Youth, high school, or college baseball players looking for the best BBCOR bats for the 2022 season, you are likely analyzing all different sorts of brands and bat models.
We have you covered. Our bat analysis and reviews dig deep into the factors that matter most to you.
TIP: In a hurry? Jump to our BBCOR bat reviews by season:
Are you looking for balance, best pop, or durability? Composite construction, aluminum, or maybe a hybrid? Overall performance? A certain swing weight?
Our goal is to make you feel confident and powerful in the box without having to spend hours reading online reviews. We’ve done that for you!
When do 2022 bats come out?
2022 MODELS BY DEMARINI ARE OUT NOW! See them now
The first releases were from DeMarini, releasing the 2022 Zoa D-Lab BBCOR bat and Slugger has released the 2022 Meta LTD Edition BBCOR bat.
2022 BBCOR Bats by Easton, Slugger and other brands are expected to be released soon.
Click here to view the full 2022 BBCOR lineup.
Not quite in high school yet? Discover our picks for the best youth baseball bats.
2022 Top BBCOR Bats
BREAKING – DEMARINI & LOUSVILLE SLUGGER RELEASE 2022 LINEUP – continue scrolling to see the new models. Be sure to take advantage of Cyber Weekend Sales — up to 40% off select bats. Shop DeMarini here and Slugger here.
Here is the most comprehensive list of 2021-2022 high school baseball bats (BBCOR) released to date. These baseball bats have a barrel size of 2 5/8 Inches and a drop weight of -3, unless otherwise noted.
Sort through the full list below to find the bat review you are looking for.
TIP: With many Slugger and DeMarini bat models low on inventory, take advantage of their custom bats, available now for only $50 more. Check out DeMarini custom bats and Slugger custom bats
Updated: March 14, 2021
2021-2022 BBCOR Bats | Released | Review |
|---|---|---|
2022 The Goods BBCOR Baseball Bat
| OUT NOW | 2022 The Goods BBCOR is a popular “half and half” model. It is back with a two-piece end loaded design with fresh silver and black graphics. |
2022 The Goods One BBCOR Baseball Bat
| OUT NOW | 2022 The Goods One BBCOR is an end-loaded, one-piece version of the infamous Goods BBCOR model. |
2022 Voodoo One BBCOR Baseball Bat
| OUT NOW | 2022 Voodoo One BBCOR is a one-piece balanced option for faster swing speeds. |
2022 Voodoo BBCOR Baseball Bat
| OUT NOW | 2022 Voodoo BBCOR is slated to be a popular balanced option with a new, multicolor barrel. |
| OUT NOW | 2022 CF BBCOR is slated to be a balanced two-piece bat with a massive barrel. |
2022 Gattaca (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat
| OUT NOW | 2022 Gattaca BBCOR is out now. |
2022 Zoa (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat
| OUT NOW | 2022 Zoa BBCOR is the newest addition to the DeMarini composite bat lineup. |
2022 Meta (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat
| OUT NOW | 2022 Meta BBCOR by Louisville Slugger is out now. It has a three-piece construction, a huge sweet spot, and is slated to be one of Slugger’s highest performing bats to date. |
2022 Meta PWR (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat
| OUT NOW | 2022 Meta PWR BBCOR by Louisville Slugger is out now. This is a heavier, end-loaded alternative to the Meta, built for power. |
2022 Zoa D-Lab (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat
| out now – in stock! | With an innovative Continuous Fiber Composite Barrel, this pricey bat promises delivers power with a combination of bat speed and barrel control. It is yet to be seen whether the near $500 price point is worth it with options like the Goods & Voodoo One at more affordable prices. |
Axe Bat 2022 Elite One Pro (-3) BBCOR
| out now – in stock! | A “hot out of the wrapper” 1-piece alloy bat. At an affordable price point, it could be worth buying for its raw power. While the Axe Handle may take some getting used to, a study revealed more exit velo and a greater launch angle compared to a standard knob. |
2022 Meta LTD Edition (-3) 2 5/8″ BBCOR Baseball Bat
| out now – in stock! | The Louisville Slugger 2022 Meta (-3) BBCOR Bat is back and available exclusively at the Omaha Experience store and slugger.com. In a game-changing Vegas Gold and Royal metallic combination, the EKOTM composite barrel delivers unmatched performance and feel. |
| out now | The Goods One Piece BBCOR bat is a one-piece bat with an X14 alloy barrel designed to feel like a wood bat with the power of an aluminum barrel. | |
