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2019 DeMarini CF Insane Fastpitch Review

By Bat Digest | Last Updated June 15, 2022


2019 DeMarini Video

2019 DeMarini Video

2019 DeMarini Models


We hit with the DeMarini CF Insane over 400 times. We used 3 different hitters, and tracked the exit speeds and ball carry distance. We also measured the bat’s barrel size, figured out the swing weight, and read everything we could on the bat. That data, combined with our extensive experience with fastpitch bats comprises the following 2019 DeMarini CF Insane Fastpitch review.

Fastpitch –10
Fastpitch –9
Fastpitch –8

General Recomendations

The CF Insane, not to be confused with the 2019 CF Zen, is a two-piece composite fastpitch bat with a more endloaded swing weight. Granted, it does not swing as heavy as a bat like the Slugger PXT, but it does swing about 10% heavier than the CF Zen. The Zen is the Insane’s lightweight and more popular cousin. (See the fastpitch bat swing weights).

The added swing weight lends itself to power hitters.  The price point lends itself to very serious players. The two-piece design allows for some give at contact—it is not nearly as stiff as the Slugger XENO. As such, serious players who hit in the 3, 4 or 5 whole and play at a high level should really like the CF Insane.

Model Recommendations

WTDXCFI19

Fastpitch Drop 10 Review

CF Insane Fastpitch Drop 10 Ratings (key)
4 4 3 2 4 4 4 4 5 4
MOI Tech Drb Flx Prof ReSl PlaRa ExVe Relv Dmnd

OVERALL/10
Sizing: 31, 32, 33, 34-inch
Release Date: August 1, 2018
Serial: WTDXCFI19
Bat Type: Two Piece Composite
Barrel Size: 2 1/4
WTDXCFF19

Fastpitch Drop 9 Review

CF Insane Fastpitch Drop 9 Ratings (key)
3 4 3 2 4 4 4 4 3 4
MOI Tech Drb Flx Prof ReSl PlaRa ExVe Relv Dmnd

OVERALL/10
Sizing: 32, 33, 34-inch
Release Date: August 1, 2018
Serial: WTDXCFF19
Bat Type: Two Piece Composite
Barrel Size: 2 1/4
WTDXCF819

Fastpitch Drop 8 Review

CF Insane Fastpitch Drop 8 Ratings (key)
3 4 3 3 4 4 4 4 3 4
MOI Tech Drb Flx Prof ReSl PlaRa ExVe Relv Dmnd

OVERALL/10
Sizing: 33, 34-inch
Release Date: August 1, 2018
Serial: WTDXCF819
Bat Type: Two Piece Composite
Barrel Size: 2 1/4

Comparable Bats

In terms of swing weight, the most common and similar bat to the CF Insane is Louisville Slugger’s XENO. Both these bats have the same construction (two-piece composite) and swing weight. Barrel sizes are comparable too.

However, the Insane is more expensive than the XENO (at least MSRP). As well, the IST connective piece on the XENO is remarkably stiff and delivers more feedback on the hands. DeMarini’s CF Insane is a smoother connection that doesn’t give the same kind of feedback but feels real good on both hits and mishits.

As well, the XENO comes in a drop 8, 9, 10, and 11 while the CF Insane only comes in a drop 8, 9 and 10. If you want a drop 11 in a CF series of bat check out the 2019 DeMarini CF Zen. (And the XENO is about $50 less expensive).

The other option to consider for 2019, if you are looking closely at the 2019 CF Insane, is Mizuno’s new Carbon Power 2. This bat feels a lot like the CF Insane with a smoother connection point when compared to the Zen.

However, the lack of long-term pedigree on the Mizuno Power Carbon makes it a bit of a wild card when compared to the well-established CF Insane. All things on the Power Carbon are new this year. The CF Insane has nothing new but a paint job.

Previous Models

Aside from the name and paint job, there are no differences (as far as we could tell) between the 2018 CFX Insane and the 2019 CF Insane. This is not uncommon for major bat manufacturers to have an old bat and a new paint job. Some take a flack for it.

However, bats in a given year are made for certain inventory levels, and resupplying them with a colored-up version makes marketing and consumer sense. As well, we can’t expect bats to get better and better all the time. Turns out, too, that the CFX Insane is a fantastic bat as is the CF Insane will be. So, hard to complain too much about a good bat.

That said, if you can find the 2018 version of the bat new in wrapper with warranty we would not hesitate on it when compared to the 2019 CF Zen. In time, the 2018 CFX will be out of stock. Then, obviously, go for the CF Zen Insane. Both bats use the same Paraflex composite in the barrel, 3-fusion handle and 3-fusion end cap. They also use the same grip as well as the same handle and knob too.

Construction

The CF Insane comes in a drop 8, 9 and 10. The Zen version of the bat comes in a drop 10 too, but that bat swings 10% lighter than the drop 10.

As a general rule, every step up in size you can expect a 10% increase in swing weight. So, the drop 8 in a 32 should swing about 20% heavier than the drop 10 in a 32. If you want to change drops but keep the same swing weight then move up an inch if you go down a drop or move down an inch if you go up an inch.

Remember, swing weight is NOT scale weight. Swing weight is more dependent upon how the bat’s weight is distributed along the length of the barrel instead of how much the bat weighs in total.

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.

Download our data.