Aluminum Baseball Bats

Reviews of the 2011 Aluminum Bats

Here's a summary of the 2011 aluminum baseball bats from all of the manufacturers. I'll give you a rundown of the models available, a brief summary of each, and pricing information on each model and category. This page only includes all aluminum models. If you are interested in this year's composite or hybrid bats, check out the 2011 composite baseball bats.

If you are interested in reading about last year's models, check out the 2010 aluminum baseball bats. Several models have been added to this page in the early part of 2011. Some may lack descriptions. Click on the links below the pictures for more information on each model.

Anderson NanoTek XS & XT

The NanoTek is the front-runner of the Anderson baseball bats in 2011. The XS is the adult model, and the XT is a -5 senior model. Both are single-wall alloy designs.

The main strategy behind the NanoTek bat is that it has a super thin wall with "Launch Pad" technology. There is a zirconium dominant aluminum alloy placed in the sweet spot of the bat, combined with another form of metal coined "NanoMetal" by Anderson. According to their website, the NanoMetal is a "non-aluminum nano-crystalline metallic alloy."

Basically the point behind all this "nano" technology is that it makes creates strong alloys, increasing the hardness and elasticity of the bat. Since they can disperse this material anywhere on the bat as they please, they've decided not to make an end-loaded or handle-loaded bat, but rather a "barrell-weighted" design with the idea that the most weight should be where contact is made...the sweet spot. The XT is running at $300 retail, and the XS at $200.

NanoTek XP Youth -10
Youth -12
Check eBay listings for Anderson NanoTek

Anderson KXS & PXS

Both of these models are single-wall designs in the adult category only. They both feature the DFX II custom alloy, which uses something called Acoustic Enhancement Technology (AET). AET is used to absorb the loud sound waves that aluminum bats typically produce and create a "crack" sound instead of the usual "ping". Anderson claims that alloy transfers energy instead of absorbing it, creating more power. The KXS and PXS are basically the same bat, except the PXS has a thinner handle at the knob. The KXS runs at $300, while the PXS runs at $200.
Check eBay listings for Anderson KXS & PXS

Anderon KXT & KXR

The KXT and KXR are both in the senior category. The KXT is a -5 model, and the KXR is available in -8 and -10 models. These bats are very similar to the PXS bat, as they use the AET technology, and have the thin handles as well. Both are single wall designs. The KXT will cost you $250 retail, and the KXR $250-300 depending on where you get it from.

KXR Senior -8
Senior -10
Check eBay listings for Anderson KXP

Anderson Techzilla

The Techzilla has been a fairly popular youth model for the last couple of years. It is a multi-wall design, that uses what Anderson calls "Power Arch" technology. The idea behing the multi-wall design is that it will provide solid performance throughout the life of the bat, and not lose their pop much like other aluminum bats do. The Techzilla has a drop of -9. This bat runs $250 retail.

TechZilla XP Youth -9
Check eBay listings for Anderson Techzilla

Anderson KXP

The KXP is the single wall youth model, that uses AET technology, and is a little less expensive than the Techzilla. The KXP runs at $200 retail.

KXP Youth -11
Check eBay listings for Anderson KXP

DeMarini M2M

The M2M is a 2-piece, all aluminum model. This is no surprise considering M2M stands for "metal-to-metal." This is an end-loaded bat designed for power hitters. The M2M refers to the 2 pieces of SC4 alloy handle and barrel. The adult and senior -5 models both cost $250, while the youth -12 costs $150.

M2M Adult -3
Senior -5
Youth -12
Check eBay listings for M2M

Rival BBCOR & Rival XXL (2-5/8" & 2-3/4" Barrel)

The Rival & Rival XL Ozone is a 1-piece all aluminum model that is similar to last year's V12. The Ozone model uses Easton's V12 Scandium alloy, as well as their Ozone technology. The Rival uses Easton's new THT100 alloy. The claim is that this bat has the largest sweet spot of all the aluminum bats in baseball.

The 2-5/8" and youth models are listed below, then underneath is the 2-3/4" barrel senior models.