| out now | The 2021 Voodoo One BBCOR brings the heat optimized for peak bat pace, optimum stiffness and a feeling comparable to wood bats. | |
| out now | The 2021 Gattaca by DeMarini is the most technologically advanced bat on the market, built with launch angle, exit velocity, and spin rate in mind. | |
| out now | The 2021 Voodoo BBCOR offers players the unbelievable feel and balance of a two-piece hybrid bat with the strength and toughness of an alloy barrel. | |
| out now | The 2021 CF (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat reigns as a top two-piece composite bat in today’s game. | |
| out now | The 2021 Omaha (-3) offers what elite power hitters like – a big sweet spot and a stiff handle. | |
| out now | The 2021 Solo (-3) by Slugger is a balanced, light-swinging feel with a signature alloy tone. | |
| out now | Heavy-swinging two-piece bat with an “extra stiff” handle. Check out the Bat Bros unboxing. | |
| out now | Three-piece technologies that prove Slugger’s bat innovation continues to drive quality models each season. | |
| out now | End-loaded, solid composite handle with an alloy barrel (no break-in). A satisfactory replacement to the 33″ Meta that was banned. | |
| out now | Pure power hitter bat that piggybacks off the 2020 Goods (arguably the best BBCOR bat). Stiff, 2-piece, and end-loaded. Huge sweet spot. Amazingly forgiving on mishits. 1-year warranty. | |
| out now | Hybrid power-hitters bat with serious bat control. A close comparison to the CAT9 Connect, just lighter. VICTUS is here to stay. |
| out now | One-piece alloy bat. A more traditional aluminum model with a smaller sweet spot than the CAT8, but more power. “Light years” better than the CAT8 according to the Baseball Bat Bros. | |
| Marucci CAT9 Connect | out now | Hybrid bat with a composite handle and alloy barrel. A lot louder than just the CAT9 and a more traditional power hitters bat. Has an awesome sound as well. |
| 2021 Easton B5 PRO BIG BARREL -3 | out now | One-piece aluminum with a classic look. An initial review can be found on the Bat Bros YouTube Channel |
| Axe Bat 2021 Elite One (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat | out now | One-piece alloy from Axe Bats at an affordable price point |
| Axe Bat 2021 Elite (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat | out now | 2-piece hybrid from Axe Bats with its signature Axe Handle |
With COVID-19 and manufacturing delays, many new baseball bat models will see their summer release date pushed back to September or October.
Remember to bookmark us to read our in-depth 2021 BBCOR bat reviews as we wrap up 2020. Full reviews will include the intriguing 2021 DeMarini “The Goods” and the 2021 Louisville Slugger Meta PWR. Stay tuned!
Continue reading to find top bat models from the previous year.
Best BBCOR Baseball Bat of 2021
BatSmash.com is dedicated to providing the most up-to-date bat reviews on the web. This includes the best 2021 BBCOR baseball bats as the season is in full swing, with 2022 models soon on the horizon.
New BBCOR bat models are out and ready to purchase. Louisville Slugger and DeMarini have released their entire 2021 bat lineup.
Best BBCOR Bat of the Year Overall
2021 The Goods
Read our full review of The Goods BBCOR – our top bat of the year – here.
Stay tuned to BatSmash.com where we will keep our readers informed on how the rest of the 2021 baseball bats perform.
In the meantime, continue reading to find the entire list of 2021 BBCOR models.
Best BBCOR Bats 2020
Looking for 2021 Bats? Click here
At BatSmash.com, we dig deep to find the best bats each season, discovering top aluminum, composite, and hybrid BBCOR baseball bat (-3) models. We are passionate about helping players choose the right bat through our research and tips for bat selection.
| Bats Reviewed | Construction | Weight | Material | Price | SmashScore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easton 360 Maxum | one-piece | balanced | composite | $ | A- |
| DeMarini “The Goods” | two-piece | end-loaded | hybrid | $ | A+ |
| DeMarini Voodoo | two-piece | balanced | hybrid | $ | A |
| Marucci CAT8 | one-piece | balanced | aluminum | $ | B+ |
| Louisville Slugger 2020 Meta | three-piece | balanced | hybrid | $ | A |
| Rawlings Quatro Pro | two-piece | balanced | hybrid | $ | A- |
| 2021 Louisville Slugger LTD | two-piece | end-loaded | hybrid | $ | B+ |
Before we get into Smash’s 2020 best BBCOR bat reviews, let’s briefly review what “BBCOR” is and the importance of choosing the best baseball bat.
