Easton Baseball Bat Reviews by R. Nelson

Easton has been the leader in composite bats for the last several years. They've come out with two new 100% composite models for 2009:

* The Stealth IMX - Two piece bat, 100% composite bat with increased handle flex. The increased flex handle stays true to the Stealth bat tradition (the so-called trampoline effect). The Stealth IMX comes in two other youth models Power Hitter and LCN11. The only difference is the length to weight ration.

* The Synergy IMX - One piece bat, 100% composite bat with a stiff handle. Easton added stiff handles last year to combat Louisville, as they've always pushed the "benefits" of stiff handle bats. Easton is trying to surround Louisville with this model. They've always had the two piece design while Louisville didn't, now they're attacking them head on with a one piece stiff handle design.

Two excellent 100% composite bat options for the experienced player. The main difference from last year's models is that the stiff handle design is a one piece this year. Interesting considering most went with the stiff handle design the last two years. It's simply a personal choice.

Easton offers these 50% composite /50% aluminum and 100% aluminum models for 2009:

* SV12: two piece bat, a 100% composite handle with a 100% alloy barrel. Even more handle flex than the Stealth IMX. If the price for this is anywhere near the IMX take the IMX. The composite barrel will give you a larger hitting area for essentially the same price. Unless you love that ping sound.

* V12: One piece bat, 100% alloy bat. The stiffest handle Easton makes. This should be the lowest priced of the new Easton bats. But amazingly it's not. Same price as the SV12. This is supposed to compete with the Louisville Exogrid. Both are highly priced for 100% alloy bats; take the Exogrid if you must have a high priced alloy bat.

Easton's 100% alloy bats:

* Stealth CNT - two piece, 100% alloy bat with either a flex or stiff handle (they have different model numbers and come in different colors). This was Easton's bread and butter for several years. It's now being pushed to the side as they focus on composite/hybrid bats. Hence, the price for the Stealth CNT has been reduced. This bat competed head to head with the Louisville Exogrid for a few years, but the price for the Exogrid has not been reduced. If you want a 100% alloy bat, THIS IS IT.

* Easton makes several other models, such as Titan, Reflex and Rampage which are all 100% alloy. The Titan has the newer alloy (Sc900), but the Reflex and Rampage have 7050 alloy which has been around for 15 years. These are fine for the youngest players. A high school player would be laughed at if he went to the plate with one of these.

See all of my recommendations at The Baseball Bat Reviews Blog.

Easton Stealth IMX & Synergy IMX Baseball Bat Review by R. Nelson

Easton has been the leader in composite bats for the last several years and will undoubtedly continue this trend with the IMX, their new 100% composite bats for 2009.

Easton is extremely smart to their approach in manufacturing baseball bats by not putting all their eggs in one basket. They leave no stone uncovered by making top notch models in every category and design. Their top priority is pushing the 2 piece design and flex handle which they pioneered some 6 years ago with the Connection introduction. But they also make and market quality one piece bats with stiff handles that directly compete with manufactures that rely on this design, most notably Louisville and Rawlings.

They say the IMX or Integrated Matrix Technology optimizes composite design, materials and process for maximum performance. With the IMX Easton offers two bats made from the same IMX composite material in two distinct designs. They are the:

* Stealth IMX 2 piece bat with a flex handle they say increases the trampoline effect. The flex handle has a rating of 75. This has been Easton's traditional bread and butter design for the last several years.

* Synergy IMX 1 piece bat with a stiff handle. Easton added stiff handles to their Stealth Comp bats last year to combat Louisville. They upped the ante in 2009 by making the stiff handle IMX a one piece bat. The handle has a rating of 90. They claim this design provides increased balance and bat control through the hitting zone. The Synergy IMX is aimed directly at the heart of the Louisville baseball bat consumer. As mentioned, an extremely smart move by Easton.

Both are quality high grade bats that are by far the most popular new composite bats on the market. You'll see these bats at every age level from youth to college. The Stealth IMX is more popular at the moment which indicates a preference for the 2 piece design. Last year the Stealth Comp stiff handle was more popular than the Stealth Comp flex handle, both Stealth Comp models were 2 piece bats.

The IMX is my top choice for those looking to purchase a high end composite bat. You can read reviews of all Easton baseball bats at Easton Baseball Bat Reviews

Moment of Inertia (MOI) And Swing Weight by R. Nelson

Moment of Inertia (MOI) governs how a bat feels and is a more meaningful measure of how well it will swing for you than the actual weight of the bat. Bat speed, not bat size nor weight, is the main factor in driving a ball. Bat speed is affected by a number of variables including bat length, bat weight and bat Moment of Inertia (MOI) which is often referred to as swing weight or balance point.

