2014 Easton FS1 Fastpitch Review | Blast from the Past

By Bat Digest | Last Updated June 15, 2022

If you can find a 2014 Easton FS1 still in good shape we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for any hitter who satisfies at least one of the following:

Prefers a balanced to light swing weight
Would prefer as much barrel as possible per swing weight
Likes the absorption of vibration within the bat instead of their hands
Is willing to afford it
Is okay with the idea of an older bat
Can’t find a 2013 FS1 (as it’s nearly identical)

Price Check

2014 FS1 Video

2014 FS1 Video

2014 FS1 Models

The market has had several years to flesh out the effectiveness of the 2014 FS1 fastpitch bat from Easton. We, as well, have extensive experience with the FS1 and have discussed feedback on this bat with players at several levels of the sport. We used these data points, and the litany of online reviews on the FS1, to compile this robust 2014 Easton FS1 Fastpitch Review.

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General Recomendations

All in all, the 2014 Easton FS1 stands as one of the marquee bats in all of fastpitch bat history. It was produced at the pinnacle of Easton’s Power Brigade line-up which ruled the market in baseball and softball. Some, in fact, consider the 2014 FS1 to be the best fastpitch bat ever. It, along with the 2013 FS1, might be the standard with which all fastpitch bats are compared. The FS1’s light swing and big barrel attracted several players across all levels of the sport. It reports fantastic performance across the entire barrel, even by today’s standards. The two piece connection, produced to absorb vibration in the hands, is still used by Easton three years later.

Model Recommendations

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Comparable Bats

Since the production of the 2014 FS1 there are at least three dozen similarly produced fastpitch bats. (We cover these in our best fastpitch bat review.) Obvious ones are the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Easton MAKO. The 2015 FS1 is also very similar. Most of all, the 2013 Easton FS1 is a near twin of the bat.

Outside the Easton lineup, DeMarini’s CF series in the drop 10 are also light swinging two piece composite bats with an oversized barrel. Louisville Slugger’s LXT line is also worth a look.

Construction

Before the THT composite took over Easton’s flagship line via the MAKO, they used a composite structure referred to as IMX. IMX is the marketing vernacular Easton assigned to the composite material they used to produce both the barrel and handle of the FS1. IMX was also used in Easton’s baseball line.

The FS1 from 2014, like ones previous, is a two piece IMX composite bat with a balance point toward the knob. As such, it was a bat with a low MOI (swing weight) that didn’t transfer mishit vibrations from the barrel to the hands. Off hits feel bearable and hits on the considerable sized sweet spot feel like butter.

Marketing Writeup

The FS1 in 2014 comes in a drop 10 only. (The Drop is a the numerical difference between the length of the bat in inches and the weight of the bat in ounces. A 31 inch drop 10, for example, weighs 21 ounces.)

If you recall, the FS1 was complimented in Easton’s lineup with a heavier swinging sister: the Easton FX1. The FX1 was the end loaded version of the FS1. The FX1 in 2014 is a drop 9. Hence, those looking for a more end loaded bat, should look for the 2014 Easton FX1. Same construction, just an end load.

Overall Ratings

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.