Voodoo vs Stealth

[ptfpantherdad]

What are the differences between the demarini voodoo (-12) vs the Easton stealth cnt (-13) ? My son is 9, 59" and 85 lbs. He currently uses a Louisville TPX omaha scandium xs. Looking to upgrade for next year. Any input would be appreciated.

[hardhitter]

Ok just playing, why go to demarini? Stay with TPX ( Triton) or better yet Combat

The Triton is really get hot, my son has had for about 2 months now and we really can't see any differance between the combat and the Triton, however he still grabs the Combat first

[ptfpantherdad]

The triton sounds great but I'm trying not to spend more than $150. Both of these bats are on sale for around this price. Just bats has buy one get one free for the 2008 model of voodoo. I'm a little skeptical about an all composite bat because PA starts out cold in the spring and I don't think a bat should have to be broken in. From what I've read the half and half will probably be more durable. Is this correct? I'm hoping to find a closeout bat for next season at a "reasonable" price. Any recommendations for $150 or below youth model with a (-12) or (-13) drop?

[hardhitter]

Then go with the dynasty. http://www.betterbaseball.com/default.tpl

If you want to switch MFG, then try the voodoo, great bat from what I hear. The stealth cnt stink

[2ManyBats]

I like TPX ... have some Omaha Scandium XS bats ..... they were great fun.
Now have Stealth CNT SC900 Alloy .... Not Composite ... Here in NW Ohio ... we too see alot of 40 degree days in the baseball season. We had to put the Catalyst Composite away on those days .... just to big a risk to have it shatter.

Yes some bat are expensive ... but ... some are worth it !!

When my sons went from using Omaha's and Tripple 7's to using the Easton 2-piece CXN's & Stealths .... they no longer use batting gloves. Vibration is real low with the CNT bats. Try one ... borrow one ... I think you'll end up buying one. We have 3 -Stealths of different ages and lengths as we'll as 5 CXN's from 28" to 31".

Also ... my 9yr old is 88 lbs ( about same as yours ) ... his favorite bat is an Easton CXN Connection 30" -19.5 oz.... I bought it on a buy-one-get Two sale.

He now wants an Stealth IMX ... 2 piece of course ... I'm waiting for Santa !

[xavier]

look on ebay for a catalyst composite there were a few going for 150.
Try going to a shop somewhere if you can find one and let him swing a few of them even newer models should give an idea.
________
Honda RC162 (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Honda_RC162)

[Speedy42]

I wouldn't go with CNT, but they are great practice bats. They can take a beating and are end-loaded, which make them great for training. Went with Hardhitter's advice and already bought my son's next year's practice bat. Stayed with a 29" bat. I got a Stealth CNT -9 drop 2 3/4". Did finally see a Triton and I liked how it felt just didn't like how cheesey the knob was. Seemed to be made out of the same aluminum that the first prototype Easton was made out of from back in the days.

[ptfpantherdad]

If the cnt is only a practice bat, which half and half bat would you recommend? I've read many reviews that the triton cracks often. Definately looking for an aluminum barrel because of the cold weather in PA. Also $150 or under.

[hardhitter]

New this year just released. Composite do break and break often. Alloy bats become dead over time as well, they dent, crack and sting. For alloy bats to compete with composite (weight drop and POP) something has to give, they usually make the wall thinner, the thinner they get the more likely they will dent (worth prodigy) and the faster the alloy becomes worn. In another post someone put it 100% correct - whatever the mfg warranty is that's how long the bat should last, after it's all added bonus.

My son's BB catalyst(blue) broke this weekend after 70 plus games and countless BP, lucky enough we had 9 days left under warranty, I called LS for a RA#, they're sending me/him a 2009 Triton 1" longer then current bat. If it last 6 games I'm happy ( was time for a new one anyway) .

I bet it doesn't cost them but pennies on the dollar to actually make a composite bat. The rest is in those pretty ad's you see, Opps I forgot research!!

[ptfpantherdad]

I guess I'm thinking that in PA the season will start when its too cold to use a composite. If it only lasts a year than a good portion (20%?) of the season will be too cold to use it.

[hardhitter]

Most composites last about 1 year - That means for us we hit about 400 to 500 balls a week, something like 35weeks out the year mostly tee work and never do I use dimple balls, again cold weather isn't the issue it's the ball. So I guess in the area of 12000 to 15000 hits before we start seeing issue with most composites we've had. Now we've had a few that broke 3 months in, I have one that still going and it's a 2006 team bat

with composites every bat is different

[ptfpantherdad]

I appreciate the benefits of composite barrels. I just don't see my son being able to take advantage of the benefits. Football is his first love and then basketball and baseball are probably tied for second. He just finished his last weekend of tournament ball ( they played 3 this summer) and he doesn't think if there is another one this weekend that he would want to play. So he isn't playing baseball 24/7 365 days a year. Back in the day when I played high school ball (1984) I would have killed to have access to these bats. We all shared one bat that had a cool grip on it. So I'm looking for bat with technology but that won't break when he's hitting outside in 50* spring weather. I've come to the conclusion a half and half bat with an alloy barrel would be the best for his situation. He tried someone's Easton stealth cnt (30" 17ounce and seemed to like it.) Suggestions are welcome. I'm more than happy to go with a 2007 or 2008 model to fit under the $150 price tag.

[dsore1218]

The only one that tell you if it is worth it to go with a Stealth or a Vexxum is your son. What does he like to swing? What brings out his best attributes as a hitter? Does he like a balanced bat? End-loaded? Does he have a bat he loves or does he really like another bat on the team to swing with? Has he swung them himself?

There is no point in buying anything unless he will use it and it enhances his abilities as a player. Composites will start to break in after 50 - 75 solid hits. They get hotter than alloys. The bat maker can make the bat swing heavier or lighter than its actual weight. School is still out on if it does any worse in the cold than alloys. Remember, for every player that complains about it there are 1,000's of players that don't say anything one way or another.

There are lots of great bats at the $150 price point. Just make sure that it is what he likes otherwise it is just wasted money whether it is a dollar, $150 or $400.

I have 3 sons and my current varsity player uses a Liquidmetal Plasma that is going into it's third year. He still has home run (400+ foot) power with it. He likes the feel and it still has pop, why switch? His brother passed on a Catalyst but #2 has not used it enough to swing it in a game. IF the plasma breaks then it might get some action. The Catalyst is broken in and has produced some line drive homers for a kid that never hit one until he graduated HS and started travel ball with college kids.

BTW son #2 is also a football player. Starting QB for the next 2 years possibly. 14 baseball games this summer with 8 more over the next two weeks, football goes to Aug 1, then picks up later in the month. This is one of the reasons he stays with what works. He had been at a football camp for 5 days then went to a baseball tournament for 6 games in 3 days. He needed to swing what he is familiar with and did not cause him stress. He went 7 for 8 with three walks, 2 HBP, 2 SF.

Hope this helps. I know most of us would spend ourselves blind buying the best for our sons. We just may not need to.

[ptfpantherdad]

I appreciate the advice. My older son (9) is also a QB and has a football camp this week. More fun than instructive but at this age fun is more important. He has excellent hand-eye skills but he hit almost everything opposite field until close to the end of the year. The biggest hurdle since it was his first year of kid pitch was to convince him to swing at almost anything he could reach. He was afraid to swing at balls out of the strike zone and umpires at this level can be quite inconsistent. He really got his confidence up by the last third of the season. Now that football camp started he is in football mode and I think I will wait until Spring rolls around to make a purchase. Or at least January ( his birthday.) The temptation to help by spending money on bats can be quite intoxicating. Thanks for talking me down.