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August 27, 2020 | by Brian Duryea | @BatDigest
We used HitTrax to compare the 2020 DeMarini CF vs 2020 Easton ADV 360
We took the DeMarini CF in a 33/30 in a head to head competition to Easton’s ADV 360 also in a 33/30. We found the ADV 360 far outperform (at least in terms of bat performances) the CF for this particular hitter. Most BBCOR comparisons are very similar. Surprisingly, this one was substantially different.
Does that mean the CF is always inferior to the ADV 360? We are still hesitant to make sweeping and universal claims on bat performance when one-hitter does better with a specific bat over another. For this particular hitter, we think its reasonable to assume the ADV 360 is a better bat than the CF in a 33/30.
After 30 hits on each bat, rotating every 5 to 10 hits so fatigue wasn’t as much of a factor, the ADV 360 beat the CFs average exit velocity by 3.4 mph. That spread, on a correctly hit ball, might be upwards of twenty feet of difference. Twenty feet, in our view, is a considerable amount.
The player in this profile is 16 years old, 5-foot 10-inches, and weighs 145 pounds. They play a lot of baseballs and will likely do as well with a 32/29 as they could have with these 33/30. But, they wanted to try the 33/30’s a,nd this is what we had there.
NOTE: We’ve measured thousands of bats over the years. We’ve found, in large measure, bat results are very hitter dependent. Most comparisons we do are very, very close. The 1 or 2 mile per hour difference is hard to attribute only to the barrels performance. We think the hitter determines upwards of 70% of the exit speeds. The other 30% is the bat.
We also took note of the maximum velocity within those 30 hits per bat. (HitTrax measurements). Again, the ADV 360 outperformed the CF by 2.9 miles per hour. Some argue the best determiner for bat performance is maximum exit velocity, instead of average exit velocity. For us, both arguments feel correct? Either one seems logical, and, in this case, the answer is still the ADV 360.
Is batting average a useful way to measure bat performance? Or, is batting average much. More hitter and luck dependent when determining bat performance—especially when compared to a metric like exit speeds or maximum exit speeds?
We are not as convinced that batting average is that useful when determining the best bat. Still, HitTrax does track the expected batting average based on your spray chart. For this particular hitter on this day with these bats, the CF had a .677 average while the ADV 360 had a .545.
Player ratings consist of a subjective measurement where the player answers the question, “What would you rate this bat on a scale to 100?” Not much more is asked than that. Generally, the answers of 78/100 (CF) and 90/100 (90) are the general sense as to how the bat felt and the perception as to how well it performed.
In particular, the lower rating for the BBCOR CF was due to the softer connection piece—which allows more give and movement in the handle. As such, the hitting experience, for at least some BBCOR players, isn’t as good.
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