What does BBCOR mean?
A BBCOR bat is the baseball bat certification required for non-woo bats in competitive high school (NFHS) and college baseball (D1 NCAA). BBCOR .50 was introduced in 2011 and stands for Ball Bat Coefficient of Restitution (B.B.C.O.R).
Top bats each season are on display at the College World Series, drawing eyes from across the United States onto top models from Easton, Demarini, Slugger, Rawlings, and newer players on the scene, such as Marucci.
These bats consist of composite material, or the more popular material, aluminum (alloy). Whether you’re a home run hitter, contact hitter with a high OBP, or somewhere in between, choosing the right BBCOR model is crucial.
In doing our research, we have narrowed down a list of what we think is the “best baseball bat 2020” (and 2021) and five other excellent choices when looking for your new bat this season.
We will be looking at the common features of each new bat, as well as features unique to certain models. We have also taken into account user reviews of these bats from all over the internet, vetted and tested to truly find the best baseball bat BBCOR (-3).
A Look at 2020’s Hottest BBCOR Bats
Here at BatSmash, we analyzed Google Trends, to find the most popular BBCOR bats on the market in 2020, as well as social media sentiment, and honed down our list from there.
The hottest bats from brands such as Easton, DeMarini, and Louisville Slugger BBCOR bats were then deeply researched for the factors that matter most.
Factors we consider in our top bat choices:
- best pop
- exit velocity
- overall quality
- durability
- customer experiences
- field tests
- swing weight
- value
We also take into account whether the bat is aluminum or a composite model, and how that plays into the overall product. Because of our extensive research and analysis in choosing these bats, you will see why we at Batsmash are the best bat reviewers on the internet!
6 Best BBCOR Bats of 2020
Over twenty of the best BBCOR bats were researched in this year’s BatSmash.com bat reviews. We found the six best from the hottest brands such as Easton, DeMarini, Slugger, with up-and-coming Marucci and a Rawlings model making the list. For spoilers, the Marucci POSEY28 BBCOR was a close runner up.
Our BatSmash review system analyzes over 30 bat factors and recommends the following as great choices to fill your baseball bag with this season.
Let’s get into our best picks for this season.
2020 Easton Maxum 360 BBCOR Baseball Bat -3
Why it’s a top pick
- One-piece with a powerful composite barrel
- Giant sweet spot
- Balanced barrel for a light swing
The Easton Maxum 360 BBCOR is a great bat for a power hitter with its long barrel and sweet spot. Easton has been a leading brand in BBCOR bats for years, and they show no signs of slowing down their innovation.
Check price on Amazon:
Many reviews have commented on how the bat is lightweight, thus giving the hitter not only power but great bat speed at the same time.
This 1-piece composite received high praise from online reviewers and at a reasonable price point.
2020 DeMarini The Goods (-3) – BBCOR Bat with Best Pop
Why it’s a top pick
- Solid alloy with huge pop
- Strong two-piece construction that helps to eliminate sting
- Power you can feel, built for home run hitters
Demarini The Goods BBCOR has become hugely popular for its hybrid construction (composite handle and alloy barrel) and powerful top heavy weight and stiff feel. When you swing this model and connect even close to the sweet spot, it is going to punish the ball.
Click here to see our full 2020-2021 The Goods Review
It has a stable two-piece hybrid design that allows for an enhanced grip with little vibration upon making contact. This bat is for hitters that love to swing for the fences with a solid composite handle and a stiff alloy barrel. Built for power, 2020 The Goods topped DeMarini’s mass index chart for distance and power this season.
DeMarini 2020 Voodoo (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat
Why it’s a top pick
- Lightweight with a surprisingly large sweet spot
- Great for those looking for a balanced BBCOR bat
- Composite handle for a strong base
The DeMarini Voodoo is another DeMarini that shows up on our list. This bat is much lighter and more durable than The Goods.
The Voodoo’s weight allows for higher bat speed as well as a balanced swing, making this model a great choice for contact hitters this season.
Check price on Amazon:
The composite handle and an aluminum barrel, or hybrid model is a nice interesting touch that is comfortable while setting it apart from other bats. Online reviews noted an almost neverending sweet spot and a feel great on nearly every batted ball. The DeMarini Voodoo is undoubtedly a top choice for 2020.
