Louisville has a long and respected history in the baseball bat industry, but has lagged behind in the composite segment of the market. Its 2009 entry into the high-end composites category, the Triton, was met with a lukewarm reception. For 2010 they have not changed ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING in their line, except cosmetics. They didn’t even try to fool us into thinking they made changes. The verbiage of their 2010 bats is identical to the verbiage of their 2009 bats. They even changed the name of their second-tier composite bat for the third year in a row without changing anything about the bat. This is extremely disappointing from what most consider the holy grail of baseball bat manufacturers. On a positive note, they have adjusted their pricing policy to align the price (excluding the EXO) with the bat material.
Here’s the breakdown of the Louisville lineup:
Louisville Compound bats
- TPX Triton – A 3-piece bat made with 100% composite material with Louisville’s rigid handle and balanced design. The 2010 Triton is exactly the same bat as the 2009 model, except for a putrid blue / yellow color change that makes it look cheap. This bat has by far the largest barrel I have ever seen in a baseball bat. Like I said in the past, it would be best for Louisville to call this a multi-piece bat or stick to a true one-piece design. Instead, they continue to market it as a three-piece bat joined together as a one-piece bat. I’ve hit with the Triton and seen high school kids use it in games and it appears to be a quality bat, but it just hasn’t caught fire. You will rarely see him in high school games and hardly ever in college. Even on college teams that use Louisville bats, players choose Exogrid, Omaha, or H2 (in that order) and not Triton. The retail price remains at $ 399.99 for the Adult -3 model. If you like this bat, you will save about $ 100 by buying the 2009 model off the discount shelf (and you will have a bat that looks good). I recommend the Easton Speed for experienced players who want a 100% compound bat.
- Composite TPX Dynasty – This 100% 7C composite one-piece bat has the Louisville rigid handle and balanced design. This bat is the same as the 2009 Omaha Comp and 2008 Catalyst. Louisville seems to be playing musical chairs named after this bat and decided that the old Dynasty name would make sense for 2010. I think this bat is an excellent bat pick. second-tier compound for two reasons. First, it comes at a great price of $ 259 for the Adult -3 model. Second, it has a proven track record of being a Catalyst / Omaha Comp. An excellent option for those looking for a lower priced composite bat.
Louisville Hybrid bats:
- H2: The 2010 model is exactly the same bat as in 2009, but with one big difference, they have adjusted the price to what a hybrid bat should be! Do you believe in miracles? It seems that the H2 did not sell well in 2009 and they were forced to price it correctly. It is a two piece bat that joins the pieces together to state that it is a one piece bat (we have already covered this). The 100% composite handle is the stiffest in Louisville, which says something. The barrel is a 100% ST + 20 alloy barrel and a balanced oscillating weight design. The Adult -3 model retails for $ 299 in 2010, $ 70 less than its 2009 retail price. You can also find the 2009 model for even less.
- Exogrid: EXO keep moving forward! It has been one of Louisville’s best-selling bats and the 2010 model is identical to the 2008 and 2009 models. Clearly, they are going to milk this golden goose for as long as possible because it continues to sell for an incredible $ 369. In my opinion This bat is closer to a 100% alloy bat than a hybrid, but with the carbon sleeve cut into the handle, it is in the hybrid category. I think the price of this bat is too high and I can’t recommend it when for an extra $ 30 I can get the 100% compound Triton. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good bat, but I can’t recommend pulling the trigger at $ 369. If you love this bat, look for the 2008 or 2009 model. It’s the same bat and it will cost you a lot less money. As mentioned, there are no design changes, it is still a one-piece, 100% alloy bat with some metal cut out of the handle and replaced with composite material. It comes with the Louisville rigid handle and a balanced design. As mentioned above, most college team players using Louisville bats swing the Exogrid.
Louisville Alloy bats
- TPX Omaha: Omaha also continues to advance. It is a one-piece, 100% alloy bat with a Louisville rigid shank and a balanced design. The 2010 model is the same as the 2009 model and is reasonably priced at $ 199.99 for the Adult -3 model. It’s a great option for those not looking to break the bank to buy a baseball bat. Many college team players with Louisville contracts prefer to use the Omaha over the Triton or H2.
- Omaha XT rigid: This bat has apparently been out since last year, but I haven’t seen it anywhere else except on the Louisville website. I don’t know if it’s a hybrid or an alloy, all Louisville says is that it has an ST + 20 alloy and an extra stiff compound reinforced transition. It seems strange to call this bat the Omaha Stiff when all Louisville bats are known for their stiff handles and the H2 has the stiffest handle of all.
Louisville makes quality bats, but they need to decide if they are going to jump into the multi-piece bat market or not. If you are submitting a multi-piece design, please tell me what a multi-piece design is and why it makes sense. Don’t tell me it’s bound to be a one-piece bat.
Take a look at the Baseball Bat Reviews Blog for reviews of all 2010 baseball bats.
