Published by Kyle Hodge, Lead Product Engineer
While Axe Bat is no stranger to slowpitch softball, one thing is for certain, the 2023 Axe Bat slowpitch lineup is turning some heads… and for good reason. While previous model iterations have provided ample performance and durability, specifically dating back to 2021, new regulations in the industry have allowed an opportunity to capitalize on years of research and development, and create a lineup of bats currently topping the industry in barrel performance.
The creation of the 2023 lineup was no happy accident, as each individual model was tuned for the metrics desired by both top slowpitch conference players, and recreational league players alike. Today, we’ll give you a peak behind the curtain regarding the characteristics and design of each slowpitch model, specifically covering:
- Basics of the Composite Bat Design
- Individual Model Characteristics
- MOI’s, Weights, and Barrel Lengths
Basics of the Composite Bat Design
While across industries, the term “composite” can take on a variety of meanings, in baseball and softball, it typically refers to a barrel wall or handle being created of either carbon or glass fiber, or a combination thereof. Softball barrel designs can be extremely complex, specifically due to the variety of options and variables that composite materials offer to the designer. Carbon and glass fibers both have their individual benefits, with different combinations yielding different results. Combine the material options with fiber angle (the orientation in which the fiber is placed upon the bat), number of layers, layer geometry, and order of placement, and you are left with millions of design outputs for any given barrel.
Additionally, each of the three major Axe Bat slowpitch category models feature what we call a “triple wall” barrel, and our Tri-Flex barrel technology, which refers to the use of two separate “slip planes” or “release plies” which separate the barrel wall into three individual segments. Generally, a thinner barrel wall will translate to a high performing barrel, due to the greater deflection of the barrel upon contact with the ball – slip planes work to promote this thin-wall feeling in performance, while still offering the durability of a thicker-walled construction. Each slip plane separates one barrel segment from another, allowing each to act as their own thin-walled region, and ultimately, create a more efficient trampoline, with more energy transferred to the ball. Our Tri-Flex barrel technology can be seen rendered below:
The design characteristics above can be used to promote the desired bat features in a finished product – whether it be maximizing durability, feel/vibration, or of course maximizing performance for the league or governing body in which the bat is stamped. The presence of each league’s “stamp” is the primary reason for multiple models being necessary across the slowpitch category, as the two most prominent governing bodies, USSSA Softball and USA/ASA Softball, both have different peak performance limits allowed on-field. More can be read on the difference between these two in our Bat Performance Standards blog.
Individual Model Characteristics
Every model in the 2023 Axe Bat lineup will come equipped with a composite barrel, composite handle, and your choice of the traditional or “standard” axe handle, along with our new “flared” handle – the difference between these two handles can be seen below:
In addition to the choice of handle, each individual model will offer deign features intended for the desired customer.
AVENGE PRO USSSA
Built to meet the new 240lb USSSA barrel compression standard, the Avenge Pro USSSA is a true leader in industry performance. With a barrel compression off the shelf of approximately 260lb, the Avenge Pro is truly hot out of the wrapper, while still allowing room above the 240lb compression threshold for the bat to amply break-in throughout a season’s use. Upon break-in to the 240-250lb region (which you can expect only after 100’s of hits with a high compression USSSA softball), the bat will truly feature a “can’t miss” barrel, with a sweet, low-feedback feel.
The Avenge Pro USSSA is offered in 25-28oz sizes, and is available in both balanced and endloaded weight distributions.
AVENGE PRO USSSA + USA/ASA
The most versatile bat in the game, the “dual stamp” Avenge Pro model is certified in both USSSA and USA/ASA leagues. With a barrel compression of approximately 280lb, the dual stamp is built to last, while still offering red-hot performance only seen by a select few in the industry. The dual stamp will offer a slower break-in, and is designed for multiple seasons of use. Specifically when hitting the low compression USA softball, this model can be used for batting practice and games alike, with no fear of breaks. It will feature a slightly stiffer, louder barrel, and offer the slightly stiffer feedback that many high-level players prefer, causing this bat to be used as a “gamer” for many top conference players, despite its dual stamp status.
The Avenge Pro USSSA + USA/ASA is offered in balanced 26-28oz sizes.
AVENGE PRO SSUSA
The absolute pinnacle of barrel performance, the SSUSA (Senior Softball) Avenge Pro is the hottest bat allowed in the world of softball. With a barrel compression out of the wrapper of approximately 210lb, the Avenge Pro will offer plenty of performance from swing-one, and will hold-up durability-wise with the best in the industry. The barrel will only get better from there on, breaking-in below the 200lb threshold. The bat is approved for play with any compression softball- both the .44/375’s used in SSUSA play, or harder or softer compression balls from other leagues, such as: .44/400, .40/325, .52/300.
The Avenge Pro SSUSA is offered in balanced 26-28oz sizes.
MOI’s, Weights, and Barrel Lengths
Just as in baseball, understanding the swing weight of your bat can be critically important to ensuring success at the plate. This swing weight can be precisely calculated via Moment of Inertia (MOI) measurement. Further details regarding the calculation and measurement of a bat’s MOI can be read in our previous post.
The entirety of Axe Bat’s slowpitch line is precisely weighted to both maximize barrel performance and fit the desires of a customer and the given weight class. Specific MOI’s for the Avenge Pro USSSA model (26-28oz sizes) are shown below – additionally, the MOI’s of the Dual Stamp (USSSA + ASA/USA) model are equivalent to the BALANCED USSSA models shown on the chart:
Choosing the correct MOI or swing-weight will primarily be driven by customer feel, along with customer swing capability and barrel control. In the most general sense, without variance of any other factors, a heavier and higher MOI bat will result in more “collision efficiency”, and greater exit speeds. However, each bat in Axe Bat’s lineup has its composite makeup tailored specifically for its weight class.
To help gain a better understanding of these shifts in weight, and their results, it can be generalized that most high-level slowpitch players or hitters will be able to distinguish a change when 75-100pt of MOI is altered. Shifts of 50pt or below (i.e. from 8500 to 8520) will often go unnoticed. Additionally, to quantify the difference in collision efficiency and potential performance: generally, shifts in performance due to MOI will be fractional – any large barrel performance effects will be a product of the composite barrel layup, as discussed above, while shifts in MOI will only create slight changes in data: when taking an identical barrel construction, and increasing the MOI by 500pt while keeping the total weight equivalent (for instance, similar to the difference between the 28oz “Balanced” and 28oz “Endload” models shown in the MOI chart above), we would expect the peak batted ball-speed of the barrel construction to increase by approximately a quarter of a mile per hour, while the peak performance location (i.e. sweet-spot) to shift 0.5”-1.0” toward the endcap.
With just a couple of exemptions, almost all Axe Bat slowpitch models have a standardized 13” barrel length. The only exceptions being: USSSA Avenge Pro 25oz and 26oz Endload models, which feature a 12” and 12.5” barrel length, respectively, along with our new USSSA Avenge Pro Miami 12” Barrel Special Edition. In this case, “barrel length” is measured via the distance from the tip of the endcap to the beginning of the taper (as is industry standard). Similar to shifts in MOI discussed above, changes in barrel length will play a small effect on performance of the bat, but they can greatly affect the “feel” of a player – generally, a shorter barrel will result in a peak performance location closer to the endcap, and may feel more “whippy” to most players.
Have further questions regarding this topic? Don’t hesitate to reach out via chat or email to an Axe Bat customer service representative.