Favorite “Weapon of Choice” 2008
This category is for YOUR Favorite “Weapon of Choice” in the batter’s box. What’s your “go to” bat? OR, if you’re a coach, what’s your favorite bat to use for hitting grounders or fly balls to your players?
We’re looking for brand names, types (composite, aluminum, double wall, etc), and specs (length, weight).
So, hit the “Leave a Comment” link below and tell us what you like. Your response will enter you into a drawing to win a prize pack which includes:
- One Subscription to Softball Today Magazine ($20 value)
- One Mattingly “RIPPED” Fastpitch Softball Bat (valued at $200) from Mattingly Baseball
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Total Prize Pack Value: $220.00
*NOTE: Remember to double check the spelling of your e-mail address so that we will be able to notify you if your chosen as the winner of this prize pack!
August 18th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
A lot of my players are using the Phoenix composite bat which I definitely see a lot of flight off the bat when it’s used. The other is the Easton Stealth. My daughter prefers the Stealth. when she know she needs power otherwise she goes to her Bandit when she wants to slap.
Thanks TJ
August 25th, 2008 at 4:48 am
The bat or preference on our school team in also the Easton Stealth. On our summer team, there are three on them. The ball jumps off the bat.
August 25th, 2008 at 7:18 am
We hit a lot more long balls this past spring with the Easton Stealth.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:13 am
My daughter uses two bats the first one is a Demarini phoenix the other one is a Miken.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I enjoy using the Easton Stealth to hit fly balls for warm ups. It seems to pack a lot more power and finesse.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
The most popular bat on our team seems to be the Easton Stealth.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
My daughter likes the Easton Scandium bat ( 33/21 ) for most of her at bats. When she feels she’s got a pitcher timed, She will use her Easton CXN ( 34/22.5 ) for that extra punch.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I like the Anderson Rocketech. The girls on our team can really hit the long ball with it. I’ve been looking for a good light bat also, so I’m curious to see everyone’s recommendations.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I really like to Louisville 08 Zephyr Composite bat (33/21). It packs a punch.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Our girls love the Anderson Rocketech, but as Jackie ask we are in need of a recommendation for a good light bat that has the pop.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
The bat of preference for my daughter’s 14U team is the Mattingly Beast.
August 25th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
By far the composite easton stealth, we have six of them on our team. The ball just comes off so smoothly you can’t even feel it. My preference is the 32,22 for hitting. My coaches preference for hitting us those grounders and pops is the Fungo.
August 25th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
There are two bats in my teams bags that I see are most productive, these are the Anderson Rockettech and the Easton Stealth. The Rockettech seems to be for the bigger girls with plenty of power. As for the Stealth, even the smaller girls have pop when it is used. My daughter has the 19 oz bat and it has plenty of punch, but she also uses it for bunting and slapping.
August 25th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
The stronger players on our team prefer the Easton Stealth -9 (34/25), the smaller players prefer the Easton Stealth -10 (34/24). I coach Senior Ladies.
August 25th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I would like to hear suggestions for a bat for a 9-10 year old team. Our daughter hits really good with a jennie finch bat but was wondering if she should use a different bat? Some of the dads on our team feel it’s not the bat but the girl, true, but couldn’t a bat help?
August 25th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I got a great deal from Closeoutbats.com on a Louisville composite Catalyst. It is not as end weighted as some other bats which allows the smaller girls to get good bat speed.
August 25th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Our 12U team has 6 hitters with the Easton Stealth -10 (32/20). At the beginning of the seasone they were the top hitters. As other girls were able to talk them in to using thier bat we seen other averages go up.
August 25th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
My daughter loves the Anderson Rockettech. She also sometimes uses a Stealth. She is 14 and uses 32-22 size bat.
August 25th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Donna, I coached 9 & 10 yr old girls this summer, and 2 of them had Jennie Finch bats and they hit really good with them. They weren’t too heavy and were just right for the girls.
August 25th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Majority of the girls on our team(14&U) use the Easton Stealth,it is a great all around bat.
August 25th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
My girls perfer the Easton Synergy, it is a great power hitting bat. Lots of homeruns this season from it.