The distinction between light or heavy swing weight really boils down to the location of the balance point (or center-of-mass) and the moment-of-inertia. The closer the bat's balance point is to the handle, the easier it is to swing. The basic concept is that it is not the total overall weight of the bat which determines how fast you can swing a bat, but the way that weight is distributed along the length of the bat. For example, a bat with a balanced point closer to the handle will feel lighter and swing faster than an end loaded bat. This is true even through both bats are the exact same weight on a scale. The higher the rating the higher the MOI and the heavier the swing weight.

As a general rule, most players can hit a ball further with lighter (really low MOI) bats. It is only the biggest homerun hitters, who can hit the ball further with a heavier (really higher MOI) bats. Also, lighter bats provide more bat control during the swing phase.

Good players who are strong tend to prefer bats with a heavy swing weight because they can swing the bat fast enough and the extra inertia of the bat makes for a more effective collision with the ball. Players who are not as strong, or who cannot swing a heavy bat quickly, tend to opt for bats with a lighter swing weight so that they can increase their bat-swing speed and obtain faster batted balls that way.

Easton is one of the few manufacturers that promote the MOI of their bats and is the basis of their Hit Matrix bat concept. Here is the MOI ratings for their 2009 bats:

* Stealth IMX - 90 MOI Rating * Synergy IMX - 80 MOI Rating * SV12 - 70 MOI Rating * V12 - 60 MOI Rating

Obviously MOI is only one factor to consider with material, handle flex, mass and design (1 or 2 piece) being the others. But, it is often ignored or misunderstood. You should take the time and effort to decide what MOI is best for you and what the ratings are for the bats you're considering.

You can visit http://baseballbatreviewsblog">The Baseball Bat Reviews Blog for reviews of all the 2009 baseball bats.

Softball Bat Reviews

Do you ever wonder why the other teams 9 hitter can hit the ball a mile farther then your 3 hitter? The secret is all in the bat. If you come up to the plate with a 100 dollar bat then you might as well go right to the parking lot and crack open a few beers cause it's already over. Here are a few reasons why you need to invest in the best ASA softball bat.

Inferior Softball Bats mean warning track power. Inferior bats mean more pop ups. So if you wanna fly out to left field EVERYTIME then by all means go to Sports Authority and pick up that cheap Easton or Louisville for slightly under a hundred bucks. This way you can let the other team have some outfield practice instead of playing a real game.

Bats With Pop Allow You To Stretch The Field! When you have the best ASA softball bat you threaten to beat the outfielders deep. This allows you to drop in those little cheap bloops and have innings that last for hours. Once you establish you can't hit the ball more then 250 feet you shrink the field. Once that happens, it's over unless Jenny Finch is on the hill.

Cheap Bats Lose What Little Pop They Have Fast. Durability is crucial in softball bats. That is another reason why you need to invest in the best ASA softball bat. They will last longer and even when they do lose their pop they are still better then those cheap bats.

The Best Asa Softball Bat Has A Bigger Sweet Spot. That means that you don't have to make great contact and still hit the ball a mile. The game becomes simpler. I know it's only slow pitch softball but when us men compete anything can become a war. Do you wanna take the field with inferior weapons. Of course not that is why you need the best ASA softball bat.

So here is what you should do. Below is a link to a review of the best ASA softball bat out of the current slow pitch softball bats on the market for the 2009 season. Listen to my warning and don't ruin another season and skimp out on a cheap bat. Get the best ASA softball bat and treat your team to a winning season.

Here is a link to a great review of the Best ASA Softball Bat online. Read the review and pick the bat that best suits your team.

Click here for the best slow pitch softball bats on the market.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Westwood

Easton's dominence In Baseball

Easton has been on the forefront of many advances in sporting good technology. It is a company that was started in the 1930's by Doug Easton initially because of his ambition to crafting better quality arrows made of aluminum that would improve traditional archery. Easton has evolved into a leader in making sporting goods because of their advances in the use of aluminum and that has carried into many sports such as baseball, softball, hockey and biking over the last 5 decades, all while standing behind the quality of what they sell in the market.

Years later, Easton dove into creating baseball bats and was recognized for their innovative aluminum baseball bats, a design that was introduced in the early 1970's. They have been the first to improve on new technologies every step of the way throughout the whole aluminum baseball bat evolution. Easton baseball bat makers have lead the way in developing baseball bats out of new lighter weight and more durable metals such as scandium and titanium for enhanced performance as well as using composite metals that are state-of-the-art as of now. Easton also played a role in introducing multi-wall technology which adds to the size and responsiveness of the 'sweet spot' on the barrel. Easton now produces a triple-wall bat known as the 'tri-shell' design and is the only bat producing company to do so. They were the first to create a two-part baseball bat when they started producing their 'Connexion' series, which gives flexibility to the bat for enhanced power. Easton baseball bats are setting trends for other bat making companies today.