Rival Adult -3 Baseball Bat
Senior -9
Senior -10
Senior -9 Big Barrel
Senior-10 Big Barrel
Youth -13
Check eBay listings for Rival

CV12 XL

The CV12 XL is a 1-piece youth bat that has an aluminum barrel. It uses the new THT100 alloy, but also uses a composite inner tube.

CV12 XL Youth -10
Check eBay listings for CV12

Reflex

Easton has come out with a new paint job for their staple model, the Reflex. It also uses Easton's Pro Tack grip, and is available in adult, senior, and youth categories.

Reflex Adult -3
Senior -8.5
Youth -13
Check eBay listings for Reflex

Louisville Limited Edition Omaha

Not a whole lot going on new with the Omaha, except a new paint job, and it's now .5 oz lighter than the 2010 model. As of this time (July, 2010) it is being sold in the senior -10 and youth -13.5 at Baseball Express, but you may be able to find the adult version on eBay. This legendary model is a 1-piece all aluminum bat using the ST+20 alloy. The adult model runs at $200, the senior -10 at $150, with the youth -13.5 at $120.

Omaha Senior -10
Senior -13.5
Check eBay listings for Omaha

Marucci CAT 5

The CAT 5 is just a straight up, 1-piece aluminum model. The pitch from Marucci is that a bat with less vibration on impact, will boost confidence in the hitter, producing a more powerful swing. It uses something called Abin Harmonic Dampening, to eliminate harmonic vibration caused by off-center hits.

In fact, on their website they show the results of an experiment done by Dr. Daniel A. Russel at Kettering University, comparing the vibration levels on the Marucci against 3 competitor models. They ran the CAT 5 against a Stealth, a CF4, and an Exogrid, and it outperformed all of them by a long shot in vibration reduction levels.

It is a balanced bat, not end-loaded, and available in an adult -3, senior -5 and -8, and a youth -10. Right now, Baseball Express is selling the adult for $360, the two senior models for $300, and the youth model for $240.

CAT5 Adult -3 BBCOR
Adult -3
Senior -5
Senior -8
Youth -10
Check eBay listings for CAT 5

Rawlings 5150 Exogrid

Rawlings is now using the same Exogrid technology that has been used by Louisville. The Exogrid technology is from a company called Vyatek Sports. The 5150 is a 1-piece aluminum alloy model that uses Rawlings' 5150 Alloy. It also uses Vyatek's "Ph.D" technology, or "passive hybrid damping" to help eliminate vibration to the hands on contact. The selling point is that it will revolutionize all-aluminum bats by being one of the first to eliminate vibration on contact.

It's available in the adult, senior league -8.5, and youth -11 models. The adult model is $300, the senior model $250, and the youth is $200.

5150 Exogrid Senior -8.5
Youth -11
Check eBay listings for 5150 Exogrid

Rawlings 5150 Alloy

The 5150 Alloy is a 1-piece all-aluminum model with a balanced feel. The 5150 Alloy is claimed to be hotter than the aluminum bats of the past, with higher strength and increased flex, producing more trampoline effect. The 2011 model is only available in the senior league category at $150. If interested in other categories such as adult and youth, check out the 2010 models.

5150 Alloy Adult -3
Check eBay listings for 5150 Alloy

Worth Lithium Prodigy

The Lithium Prodigy appears to be the same as the 2010 model. It's an all aluminum, 1-piece, balanced design. Here is the low-down on this model. Based on Worth's website, they emphasize that it is a flexible design that creates maximum whiplash effect. The emphasis is on the flexibility of the bat. It has a 30% thinner taper to improve this characteristic. (Thinner than what, I don't know. Perhaps it's 2010 model.) It uses the same alloy that was used in last year's model, which is their D955.

Baseball Express is only offering this model in the adult and senior league categories, with both of them priced at $200. The senior model has a 2-3/4" barrel.

Lithium Prodigy Adult -3 BBCOR
Adult -3
Senior -10
Check eBay listings for Lithium Prodigy

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