro in a drop 8. Something like the 31/23 or 30/22 should be a pretty good fit and swing.

I hope that helps get you started, and thanks for reaching out.

Hey Roemer,

Always good to hear our internet connection is working across the pond. Thanks for reaching out.

I’m assuming you’re talking about USA certification bats since those sizes match up there. If you are playing a USSSA league (though most international youth baseball leagues, I think, use USA certified bats), then disregard.

The jump from a 30/20 to a 31/23 is significant. That’s not to say your boy can’t make it. But, if the bat is just marginally short and light, he might find the jump to the drop 8 32 a bit much. Our hunch is you’d likely do better with the drop 8 in a 30-inch.

Better yet, the average 12-year-old swings a 31/21. So, if he’s relatively good for his age, then go for a 32/22. If he’s good, then go for a 31/21.

In terms of the right model bat, we are big fans of the ADV 360 drop 11. It is made from a different material than the drop 10, so it does perform differently (and we think better). So, a 32/21 ADV drop 11 would be our best bet for him. If those price points don’t sound reasonable, then a 31/21 in a Louisville Slugger 719 Select would be the ticket.

I hope that helps, and thanks for reaching out!

Sounds good! Let us know how it goes.

Of the ones you listed, we would go with the Louisville Slugger Sol 29/18 (you wrote 29/28, but I assume you meant the drop 11). Those are good bats. None are particularly better than the other (including the Easton Ghost Hyperlite). I hope that helps!

Tyler,

Great question and this is where bat fitting turns into more of an art than a science. To start, because the bat industry is messed up, the drop 11 ADV swings just as heavy as the drop 10 ADV. It makes no sense, we know. But it does. It’s just how it goes. So, I don’t think it should be taken off the table completely.

That said, 11 years old is where we really like to see the transition to heavier bats start. The increase in weight, as long as you can keep the bat length at least a 30″, makes good sense. In terms of the perfect bat for your boy, I’m not sure we have the exact answer. But you’re on to something with the drop 8 ADV in a 30/22 or 31/23. Of course, the other way to increase bat weight is to increase its length. We don’t have the numbers exactly, but we’d guess the 32/21 ADV Drop 11 swings as heavy as the drop 8 30/22. Although the drop 8 has the extra ounce, the drop 11 has the extra inch which pushes the balance point down the barrel and increases swing weight.

In the end, we are cheap folks, so we’d go with what was the least expensive. However, if money is no object, then the drop 11 ADV in a 32/21 will be a great pick.

As per the 31 or 30-inch drop 8, it’s impossible for us to tell. We had some 11-year-olds in our building a few days ago hitting USA and USSSA bats. They chose the 30/22 over the 31/23 and they are pretty advanced hitters for the age. So, that makes me think you should go with the 30/22. But, again, at some point this becomes an art.

Hey, Good question. We’d probably go with the 719 Select for USA. It probably ‘feels’ the most like the CF although, as you might guess, it is nothing like the CF. And if you can find the 719 for a deal then go that route because, as you mention, they are the same for 2020. Good luck and hope that helps!

Hey Ray,

It’s the same bat. Not sure what those marketing blurbs are trying to get at. We’ve had both bats side by side and there is no change in them. Same bat, different paint job.

Hey Ron,

We do like the Marucci CAT Connect drop 11 but don’t like it as much as the ADV drop 11. The smaller barrel profile and different feel isn’t something our hitters gravitated towards.

Daniel,

Thanks for this feedback. I hate to use you as a guinea pig, but we’ve had enough feedback on the 2021 ADV durability issues that we took it off as our #1. I know that doesn’t solve your problem, but we don’t want to give a bat, but a bat that won’t last a month doesn’t get the #1 spot. Going forward, we recommend that people see if they can get a voucher from Easton instead of a bat replacement. We have reached out to Easton with any commentary they have here. But, since they have been bought from Rawlings in the meantime, I’m looking forward to seeing how responsive they are.

Weirdly, we don’t think the 2020 version did this as much. It had its complaints, sure. But, despite the bat’s claim as the same, we are struggling a bit to understand what is going on here.

In any event, good luck with the replacement on the 2nd bat. Two replacements in 4 to 5 weeks seem like something you can raise some can about get made whole from. Let us know how it goes. Feel free to contact us directly at admin@batdigest.com

Thanks

Hey, Good question. We aren’t sure you’ll find anything you like because, as you accurately state, USA bats most often suck. Our first thought was the Select—but if you’ve already tried that then our last ditch advice would be the Easton Beast Pro. That has a drop 8 and we like it. The fact he likes the Bonesaber makes me think he’ll really like the Beast Pro too. The price point isn’t bad so maybe worth a shot. Thanks for reading.