Marucci CAT8 BBCOR Bat
Why it’s a top pick
- Great pop out of the wrapper with zero vibration
- Massive sweet spot and well-balanced
- Sleek design
- Budget-friendly price
The Marucci CAT8 is a unique one-piece model, boasting a “multi-variable wall design”, which promises to expand the sweet spot of the bat. This may be the most high-tech bat on our list.
It deserves its spot merely because of its innovation and proven results as a close successor to the popular CAT7. It doesn’t hurt to have nearly perfect online reviews, boasting a 4.9-star rating over 59 reviews on across the internet.
Click the image below to view on Amazon
Many bat reviews online noted the bat has optimal control during swings and is highly durable. It also comes with its own anti-vibration knob, allowing for greater comfort when making contact.
The most notable feature of the CAT8 is the large sweet spot, noted as possibly having the largest sweet spot of any BBCOR bat in recent years.
At the most affordable price point on our list, the Marucci Cat 8 BBCOR makes for an excellent value bat choice that shouldn’t be slept on.
2020 Louisville Slugger Meta (-3) – Best BBCOR Bat for Contact Hitters
Why it’s a top pick
- Sophisticated three-piece model
- Large barrel and balanced swing weight
- High exit velocity noted among online reviewers
- Excellent barrel control through zone without sacrificing pop
The 2020 Louisville Slugger Meta BBCOR bat separates itself from other models on our list by its “three-piece” build. The sophisticated technology behind this design will give a hitter a feeling of great balance when swinging with serious trampoline effect on contact.
The barrel is noted as quite large according to various online reviewers, who also experienced huge exit velocity as well. The three-piece design may take some getting used to, but it is designed like this that keeps Slugger at the top of the bat world.
If your budget can fit it in, the BatSmash awards the Louisville Slugger Meta the best BBCOR bat for contact hitters this year.
The ‘Hottest BBCOR on the market’ attracted a lot of attention this season. The 33″ 30oz model of the 2020 Meta BBCOR was banned by the NCCA as of February 25, 2020.
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The 31, 32, and 34-inch models are not restricted.
Rawlings Quatro Pro BBCOR Bat 2020 (-3)
Why it’s a top pick
This bat is an outlier on our list because it is made from composite materials and not aluminum. Do not let that scare you away though. The 2020 Rawlings Quatro Pro features suspended inner-barrel technology that will have a hitter swinging with balance and confidence.
The barrel of the Rawlings Quatro Pro is long with plenty of sweetspot to go around. If a batter is looking for their first composite, this is a great starting point but doesn’t lack power for the experienced. We’re proud to tag the Quatro Pro the best composite bat of 2020.
Best BBCOR Baseball Bat of 2020 – Demarini “The Goods”
Features
- Enormous barrel, sweet spot
- Two-piece connection handle and a stiff feel on contact
- Huge pop, one of the best-reviewed bats by players
When choosing our favorite bat of 2020, it was clear through our research that The Goods BBCOR Baseball Bat l was far and away the most praised by online reviewers.
When taking a look at the distinct features of the bat it is easy to see why this is: This is an aluminum bat that prioritizes stiffness and power, maximizing energy transfer to give hitters confidence in every swing. With its distinct two-piece composite bat construction, hitters will immediately feel the power in their swing, making it our best BBCOR bat for a power hitter this year.
Many online reviewers, including the Baseball Bat Bros, loved The Goods for its impressive pop and affordable price point. Well worth of the best bat award.
Check out our full lineup of 2020 BBCOR .50 (-3) reviews:
For now, here is a brief look at the Slugger LTD 2021 bat. Our analysis of the new three-piece Meta is currently underway. Enjoy!
Review: 2021 Louisville Slugger LTD Select (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat
This brand new model features a top-loaded swing weight and two-piece hybrid construction. It sports a ST7U1+ alloy barrel and composite handle that will give you durability, balance, and power.
From an initial review, it appears to be a solid bat. Many replaced the banned 2020 Meta 33″ with this and were satisfied with its performance.
Description
With their own patented technology, Louisville Slugger explodes into the new season with a bat experience like no other: One that features independent movement between the barrel and a handle that makes for an amazing feel on contact. Its SBC (Speed Ballistic Composite) end cap maximizes swing speed potential.