Easton now supplies many models of aluminum baseball bats to guarantee that there is a bat out there for every ballplayer. They make youth, high-school, and collegiate certified baseball bats as well as an adult line. Easton baseball bat reviews are always more than satisfactory and the improvements on their products are made to improve your game.

Joe Rodgers is a batting instructor that emphasizes stationary drills to develop the correct mechanics to be a successful batter and offers a website outlining baseball swing mechanics.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Rodgers

Easton Stealth CNT by ryan siverhus

This new bat line from Easton features numerous cutting edge technologies including patented CNT technology and patented two-piece ConneXion�,,� design, the new Stealth Comp CNT represents the best bats ever made from Easton Sports, a leader in the world of softball and baseball bat technology. This is by far the most advanced product line ever launched by Easton, helping players of all levels and abilities improve there overall hitting. Take it from somebody who has played both softball and baseball for over 27 years, this bat makes good hitters great and great hitters lethal.The Stealth Comp CNT bats are born with exclusive carbon nanotube technology made possible by Zyvex NanoSolve® materials.

This never seen before composite is sixteen times stronger than steel and one-billionth of a meter in size, CNT is perhaps the strongest fiber that will ever be made. The ability of carbon nanotube technology strengthens composite structures to allow for bigger sweet spots and maximum performance along the entire length of the barrel. Not least of all, Easton's patented ConneXion technology acts like a hinge to provide the most efficient energy transfer from handle to barrel, giving the hitter maximum bat speed and a whip like motion through the hitting zone. The Stealth Comp CNT bat line spans all of Easton's bat bat lines include: Adult, Senior League, Youth, Slow-pitch and Fastpitch. The stealth line is also available in a regular or stiff version for even more versatility. Easton's patented Opti-Flex�,,� CNT composite handle technology is where a hitter will feel the difference between the regular and stiff models. REGULAR, designed for more whip and contact hitters, provides maximum handle flex - three times greater than aluminum. STIFF, catered to stronger hitters looking for more power, has a flex 1.5 times greater than aluminum. The 2008 Stealth Comp CNT REGULAR features a silver barrel with a blue handle, while the STIFF model features an orange barrel with a blue handle.

From a visual standpoint these are also one of the sharpest looking products a batter can carry to the plate. If you want the latest in bat performing technology from a proven company and industry leader, the Easton Stealth CNt product line is head and shoulders above the competition.

Best Slow Pitch Bats for 2009 by Weekend Warrior

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Did your team miss the playoffs last year due to lack of offense? With the new softball season upon us it's time to reload. Maybe you've done some things to your line up but what about your gear. Below is a list of the best slow pitch bats for 2009. All the bats we've reviewed are the known as the best asa slowpitch softball bat. So please don't waste your money on a cheap 100 dollar bat at sports authority. Treat your team to one of the best slow pitch bats for 2009.

#1-Easton Stealth Comp CNY SCN9 Slow pitch Softball Bat- This bat is liked by the most players. And the best part it suits a wide variety of hitters. That is why it is one of the best slow pitch bats for 2009. Whether you hit bombs, line drives, or opposite field dinks the Easton Stealth was made for you. It is important to buy a bat that can be utilized by more then just two or three hitters on your team. Click here for a review

#2-Miken Freak 98- The Miken Freak is a classic. The Miken Freaks that proceeded this one was always known as the best asa softball bat. Then the ASA decided it wasn't allowed. But when Miken modified the Freak and came out with the Freak 98 ASA approved version it became one of the best slow pitch bats for 2009. This bats has a big sweet spot and it has pop. Click here for a review

#3-Combat Virus End Loaded ASA Slowpitch Softball- Chicks dig the long ball. Well if you dig chicks then you'll love the Combat Virus. This is one of the best slow pitch bats for 2009. Combat shortened the barrel which moved the sweet spot down the barrel. This means that you can miss hit the ball and still make it fly. This is why this juiced bat is one of the best slow pitch bats for 2009. Click here for a review

If you wanna win your league and smash the competition you need the best slow pitch bats for 2009. Pick up two of these bats and make your teammates pay you back. Once they use two of the best slow pitch bats for 2009 they'll pay you back with interest. Trust me.