August 25th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
My bat is a 2009 rocket tech my high school coach let me use one and i haven’t stopped using it, there great for power i like the -9 size the best
August 25th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I coach a 10U team and we use a lot of Easton bats. The one that seems to give the best results is the Easton Synergy Extended; it is a composite bat, but light enough for our girls to swing, 29″ – 17.5 oz.
August 25th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
We use the Rockettech, we also have a 08 easton stealth but my daughter likes the Rockettech better. Seems to hit alot harder.
August 25th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I’ve played slow pitch for over 30 years, coached travel fast pitch teams for over 10 years, and high school fast pitch for 7 years. In general the composite bat has revolutionized the game. I am a big fan of the Miken product line. The bats have great bounce and a large sweet spot. I am impressed by their consistency and factory backing. I did have one occasion to test the warranty, and Miken backed their product by providing a new bat in a very timely manner. They have won me over, just wish their product was more available. I have purchased most of their bats on-line. One retailer offers their product in my area, but does not carry a wide selection.
August 25th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Our team just moved up to 12u this fall, many of our girls prefer using the Miken Halo light, a 100% composite bat. Our team has 3 of them a 32″, 31″ and 30″ -12,they have alot of pop once they go through about 3 tournaments. The Easton Stealth CNT is also popular these days. We just got two of them and they have alot of pop right away.
August 25th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Thanks everybody for all the suggestions!
August 26th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Toledo Wasp. It makes good contact with the ball. Good for slapping.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:37 am
My daughter used a TPS Composite and then moved onto a Worth Mayhem composite bat. Both are excellent bats, however, we moved over to the Mayhem because it was a little heavier and helped her swing through on the ball.
August 26th, 2008 at 8:35 am
During our recent Inter-provincial Championships the girls were getting a lot of hits with the Easton Synergy. It seems to be the 1 that they all prefer NOW.
Vanessa
August 26th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Our favorite bat is the EASTON Stealth Composite bat. We have 4 for our team.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Has anyone had a run of bad luck with a particular brand of composite bat breaking?
August 26th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Demarini F2 half and half. Bat has the double wall upper and a composite handle. As this bat is for my use, adult male, the size is 34-25. Getting the bat to the hitting zone quickly is more of a concern that maximum bat speed, at least for myself.
For the girls I like the Rocket Tech or the older Demarini double wall.
For hitting infield/outfield practice I still use a wood bat. Too many formative years spent using wood so it is still my fungo choice.
August 26th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I still stand by the CATALYST, although my daughter has wanted to jump at the newer line of RIPIT bats. I can’t believe the cost of a bat these days: $300.00 is not out of the norm.
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It was fun to watch the Olympics and see Jessica Mendoza with Mendoza bat, and Finch with a Finch bat. Must be nice to be the actual person a line of equipment is endorsed by/named after.
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Cat only had one official at bat in college and still has a line of bats.
August 26th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I love DeMarini, Easton and Rip Its…anxiously looking to see what will be made illegal again, tho….
August 26th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
My daughter had tremendous success with the 2007 Louisville TPS Catalyst (blue) Fastpitch bat. 32″22 oz.
The more she hit it… the better it got. Surprisingly, it was great for both bunting and swinging away!
August 26th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Being a first year coach, I have no idea what the best bats are. I coached baseball for 10 years and we spent 1000’s of dollars on bats. With the 10U girls team they just handed us a bag of old bats with no punch. Its hard to convince parents to buy expensive bats at this age. We compensate with learning the proper way to hit. When these girls get ahold of a bat with some punch -look out!
August 26th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Being a 10U coach, I like the feel of the Easton Synergy for hitting groundball/flyballs. I do like to ask the players which bat I should use to hit balls with because sometimes the players just like to hear the sound of the ball hitting the “sweet spot” on their bat, and the players will then try to duplicate that sound during hitting drills and batting practice.
August 26th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
For 14u Easton Stealth 32/22 is the best. But, we did have one crack. Sent off for warrenty which Easton honored but sent a 09 update which is not near the same bat.
August 26th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
My daughter is 12 years old, she used to hit with an Anderson rocketech and she hit pretty well. I got her a Combat, which is a composite bat, and she now hits with more speed and power. The bat seems to be a better fit for her.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I prefer the Miken Halo and Halo Light for my 12U team that just moved up from 10U. They are light enough to keep good swing mechanics, yet they still provide some pop on them.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Most of the girls on the 12U team I coach use a DeMarini Osterman. Great bat for the price.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:28 am
I ablsoultely love my Lousiville Slugger Catalyst. It’s easy to swing, and has a great sweet spot.
