USSSA Drop 10 (-10) Composite Vs Alloy

[@aaronsbaseball354]

Thank you so much for the vids. Aaron (my 11u son) now finally getting to the right bat speed to swing composite bat. But as a dad, I love cat X2 alloy so I don't have to buy him 2-3 bats per year. It gts litetally only 10-15 ft difference for anyone under 14u.

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

Yeah definitely. Honestly the real difference is on those absolutely perfect squared up balls. At least at the younger ages. I watched this weekend one of our players send a ball about 220 over center field fence using a cat x connect. Alloy is perfectly playable. Good hitters hit!

[@williamrussell9114]

In the -10 space the bats have no measurable differences as far as “hottest”. It’s better to find a bat they are comfortable with as far as swing weight goes.

[@1StepTooFar]

Keep up the good work fellas! Would love to see a -10 one piece alloy bat shootout to find the hottest in that segment. Maybe LS Atlas/Solo, Marucci F5, Cat9/X, Victus Vandal/Pencil, Easton ALX, Warstic all aluminum, etc.

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

@@1StepTooFar definitely will see if we can snag those!

[@PepsitheDoxie]

My son is 9, playing 10u travel ball. Small frame kid but has good swing mechanics and is starting to send it over the outfielders a little more often. He has the Cat 7 alloy 28/18. Thinking of getting him a composite, but honestly don't want to spend the money until it really matters. Also, the break-in process and parameters around composite scares me away a little. But I do think we're on the cusp of needing to switch so I'm thinking of getting him a 29/19 catx2 composite possibly. I think that will be an easy transition for him based on your review of it. I think he would struggle with a end loaded bat. What are your thoughts? Thanks for your great reviews!

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

@@PepsitheDoxie yeah 10u is really around the age for the top level kids where you start to see a difference. That being said is it a massive difference? No not really. A few mph of top end exit velocity on my son’s best hits is basically the difference. Yeah I would classify the x2 comp as balanced to slightly heavy in drop 10 but definitely not full on heavy end loaded. Bats like the soldier tank, bonesaber comp swing very light. The x2 comp is a fairly balanced good choice though. That being said until it gets fully broken in you really aren’t going to see a massive difference and even then it really comes down to the kid at this age. So if money is at all a concern I wouldn’t feel bad at all about my son swinging something like a $200 one piece or something similar

[@PepsitheDoxie]

@@PerformanceFactoryBaseball Awesome feedback, thank you! Does your son switch to alloy through the winter months? If so, what bat does he use?

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

@@PepsitheDoxie we’re in Texas so “winter months” is a loose term lol. But if it’s cold enough or the speed we’re seeing is high enough (will see some 10u kids in the mid 60’s at regional tournaments) he will switch to a one piece alloy. He actually likes the rawlings Mach ai. It and the new clout AI usssa are both good somewhat cheaper alloy options. As is the marucci f5. We did a review of that one as well

[@PepsitheDoxie]

@@PerformanceFactoryBaseball haha, gotcha! Appreciate the info!!

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

@@PepsitheDoxie no problem!

[@delcy28]

My thing. Is 2mph worth $250+? Having put 2 boys thru to BBCOR, absolutely not. Great bats are available for ~100 bucks. Spending more is typically a "look at me" move, or they just don't know better.

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

Yeah I think its just all relative. For some people $400 is nothing. So if they want to spend that on a bat then sure. But I always tell people a good player will be a good player regardless of the bat. I think every person individually needs to assess their own finances and decide what that slight performance gain is worth to them!

[@delcy28]

@@PerformanceFactoryBaseball they're not worth the original price, regardless of financial situation. Watch the price drop in 90 days. Watch the price drop when the wrapper comes off. It's all good. Folks will look back in 5 or 6 years and say, yeah, they weren't worth it. Look forward to the budget bat vid!

[@delcy28]

Watch Bat Digest's blind -10 video.

[@PerformanceFactoryBaseball]

yup have watched it a lot. Big fan of batdigest. That being said their rankings on EV are going to be inherently flawed. We know that to a greater degree especially at younger ages USSSA composite will benefit much more greatly from pitching velocity. So them hitting off a tee doesn't really give us the light and game time situations where the composite shines. But as I mentioned in my other comment it all really depends on what that is worth to the person. Everyone's finances and what is expensive and not expensive will all be relative.