Question about CF5... and what's the best 30/20 out there?

[midmosoftballdad]

DD is 10 1/2 - 56" tall and 80 lbs of muscle. She's got a pretty high level swing for her age, and plays 10U A, and 12U B

She's used Easton Synges the last couple years and I bought her the new 2013 Easton -11.5 bat (30/18.5)

After reading the forums here, lots have the opinion that ultra-light bats are to be avoided if at all possible.

I did some tests with regard to bat speed (swing speed radar) and Ball exit velocity (off tee with pocket radar).

We used four different bats varying in size and weight - the bat she performed the best with was actually the biggest at 31/21 - best bat speed and best BEV. She's only 4'8" so I'm reluctant to let her use a 31" bat (espescially since through the fall she was using a 29/17.5). But I'm learning that she's stronger than I thought, and the bat's swing weight is the real factor...

I was tempted to get her a Miken Freak NXT after reading some of the posts on here - but decided that an end loaded 31" bat is probably not the best idea. (If they made a 30/20 I would give it a shot)

that being said - I'm looking for a 30/20... and guess my best options are the CF5 and Xeno.

I have read on here that the 2012 CF5 (-10) bat has less pop than the (-11)? Can anyone expand on this? Is this consistent with the 2013 models? If so, I can get her the -11 and be at peace with loss of bat speed...

Please let me know if you have any input or insight here - I can demo the Demarinis, but the Xeno will be a shot in the dark.

What's your choice for the BEST available 30/20 bat?

thanks for the help.

 

[humpty]

Great post. I'm in a similar situation. Kid same height and weight. I'm torn between 31/20 cf5 or 30/20 cf5. My DD swung the 30/20 2013 Xeno a few times and didn't like it. She is currently swinging a 2011 29/19 swinging synergy speed. She says the 31/20 cf5 feels the same weight as her speed. So I was thinking stay with a drop 10 and get the 30/20 cf5. But why go with the -10 if the -11 will give her an extra inch. There are a few kids on her tb team that recently got the 30/19 cf5 and 2 that got the 31/20 cf5 and these kids are absolutely killing the ball. I'm worried the -10 won't perform like the -11.

 

[pizza-boy01]

DD currently swings a 30/19 cf5, which we were very happy with. I've also heard that the -10 doesn't have the same performance, but I don't have any personal experience with it. Just pre-ordered a 30/20 RocketFlex last weekend, hope to have it in a few weeks. I believe the 32" and 33" are being shipped now, so we should be seeing some reviews shortly. Early word is they should be pretty hot, and my DD will definitely take the graphics over the cf5's any day!

 

[midmosoftballdad]

I hear that on the CF5 graphics... DD was looking over my shoulder when I was looking at the Miken Freak NXT and she was NOT impressed... lucky for her that's not an option this year. Now I'm off to research the RocketFlex...

Thanks for the input... leaning toward the 30/19 CF5 right now...

 

[humpty]

The 30/19 cf5 feels super light. DD said the 30/19 cf5 felt the same as her 29/17 zephyr.

 

[midmosoftballdad]

DD got to take a few dry swings with the 30/19 tonight and said the same thing... really light. ... I'm torn (like you), why sacrifice the bat speed of an additional ounce with the 30/20 if you're not getting the additional ounce's worth of pop.

 

[humpty]

I'm leaning towards the 31/20

 

[midmosoftballdad]

She actually told me she preferred the 31/21 to the 30/19 (there was no 31/20 available) - I'm worried that the 31 will be too long for her at 4'8"... any thoughts on that?

 

[humpty]

How was the performance of the 31/21 compared to the 30/19. Did you have a way to measure distance or exit speed.

 

[midmosoftballdad]

we actually just took some dry swings with them. Hopefully I'll get a chance to demo them soon. I plan on measuring both raw bat speed with the swing speed radar and then exit velocity off the tee with a pocket radar from the other side of the cage net...

in addition to some good ole front toss to see how she handles them...

I'll let you know what I see..