Easton Fastpitch Softball Bats: Stealth Clarity & Synergy by Brian Gooberneck

Before 1969 bat manufacturing was a pretty straight forward affair. That all changed when Easton released the first aluminum bat, a radical change in technology that launched the little known company into the limelight. Since then Easton has continued to innovate, with each item in their complete line of fastpitch softball bats, gloves and bags reflecting the careful consideration they give to functionality and technology. Their exclusive, patented technologies such as Carbon Nanotube (CNT), Vibration Reduction System (VRS) and Visual Composite Technology (VCT or Clarity), just to name a few; raise the bar in both functionality of a fastpitch softball bat and integrity of the game.

The Easton Clarity models, in particular, bring to the game a new era of bat integrity and performance. It's well known that once these composite bats are fully broken in they become more flexible and give more pop when hit. Although this is great for the individual user, it provides an unfair advantage in competition and is not allowed in league play. To counteract this, the various governing boards have set guidelines for bat usage; but until Clarity, there was no way to tell when a bat has been used beyond its legal limit. Clarity is an ultra-thin see through layer that encases the surface of the bat. This layer will start to develop tiny white cracks along the surface as the composite material starts to break down. By the time the bat is beyond legal usage it will be completely white, making it easier for Umps to determine the eligibility of the bat, thereby effectively maintaining the integrity of the ball game.

Of the Clarity models, the 2009 Easton Stealth Clarity is the most popular fastpitch softball bat around, and for good reason. The bat features ConneXion, the patented 2-piece technology that acts like a hinge and provides the most efficient energy transfer from handle to barrel. Also featured is CNT, a composite material that delivers both strength and flexibility, effectively lengthening the sweetspot. This combination of ConneXion and CNT make for a fast swinging bat with maximum head speed driving power into one of the longest hitting zones.

Another popular option is the Easton Synergy Clarity. This Easton fastpitch softball bat is also made of CNT, giving one of the longest hitting zones, but also features VRS (Vibration Reduction System) which eliminates vibration from hitting, making this one of the most comfortable bats to use. The Easton Synergy Clarity complies with all bat performance standards including ASA, USSSA, NSA, ISA, SSUSA, and ISF. Unlike the Easton Stealth Clarity, the Easton Synergy doesn't use ConneXion technology, delivering peace of mind to those who worry about breakage.

Youth Baseball Bat Reviews by Trevor Sumner

Folks that are do-it-yourselfers know the value of a hammer that fits in their hands just right. It seems to make the job go much easier and ends with a more successful outcome. If you like to cook, then you know the benefits of pots, pans and cooking utensils that you are comfortable with. Having the correct tools at one's disposal seems to make projects less of a chore and more of a joyful experience.

The same thing can be said for sports and, in particular, youth baseball. Youth baseball is one of the healthiest of all participatory sports activities for kids because it teaches fair play, integrity, teamwork and sportsmanship. Successful handymen and cooks need good quality tools that they are comfortable with in order to have positive outcomes to their projects. In like manner, youth baseball players need equipment, either aluminium bats or wood baseball bats, with which they are comfortable in order to be successful at hitting a baseball.

Youth baseball bat reviews help parents, coaches and players alike select the baseball bat most appropriate for the players. There are marked differences that are documented in youth baseball bat reviews of aluminium bats and wood baseball bats on a youth baseball level.

Aluminium bats, such as the Easton, Worth and Mizuno model baseball bats, are lighter and have more strength to propel the ball when it strikes the bat. Baseball bat reviews note that, in youth baseball, aluminium bats can generate more power through the hitting zone. This is because the aluminium bats transfer power better and are lighter than the wood baseball bats, and the additional bat speed means that the ball is met with more force. Thus, the ball will travel further and faster upon contact with aluminium bats.

The big drawback with aluminium bats is that too much power may be generated with these bats. However, there have been only a very small number of related injuries, although any increase in injuries is naturally cause for concern for youth baseball parents. If players, especially pitchers, learn to field their positions, this point becomes moot.

Wood baseball bats are the old tried and true piece of baseball batting equipment for players. Youth baseball bat reviews acknowledge that these bats are susceptible to breakage, and can become very costly for parents and organizations. However, wood baseball bats are the only approved type of bat used in the Major Leagues, so proponents of wood baseball bats base their argument on this fact. Aluminum baseball bats are more popular and more durable than their wooden counterparts, and are more expensive. As an example, Louisville Slugger Baseball bat types have diversity in pricing. Their wood baseball bats start at $20 and range up to $150, while their aluminium bats have a price range of $20 up to $350 per baseball bat.

Beauty remains in the eyes and hands of the baseball player, and youth baseball bat reviews continue to address these divergent opinions.