Rawlings Plasma vs Catalyst

[coachhowie]

Hi, guys. Wondering if anyone can compare the Rawlings Plasma to the Catalyst as far as
swing weight, balance, etc. My son has a plasma now and is looking to get a new bat.
I swung the Plasma a few times hitting infield to the team, and it felt like swinging a 20 ft. lead pole. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks.

[coachhowie]

Anybody out there? Please, gettin a lot of grief from my kid, need to decide which bat to get him!:)

[dsore1218]

Sorry, I keep trying to post but it just hasn't gone up. Hope this time is different.

We have liked Rawlings since the Liquidmetal came out. One of my sons still has a Plasma in his bag that he pulls out every so often. It sounds like a metal pole.

My oldest son has a Catalyst. He packs a Vexxum and a Plasma as well. He has loved the Catalyst since he got it in March and he raised his average about 30 points at the end of the season as the bat started loosening up. He feels it is more balanced. I know the Rawlings has a few more quality problems. The rep says Louisville and Easton are tops in quality then Rawlings as a mid level quality.

The Catalyst took a good 100 hard hits in the cages and in games to start loosening up.

With all that said, he struggled a bit lately and then switched to a Stealth CNT and homered on the second pitch of the at-bat.

[coachhowie]

Thanks, dsore. Does the Catalyst feel heavy to your son? Or does it swing light?
My son tried a friend's Rush Gold Lite and liked the swingweight better than the
Plasma, but, since I am paying, and he doesn't yet have a summer job with which
he can pay me back:), I am thinking of spending less money for the Catalyst.
We have yet to find one locally that he could swing, so we don't know about it's feel.
As I said, the Plasma feels very heavy to me. My son is strong, but I don't know
how he gets that thing thru the zone.
Thanks much.

[dsore1218]

He swung the Catalyst because it is balanced. He is a control hitter and appreciates the swing weight.

He did swing a Stealth Comp Stiff yesterday against a lefty. Closed his stance a touch and pointed his front toe in a little extra and knocked his first homer out in a league game (travel ball). Stealth comp swung heavier, bit more end loaded. He is almost 19 and is just getting to the point that he can really control a heavy swing weight bat.

The whole point of the Lite series is to balance the bat a little more. The Rush's came out and really felt heavy. If he likes the Lite, I bet he will like the Catalyst.

[coachhowie]

Thanks, dsore. I think that tells me what I need to know. I appreciate it, and I appreciate that
you are willing to share your knowledge and info. Not everyone has access to reps. To my knowledge they don't show up around here. Maybe at some of the tourneys, but my kid isn't playing travel ball this year, for a variety of reasons. Hence, we don't see these guys.
Anyway, thanks again.

[dsore1218]

I don't know if it is a good thing or not. Once a kid finds something new, then the one track mind kicks in and that is all they can think about. It can get expensive.

The other thing I dislike is the sales pitch that technology will fix what ails your swing. Get coaching, get a swing dialed in and then let technology ENHANCE what you have.

But they let you play with stuff you would have to spend thousands of dollars to really experience. That isn't so bad.

Good luck with the new bat.