Rawlings Icon Drop 10 (-10) USSSA Bat Review by 9u Majors player

[@cryptohitlist9324]

Question for you - I have an advanced 6 1/2-year-old, who plays 8/9U travel ball for context, and I wanted to ask if you still feel the same way about the bat. I'm thinking of purchasing the Icon USSSA 27 inch drop -10 for him (he's also very strong). Any feedback or thoughts would be appreciated.

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

@@cryptohitlist9324 27 is fine but I’d likely stick to a 1 piece alloy or 2 piece hybrid. Something like a Louisville slugger Atlas, Rawlings Mach Ai, Cat X2 or Demarini the goods one or 2 piece. The ball is just not coming fast enough and the kids are not strong enough for it to make any form of real difference at that age. You will likely see better performance out of an alloy bat at that age. For reference Lukas is just now starting to be able to fully compress the composite and he is 9 with a much harder than average swing. He hits the ball out of 240 fields. And we see pitching anywhere from 50-70 mph. You can go with the icon if he likes the look and it gives him confidence. But there’s a very real likelihood that an alloy bat will simply be better at that age

[@1StepTooFar]

Appreciate the info. Looking for a light swinging drop 10 for my son. Have you had a chance to compare the perceived swing weight/balance point of the Icon to the Tank, or to the CatX2 Comp?

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

how old is your son? Will be going to take some actual swings with the Tank today or tomorrow. But even just from holding it I can tell it will likely swing lighter than the Icon. It weighs heavy on a scale but that extra weight is almost fully in the handle from the material/tapered knob. We don't have the Cat X2 comp yet it should come out in a month or so.

[@1StepTooFar]

@@PerformanceFactoryBaseballhe’s a few months past 7. Played 8u this season and is trying out for 9u travel soon. Based on his bday he’d be able to play 8u again next season. He’s on the small side so trying to improve his bat speed. Very much a contact hitter.

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

@@1StepTooFar id probably suggest looking at 1 piece alloy's then over composite. It takes pretty good bat speed AND pitch speed to start seeing the benefit of composite over alloy in USSSA. We are only just now starting to see a difference. At his age and if he is more of a contact hitter id be looking at something like the Cat X2 alloy one piece. It will likely perform better for him

[@1StepTooFar]

⁠​⁠@@PerformanceFactoryBaseballgood honest answer & I understand your logic. He swings a Cat9 alloy now in 25/15 but needs more reach. I bought a Select Power in 27/17 but it’s too end loaded for him. Just came across a Meta One 27/15 composite that would keep the weight down and it’s cheap 😂

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

@@1StepTooFar at that age and size id say a 27/17 would work well. You could also look at something like the Marucci f5. Can be had for $140 or less brand new and is very good for the price and 1 piece alloy.

[@CaliRican787]

Louisville Meta 2024 USSSA is another good one to test

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

yeah definitely interested. Though I basically have not heard anything from them on a release date of it. Hoping its soon!

[@CaliRican787]

@@PerformanceFactoryBaseball another sleeper maybe 🤔

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

@@CaliRican787 hopefully! I have heard good things from those that swung the drop 5 prototype. But obviously the drop 10 could be way different. Hoping it comes out in the next month or 2!