August 27th, 2008 at 2:46 am
Easton Synergy or the Miken…. ha I can’t remember the name off the top of my head, but its got some purple detailing all over it…. 33/23
August 27th, 2008 at 10:59 am
My daughter loves the DeMarini Pheonix – others on her team use Stealth
August 27th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
My daughter loves her Easton Synergy CNT
August 27th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Rockettech – I just bought one for my daughter on ebay and she loves it. Its just a few ounces overweight for her right now but when she grows into it watch out!
August 27th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I like to use a small double wall bat for Fungo something I can handle with ease sense I’m not very big I like to be able to manage the ball and have great control in front of the crowd. For my team I like to use Easton Synergy or the Anderson Bats my team feels most confident with either of those and I think what the kids feel about bats and confidence is way important to their success
August 27th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
The weapon of choice this year seems to be the DeMarini Phenix 32/22 for our 14u team.
Larry
August 27th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
My daughter prefers the 2007 model of the Louisville Slugger Catalyst 32/22. She does tell me that she thinks hitting is all in the technique and not the bat, but she does like to use her catalyst bat to other bats her teammates use.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
My daughter prefers the Demarini Medussa, however she has been asking for a Anderson Techzilla 2009 because of it’s bulletproof claim and look, I’m just afraid of the heavier weight of this bat.
August 27th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
For hitting outfield drills I like the Liquid Metal Plasma composite. It has a lot of pop and they don’t break like some of the Easton bats do. It’s a fairly pricey bat, but I got a good deal a quite a few of them.
Most of the girls that have swung this bat like the way it feels and for sure love the pop as well. It’s not end loaded like some of the other mentioned here. It is a really nicely balanced bat.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I am a HS coach and my athletes love to swing a DEMARINI PHENIX -10 STACKED COMPOSITE.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
With the limited budget, I prefer the old catalyst. Can’t afford to get the “new” one. (so winning this one would make my year:)
August 28th, 2008 at 12:21 am
numerous girls on my team have anderson rockettech as well as easton stealths…both have a great pop
August 28th, 2008 at 2:12 am
Most of our girls use Easton Stealth, but a few use rockettechs
August 29th, 2008 at 11:49 am
2005 Rockettech
August 29th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
My three daughter’s love the miken maniac
August 29th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
A few of my girl’s used the Rockettech this year and their batting greatly improved.I would like to get a smaller and lighter one for next year.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Mt daughter absolutely LOVES her 2008 Rocket Tech. I don’t know if mind over matter is playing a part but she is crushing the ball ever since she started using her new RT.
August 30th, 2008 at 7:28 am
The girls like the Stealth and Rockettech! As for me, I would love a fungo bat!
August 30th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
My favorite bat is the Easton Stealth Composite Bat. I use it on my high school team and my summer team. Many of my teammates also use the Stealth.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I coach Baker High School in Mobile, AL My girls are open to trying new bats and will try any bat but most end up using the Rocket Tech. We try to get new bats that others recommend but we always have several Rocket Techs in the bat bag.
September 6th, 2008 at 12:37 am
gotta go with theh combat virus… it’s nasty!!!
September 10th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I love the Miken Maniac! It took a while to break in in but it is really POPPING now!!!! Great composite bat, I won’t use anything else.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
By the way my Miken Maniac is 32/23!!! It’s Great!
September 10th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I have a double wall DeMarini Vexxum -10 32/22 and it hits great!!! That is my bat of choice!!!!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
My team likes the Easton Stealth. The only drawback to it is that it tends to get loose where the handle connects to the barrel. I have seen it happen to three different bats this past year.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:38 pm
My hearts set on the Tech! My RocketTech 2009 is defiantly my choice. It’s the best investment I’ve made. I was already a strong, aggressive batter, the Tech just gave me the little push to really get the ball out there. My team always uses my bat, and they love it.
Also, I haven’t tired the new TechZilla FP bat from Anderson. I hear It’s a good upgrade from the RocketTech, and probably works even better.
Another brand I’ve liked is Easton.