Softball and
baseball’s favorite newspaper since 1987
2011 Let’s Play Softball
Bat Reviews/Contest
By
Don Bowman
USSSA/1.20
Here they are, the hottest of the
hot, the finalists of the 2011 Let’s Play Softball 1.20 (USSSA) bat
reviews/contest! Never has there been a better array of quality selections for
1.20 models. Here we go, and, congratulations to all finalists!
The first bat tested was Miken DC-41 Supermax, a treat to
use! Its extra end weight provided some of the best extra distance the
committee has seen in years! Named after the legendary Long Haul Bomber Home
Run Champion Denny Crine, the committee was impressed
by the extreme x-tack grip, R900 Carbon Fiber and advanced inner flex
technology. You can pick up balls on the Doppler Radar
with this one! This bat features a 14½ inch barrel with a 2¼ inch diameter.
Carry this one if you want to win! The DC-41 got a 9.7 rating!
Worth had two sensational USSSA
(1.20) models tested. Both were OUTSTANDING! First the 454 Titan with a sharp
multi-layer design, the great Pro-Pebble grip, and a one year warranty. It
really was fun to test! Balls were flying everywhere,
you needed a safety helmet to test! Worth’s new 454 Technology extended the sweetspot two inches; it will be hard to lose it you have
this one in your bag! The Titan got a 9.7 rating!
The other Worth
contender for 2011 bat of the year was the Worth 454 Mutant. Wow, look out
defense! Endorsed by World Champion Softball start Don DeDonatis
and utilizing Worth’s new 454 Technology, this bat has superb pop and distance,
it too is a can’t miss weapon of mass destruction! Also possessing a two-inch sweetspot extension along with the Tuned Composite Handle
and one year warranty, it is awesome! The Mutant got a hot 9.6 rating!
The new COMbat
Rick Spike Baker fully loaded beauty was LAUDED by the testing committee! With
a generous 2¼ inch diameter barrel and Anisotropic Composite Weave, this
one-piece composite was a MONSTER on the field! Used by Rick Baker, considered
to be one of the greatest hitters in the game today, this warranted 1.20 ounce
model is SENSATIONAL, hot right out of the wrapper!
COMbat’s
trampoline effect in its bats is very apparent in this model, as balls were
flying long and hard! The Rick Spike Baker from COMbat
got a 9.7 rating!
Look out boys and girls,
Louisville Slugger/TPS has produced another POTENT USSSA bat this year. The
Z-1000 is crazy! Available in both balanced and end load, there is a perfect
model for you, at a great price! The new LS-2X composite,
The Mizuno Craze once again has shown
why it is a worldwide leader is softball equipment production! The Craze, with
its revolutionary Black Array Carbon and pre-rolled technology, is ready to
perform on first swing! With a great sweet spot and unbelievably priced, you
can get it in 26-29 ounce models! Get one before they vanish, the USSSA Craze
is a dandy and got a 9.5 mark from the testing panel!
The Easton Synergy Tri Zone, back
better than ever, was a BIG
Congratulations to all of the
finalists, the best of the best for 2011! This year’s Let’s Play Softball
1.20 Champions, a three-way tie at 9.7, the DC-41 by Miken,
the Rick Baker by COMbat and the Worth 454 Titan!
Thank you to
ASA/98
When judging ASA slow pitch bats (98
mph), it is generally perceived that the 98’s are less productive than the 1.20
(USSSA) models. To some degree, it’s only slightly
true, but for 2011, NEVER have ASA/98 slow
pitch bats been SO
The COMbat
Scott Brown 98 model is loaded for battle! With a SUPER sweetspot,
Multi Wall construction and Blended Fiber Technology, this bat is good as it
gets for ASA play! Available both in balanced and fully loaded weights, this
bat was the choice of Team
The Easton Synergy-Brett Helmer/Speed bat is a dandy! Named after the four-time
national batting champion, this baby has
The Louisville Slugger/TPS Z-1000
came out of nowhere to shock the testing committee with a superior performance
in this year’s bat reviews! TPS is back on the map again with a bat that
displayed both outstanding power and pop, with a great sweetspot
right out of the wrapper! Both end loaded and balance models are available. The
new LS-2X Composite Technology is special! Priced well, get ‘em before they’re gone! The Z-1000 also received the
highest mark in ASA bat reviews at 9.7!
The Miken
Freak, long time the top of the line ASA/98 bat out on the market, is back and
better than ever! The 2011 Freak FX700, is “fully released,” hot out of the
wrapper and ready for your team to step up to the podium for first place
hardware! With its new HBF Technology, Multi Layer Walls, and great barrel
flex, this bat sends em sailing over the fence! A
generous 2¼ inch barrel, great durability and made in the
The folks at MIken
are so talented they produced a second ASA bat option to we the consumer, the
POTENT Fusion XLS, a great one! With a whopping 14½ inch barrel, 2¼ inch
diameter, it has Miken’s STRONGEST Alloy available!
