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By Bat Digest | Last Updated June 15, 2022
Our research on the Axe bat design spans well over 2 years now and includes hours and hours of hitting experience. Add to that our obsession with learning everything about the 2017 Axe Danielle Lawrie Fastpitch Bat, and we have enough data for a review. On the whole, the Axe Lawrie is built as a value purchase in the light swinging fastpitch space.
Our research on the Axe bat design spans well over 2 years now and includes hours and hours of hitting experience. Add to that our obsession with learning everything about the 2017 Axe Danielle Lawrie Fastpitch Bat and we have enough data for a review. On the whole, the Axe Lawrie is built as a value purchase in the light swinging fastpitch space. It should serve well for the newer player looking for enhanced mechanics and a smart buy. Our younger hitters enjoy the predictive impact barrel, as well as the ergonomic handle for a smoother feeling swing.
Players looking for a light swinging value purchase in the fastpitch space should seriously consider the Lawrie fastpitch bat. The 2016 and 2017 should be interchangeable—unless a serious preference for design needs to be taken into consideration. Prices between the two during the time of this writing are rather similar.
In terms of a drop 12 value purchase, we know of no other bat as good as the Lawrie fastpitch from Axe. Its ergonomic handle built to improve mechanics are perfect for the younger player looking to get the best hacks in. The bat’s light drop 12 swing and entry-level price point fit the newer player well. If those characteristics describe you, then you may have found your bat.
In terms of a light swinging drop 12 in the fastpitch space, there are several options. Throw in the single-piece aluminum feature, and there are quite a bit fewer. Add the asymmetric handle and barrel designed for predictive impact, and the bats similar to the Axe Lawrie fastpitch bat are nil. The only real comparison to the 2017 Axe Lawrie fastpitch is the 2016 version.
The Axe Lawrie Fastpitch bat is a single piece and single-walled aluminum alloy bat. Of course, it comes in the traditional 2 1/4 fastpitch barrel size. What is most unique is the asymmetric handle, which allows for a smoother swing. It also forces a predictive impact on the same side of the barrel always to contact the ball. Knowing this, Axe engineers design that side of the barrel specifically for impact. They often refer to this as one-sided hitting.
In these regards, the 2017 Lawrie is no different than the 2016 version. With the color change’s obvious exception to match the baseball bat design for 2017, the 2017 Axe Lawrie is a reprint of 2016’s model. This is a common approach in the value, drop 12, fastpitch space.
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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