Demarini CFX Reviews

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Apr 2, 2013
66
6
Looking for honest reviews on the new CFX (-10).

Would be especially interested to hear from folks who have used other CF models previously.

We thought the CF6 and CF8 lineups were great. We didnt find the CF7s that amazing, and havent owned a CF9 but not super impressed with anything other than the -11.

Would really like to read/hear some more reviews & opinions on the CFX before we place an order.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
DD's first "real" bad was a secondhand CF4 from Ebay. Then she had a CF8, -11 then -10. This year she got the CFX. It seems to have a lot of pop. She loves it. I'll have to ask her how she thinks it compares to her CF8.
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
Okay, not really a review, just something I saw this past Saturday at the Diamond Fall Classic in Spartanburg, SC. We have this new girl who is 14, she joined our 16U Fall team 6 or so weeks back. My DD is ALWAYS the smallest girl on her team, every team! Well this girl is smaller than Anna. Maybe 5'0" tall and "maybe" 110lbs? Saturday morning during warm ups, for some strange reason I pulled her bat out of her bag to check it out.....32/22 CFX, good looking bat, has some nice small details to it, a little too flashy paint scheme for me but that's just me. Looked at it for 5 seconds and put it back.

This girls bats dead last in our lineup usually, she's struggled a little lately, but to me it's been poor pitch selection, she has lightening fast hands and bat speed! Well, she came out of her slump Saturday! In the first game she hit a 2 RBI rope that one hopped the fence for a GRD, in the second game she hit her first ever bomb, I was completely shocked, everyone was going nuts for this little lady, I'm not sure the ball has landed yet, it was crushed!

Cat5, not really a review, but that bat definitely has some pop!
 
Feb 19, 2016
280
28
Texas
From a very limited exposure to the CFX in August...
We were at a tournament this summer, and the Wilson Rep. had a booth set up. DD(only 9 years old) tried out the CFX 30/20 just on a tee into a net. The team had been passing around a CF9 all 30/20 all summer, and it was the hottest bat in the dugout, even compared to the other CF9's we had, there was just one bat that was a bit more "in the zone." The rep. was watching her take a few hacks, and it wasn't anything to write home about. It was performing about like the CF9, and I was thinking it was just basically a color-up. He stopped her and handed her the -11 31/20. Bang, she started cutting through the ball like it wasn't there. This was only for a few minutes before a game. The drop 11 did seem more lively than the CF9's she had been using, but the drop 10 did not. I know that's all subjective, and I want you to take it as such, but I know what bat I'll be watching out for next spring. If I was getting DD a drop 10, I'd stick with the CF9. There didn't seem to be much difference between the X and the 9, but the drop 11 CFX "seemed" more lively in her hands than the drop 11 CF9's she's tried. Just my opinion, for what it's worth, your mileage my vary, etc.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Well, DD says she thought her CF8 had more pop. It may be the bigger ball though. She used the CF8 throughout 10U, and got the CFX this year for 12U.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
From a very limited exposure to the CFX in August...
We were at a tournament this summer, and the Wilson Rep. had a booth set up. DD(only 9 years old) tried out the CFX 30/20 just on a tee into a net. The team had been passing around a CF9 all 30/20 all summer, and it was the hottest bat in the dugout, even compared to the other CF9's we had, there was just one bat that was a bit more "in the zone." The rep. was watching her take a few hacks, and it wasn't anything to write home about. It was performing about like the CF9, and I was thinking it was just basically a color-up. He stopped her and handed her the -11 31/20. Bang, she started cutting through the ball like it wasn't there. This was only for a few minutes before a game. The drop 11 did seem more lively than the CF9's she had been using, but the drop 10 did not. I know that's all subjective, and I want you to take it as such, but I know what bat I'll be watching out for next spring. If I was getting DD a drop 10, I'd stick with the CF9. There didn't seem to be much difference between the X and the 9, but the drop 11 CFX "seemed" more lively in her hands than the drop 11 CF9's she's tried. Just my opinion, for what it's worth, your mileage my vary, etc.

