2015 xeno vs 2014 xeno

My DD has been swinging a 2014 Xeno 31/21 for the past year and has loved it. I've been considering getting her 32/22 for the up coming season. We have been very happy with the 2014, but was wondering if the 2015 would be an upgrade that would justify the extra cost.


Also are you 2014 xeno owners still getting the same performance from your bat after a full season of travel ball?

Interesting question. I am part of a large organization with many teams from 8U all the way through 18U. We are sponsored by just about every bat company you can think of so we get to see and use all the latest gear. My own team did not take any 2014 Xenos for this year as all the families were scared off by all reports of breaking 2013s. That was a shame as other girls on other teams who chose the 2014 Xeno were all very happy with their choices and were also happy to report that the 2014 design fixed the breaking issues of earlier models.

Although you'd expect a bat with an internal limiter to be about as hot as it's going to get right out of the wrapper, the 2014 Xeno (and LXT) gets better with use. I think Louisville Slugger was experimenting a bit with the 2014s as they were using a new composite material and a slightly different design to counter the breaking issues. After the experiment and new design/materials worked, they've had time to tweak and refine it. Enter the 2015 Xeno (and LXT).

The 2015s are definitely hotter out of the wrapper. We are seeing some stupid exit speeds off these bats! They are comparable to our well broken-in 2014 LXTs, which are our hottest (post rule change) bats of all. In fact, it was widely rumored that the 2014 LXT might be banned because of the higher exit speed after break-in that is being widely observed. Since LS saw that the 2014s were getting hotter with use, I suppose the engineers went in and tweaked the design to take advantage of the extra "room" they had and the new bats are a bit hotter out of the wrapper. What remains to be seen, though, is if they will get better with age like their 2014 sisters.

We have a few hundred hits on some 2015s but nothing compared to the thousands of hits we have on our 2104s. Three of our girls picked up 2015 -10 Xenos and three more picked up 2015 -10 LXTs. Two more are sticking with their ridiculously hot 2014 LXTs.

So, 8 out of 12 of our girls are swinging LS by preference (and measured exit speeds), three more opted for DeMarini CF7s to replace their CF6s and one girl stuck with Easton and grabbed another Mako. Curiously, 6 of those 8 LS bats are 2015s. Take from that what you will.

re: 2014 LXT ... How long did it take before you felt they were broken in?

CoogansBluff said:

re: 2014 LXT ... How long did it take before you felt they were broken in?

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Our oldest 2014 LXT is our hottest. It was delivered in October of 2013. It has had 150 - 250 hits put on it every week since (with a few missed here or there for holidays, illness, conflicts, etc.). It continues to post higher and higher exit speeds to this day.

Same holds true for the rest of them. Hope that helps.

Thanks. Just bought a 2014 LXT. Sounds like it's going strong a year later. But did it take a few weeks to reach its potential?

CoogansBluff said:

Thanks. Just bought a 2014 LXT. Sounds like it's going strong a year later. But did it take a few weeks to reach its potential?

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CB - I am not sure it has yet reached its potential. Just keeps getting better.

Thanks for the info, you've given me alot to think about.

I may consider getting her a 2014 LXT now

Softball_life_123 said:

Thanks for the info, you've given me alot to think about.

I may consider getting her a 2014 LXT now

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Remember the LXT is a completely different feel than the Xeno.

DD is swinging a 2015 Xeno and getting in about 200-300 hits per week with it. Its as hot now as her CF6 ever was and seems to still have some opening up to do. She has demoted her CF6 to fungo duty.

One thing about the 2014 LXT - It is loud! ... The sound of the bat is now thump. It's POW! That doesn't mean it's a better bat, but it's louder than any bat I've seen (or heard).