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By Bat Digest | Last Updated August 3, 2022
DeMarini’s CF for 2022 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.
Smaller hitters preferred the 2021 DeMarini drop 11 CF as much as or better than any other drop 11 on the 2021 Fastpitch Market. Drop 10 hitters, especially the smaller ones, gave the CF high marks and liked bats like the LXT and PRISM. Bigger hitters thought the CF connection piece was too flexible and didn’t feel like their exit speeds were good (although they were).
The 2021 DeMarini CF Fastpitch bat is for hitters who want a bat that helps with bat speed. It is a light swinging bat. It’s why the drop 11 makes more sense, as we see it, than the drop 10—especially for those on the fence as to what to get. Bigger hitters will probably prefer the stiffer connection and less loaded weight class of bats like the Easton Ghost, Slugger Xeno, or DeMarini FNX. Since the bat has not changed at all from the 2020 version, and virtually not at all since the 2019, we recommend saving a few bucks if you can find an older one on a good deal.
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| 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
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The most popular balanced drop 10 fastpitch bat is Louisville Slugger’s LXT. As far as we see it, that is the bat the CF is trying to compete with. Both are long-barrelled two-piece composite bats with a balanced swing and relatively flexible connection. Other than the LXT, bats like the Rawlings Quatro and DeMarini PRISM compete well with the CF in their swing weight, barrel profile, and prices.
The 2021 DeMarini CF Zen Fastpitch bat is the same as the 2020 DeMarini CF Fastpitch Bat. Both are two-piece composites with the same barrel, end cap, knob, and profile. There are no changes but the paint job. Compared to the 2019 CF, the 2021 has an upgraded endcap.
The 2021 DeMarini CF Fastpitch bat is a two-piece composite bat. Both the drop 10 and 11 use what DeMarini calls a Paraflex Plus Composite Barrel, 3Fusion Connection, and ReAction end cap. (Apparently, the real trick here is finding when to use upper and lower cases. We kid.) Relative to the industry, the bat’s makeup is very common. Long sweet spots on light swinging two-piece composite fastpitch bats are commonplace. The most differentiating feature of the CF Fastpitch bat is the flexible connection. We found it to be looser than the LXT and about the same as the PRISM.
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.
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