2017 DeMarini CF9 Insane Review

By Bat Digest | Last Updated June 15, 2022

Price Check

2017 CF9 Insane Video

2017 CF9 Insane Video

2017 CF9 Insane Models

Our 2017 DeMarini CF9 Insane Review comes from information gathered from time spent with the CF9 Insane fastpitch softball bat, as well as the 2016 version of the same bat (the CF8). Adding that background to the extensive writing and testing we’ve done on other bats in the CF line, we have come to some conclusions.

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General Recomendations

We would buy the CF9 Insane if we:

Needed an endloaded bat
Liked the buttery smash of a two-piece
Were in the market for a performance bat
Were an elite high school or collegiate player
Hit in the 4th hole (or maybe the 3rd)
Known for our strong, powerful swing

Model Recommendations

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Comparable Bats

Inside the DeMarini line, the CF8 Insane is a near match to the 2017 CF9. If we were shopping for the bat, we’d price check the CF8 for sure.

End loaded two piece composite bats in the faspitch bats aren’t particularly plentiful. However, the Drop 9 XENO Plus from Slugger is likely the most obvious competitor to the CF9. It is a big hitting bat built for the big elite hitter. (Check out our review on the Louisville Slugger XENO Plus).

Construction

Like previous years, the CF9 Insane is an endloaded, two piece composite fastpitch bat. The D-Fusion 2.0 handle has a stiff transition, built for the stronger player with top end bat speed. In the CF fastpitch lineup, the bat is the heaviest loaded bat. It is a drop 9. (The drop, you will recall, is the numerical difference between the length of the bat in inches and the weight of the bat in ounces).

DeMarini claims the new composite (they call it paraflex) is “22% stronger” than in previous years. We would have no way to confirm this claim, but also no reason to doubt it. Considering the balance point on this CF9 Insane didn’t change from the CF8 Insane, we don’t see much value in an upgraded composite. From our research, we did not see any complaints on durability so, again, not sure if the 22% improvement in durability in the composite will be noticeable in the 2017 version.

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.