To me this sounds a lot like your DD finally got the right bat FOR HER in her hands. IME, most 9yos (and even some 10-11yos) do better with a -11 than a -10.
 
Feb 19, 2016
280
28
Texas
To me this sounds a lot like your DD finally got the right bat FOR HER in her hands. IME, most 9yos (and even some 10-11yos) do better with a -11 than a -10.

Yep. Most Assuredly. I was a bit surprised that the extra inch in length didn't sort of nullify the drop in the drop. Theoretically, the bats weighed the same but the drop 11 was an inch longer, so I was assuming a higher MOI. The drop 11 must've been weighted more towards the hands.?. The bat in her bag at the time was an LS XENO 30/19 we had to hastily buy as a replacement bat, and she doesn't swing it nearly as well as the drop 10 or 11 CF. It feels more end-loaded.

In short, and more on target to op, in regards to our brief introduction to the CFX drop 10, it subjectively seemed about the same in her opinion as the CF9. To be taken with a grain of salt since the drop 10 is not the optimal bat for her.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Yep. Most Assuredly. I was a bit surprised that the extra inch in length didn't sort of nullify the drop in the drop. Theoretically, the bats weighed the same but the drop 11 was an inch longer, so I was assuming a higher MOI. The drop 11 must've been weighted more towards the hands.?. The bat in her bag at the time was an LS XENO 30/19 we had to hastily buy as a replacement bat, and she doesn't swing it nearly as well as the drop 10 or 11 CF. It feels more end-loaded.

Two factors here ^^^ The Xeno is slightly end-loaded, and they tend to weigh well more than sticker. Over the last few years, the 30/19 Xeno has been 1.5 oz or more over sticker weight (https://www.discussfastpitch.com/softball-equipment-product-reviews/20034-bat-weight-database.html).
 
Dec 24, 2012
119
18
Chicago, IL
CFX Insane 32/22 vs Easton Ghost 32/22

Daughter was swinging a 32/22 CF8 Insane and up until then that was and appeared to be her favorite bat. When the CFX came out she loved the coloring and I bought it. She hit real well with it loved it's feel. After reading the Hitting instructor Ghost thread about how awesome it appeared in the cage I figured why not and bought one of those to try out.

First time hitting the ghost in the cage halfway through a bucket I had to stop as the combination of exit speed and sound made it pretty scary sitting 20' away or so. We hit on a nearby field that has a 250' fence and I wasn't overly impressed with the distance tho there was a slight wind blowing in.

I did a Zepp test with both bats. CFX Averaged 65 mph and the Ghost averaged 60 mph. On a different day I did a Stalker radar test off a Tee. Ghost came in at 62.4 & the CFX came in at 61.8, 5 swings each so pretty close.

With that data I did one more on the field test same almost brand new softballs and no wind to factor. While both bats performed well The CFX had more carry and distance and just more overall oomph it seamed. My son was playing OF and he said it wasn't even close in his mind that the CFX was hotter.

The CFX actual weight is 21.35 so under sticker while the Ghost is 22.32 real close to sticker. Could be the 1 ounce difference or could be the end loaded Insane is more comfortable to my Daughter.

To put it in car talk in the cage the Ghost is scary hot like 0-60 quick where the CFX insane is more of a top end top speed type of bat if that makes any sense. Or again it could be just the 1 ounce difference who knows.
 
Apr 2, 2013
66
6
Thanks All, lots of good information to consider.

She does love her CF8 but I can only find one place that still has stock of new ones in her size. I can get a good deal on the CFX for the same price as a CF9. I was hoping the feedback would be that the CFX was a noticeable improvement on the CF9. I appreciate everyone who took the time to respond.

DD has the Easton Ghost and wanted to love it, only used it in a few games and her worst hit was a double so we've been happy with the performance. However she says it doesnt feel as controlled as her Demarini and would rather go back to the CF8. (Probably because she doesnt use the Ghost in hitting practice so hasnt worked with that slightly heavier slightly more end weighted feel for thousands of reps). Not a fussy kid and performing well with either bat so for her to say anything about it was surprising.
 

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