Very potent out of the wrapper and great energy transfer, this bat is perfect
for all levels of competition, ASA/USSSA whomever, bring them on! Reasonably
priced, how could you go wrong, it’s made by Miken!
The Fusion received a very nice 9.5 rating!
The Mizuno Craze is a great bat, hot
of the wrapper, and SO VERY reasonably priced, you might want to buy two! The
Craze’s Black Array Carbon is already ‘pre rolled’ so know your bat will be
ready for battle the very first swing! Improved durability, GREAT pop, and new angled seaming process eliminates any edge
consistencies in the bat. The judges were very impressed, get one before
disappear off the shelves! The ASA Craze got a crisp 9.5 rating!
The last model tested was WORTH the
wait! The new 454 Toxic ASA by Worth was a treat to test, with great pop and
distance! With its new 454 Multi Layer design, pro pebble grip, and one year
warranty, this bat is a can’t miss. Available in 26-30
ounce models with an extended two-inch sweetspot, how
can you argue? It’s WORTH! Used by the No. 1 team in the land, Resmondo/Worth, the Toxic poisoned the opposition with a
9.6 rating!
Congratulations to the 2011 98 mph
champions, Louisville Slugger/Z-1000 and the Combat Scott Brown 98, this year’s
co-champions!
Senior Softball
The thousands of senior slow pitch
softball players across the country are indebted to the fact they can use the
top of the line senior softball bats made available to them these days. Miken has shown why they are the leader in making these
The overall champion is the sizzling
Ultra II Maxload (Red) which topped a loaded senior
softball bat field! The Maxload’s E-flex technology
provides maximum pop, distance and sweetspot. This
bat is a must for anyone that wants to win! A 100 percent composite with a
great smooth swing and excellent grip, it has the Ultra’s carbon X shell
Technology that is hard to beat! Be sure that the 2011 national champion senior
softball teams across the land will be swinging the Maxload
by Miken!
One of the runner-ups also is
produced by the folks at Miken, the sleek black Ultra
II Balanced (model MSU2), with a HUGE sweetspot as
well, with the generous 13-inch barrel! Same pop and distance as the Maxload, but with a balanced swing, very potent! This black
beauty also has the E-flex Ultra Technology, Carbon X Shell and Ultra Bond Grip
for maximum control! Like the Maxload, made in the
Make room for another contender in
the senior softball bat sweepstakes as the new Combat Centenarian is AWESOME!
This sleek black beauty was bombing them everywhere! With a can’t miss muti-wall design and super soft barrel, this is a a sizzling specimen with the
Anisotropic Composite Shell. It has a ‘low compression end cap’ which ends end
cap failure for good! Great sweetspot, available in several
lengths and weights and priced nicely! This baby tied for second place overall
in the senior bat reviews!
Roundng
out the top four in the Senior Bat Division is the Combat 2011 Da Bomb Composite, which displayed outstanding performance.
Like the Ultra’s
Congratulations to the top three in
Senior Bats for 2011, Miken Maxload
and Balanced, and the Combat DaBomb!
Fastpitch
With the huge popularity of fastpitch softball, not only in
The first bat to be tested is the
Combat Morphed 05, what a dandy! A 100 percent composite with Muti Wall Construction, this bat is loaded with a GREAT sweetspot and lots of pop! Available in -8, -9 and -10
models, this bat amazed the testing committee and received at 9.5 out of a
possible 10!
The next bat is the ever popular
Worth 454. With Worth’s patented 454 technology, it EXTENDS the sweetspot TWO inches! A multi-layer design, 100 percent
composite and a silencer grip (to minimize sting), this bat hits it hard and
long! Approved by everyone, it comes in weights of 21-25 ounces, they have one
for you! The 454 rated a sizzling 9.6! The committee was impressed!
The Mizuno Frenzy was hot right out
of the wrapper! The Frenzy with a generous barrel, a black Onyx Carbon finish
for improved durability, meets all bat performance standards (ASA, NAFA, USSSA,
etc)! A mega sweetspot, this baby comes in 20-24
ounces, and is a for-sure bet for anyone’s bat bag! The Frenzy finished with a
strong 9.4 mark out of 10! The testing committee was delighted with this baby!
Miken,
like the others, have been making great softball bats for quite some time, and
their new Freak FX700, has players drooling with its GREAT performance! With Miken’s HBF Technology, multi-layer wall and hot out of the
wrapper performance, this 100 percent composite had the testing committee
chasing long and far during workouts! A huge barrel (2¼), approved for all
associations, you will want want of these before
disappear! The Miken Freak got an outstanding 9.6
rating!
Congratulations to