Features
The bat is described as slightly top-heavy, but several reviews and personal tests from BatSmash say it is closer to a balanced swing weight. It still is a power-hitter friendly bat, as noted by online reviewers as that hitting ‘dingers’ were not a challenge.
While the LTD Select doesn’t have as much pop as the Slugger Meta, the sentiment is that players found it to be a suitable replacement. It has a similar swing and close to the same amount of pop and power.
Recommendation
The LTD Select BBCOR baseball bat is a solid choice and looks to have started the 2021 bat line off strong. We will wait until the rest of the models are released to make a final judgment on if it is a top bat or not.
Stay tuned for the latest bat updates as the new baseball season approaches.
Tips for Choosing a BBCOR Bat
Choosing from countless BBCOR baseball bats is not easy. Consider these important factors before choosing a bat to buy.
End-loaded vs. balanced
Are you the type of hitter that is swinging for the fences and uses power to illustrate your skills? An end-loaded bat is probably the best choice for you. If you are a contact hitter that loves to get on base, you are probably looking for a more balanced swing and should reach for a lightweight composite bat.
Composite vs. Alloy
The most common BBCOR bats are undoubtedly aluminum or alloy bats. They are known to be more durable and reliable than a composite. Aluminum bats are the original high school and college bat and continue to be a popular choice year-in, year-out.
Composite baseball bats, on the other hand, are made with a variety of different materials – from the knob to the handle and barrel – offering a far more involved hitting experience.
A comp bat also has a “breaking-in” period that must be taken into account. If you take care of your bat and practice with it frequently, this should only make you more comfortable and familiar with the bat when hitting.
Wood BBCOR bats are also worth mentioning. Composite wood models are recommended, which follow similar rules to composite metal bats. Nonetheless, both an aluminum and comp bat will always be recommended over wood bats. Unless of course, you play in a wooden bat league.
Hitter Type: Power, Contact or Something In Between
Power hitters will be much better off with a single-piece bat with a stiff feel. A composite bat may make more “consistent” solid contact, however, the raw power of one-piece alloy construction offers the highest power potential.
Contact hitters will be more comfortable with a more balanced bat when it comes to swing weight. A 2-piece composite is a great choice for high batting-average type hitters. These allow for higher swing speed, more bat control, and more consistent hard contact. These feel “lighter” and make it easier to put the bat on the ball. Highly recommended for lead-off, scrappy, and hard-to-get-out players.
New vs. Old Models
Collegiate and youth baseball moved on from wood bats officially in 2011 into a new type called BBCOR bats. The two BBCOR models are Aluminum alloy bats and Composite bats. Both types offer a different variety of pros and cons, as well as a fluctuating price range.
Since the introduction of BBCOR bats, there have been numerous innovations. In 2019 for example, Easton announced five new bats, each of which contained exciting and groundbreaking new technologies. These innovations include things like, using anti-vibration foam, a stronger end cap, optimizing barrel diameter shapes to find a better balance, installing softer rubber knobs for comfort, and installing composite caps to help even the weight distribution of their bats.
These examples only apply to Easton, not the numerous other companies we have talked about. The possibilities for new BBCOR bats are endless and ever-evolving.
Each year brings new innovation to BBCOR bats, so it is always a good idea to stay up to date with us here on BatSmash as we cover the latest models!
BBCOR Bat FAQs
Here are common questions that buyers have when looking to buy a BBCOR bat.
What is the Best BBCOR Bat of 2021?
Our pick for the top BBCOR Bat 2021, two years in a row, is DeMarini’s “The Goods”, a power-hitters dream with a great swing feel that contact hitters will also live.
How do I choose the right BBCOR baseball bat?
Finding the right BBCOR bat can be challenging without ever swinging it. Look for features that matter most to you as a batter, such as one-piece vs. two, alloy vs. composite vs hybrid, balanced vs. top-loaded swing weights. Also, consider grip, end cap construction, and knob size. Read reviews with a grain of salt.
Do BBCOR bats come in drop 5?
No, BBCOR certified bats require drop 3, meaning the drop weight cannot be higher than -3. Little League and USSSA leagues have their own drop weight requirements.
What happened to BSER bats?
BBCOR certification was introduced in 2011 to replace BSER bats. All new baseball bats must be under BBCOR protocol.
What is a ‘hybrid’ BBCOR bat?
When the handle and barrel are made of two different materials in two-piece bats.
Are there bats best for cold weather?
Aluminum bats are less impacted by cold weather in comparison to composite models.
Can I use a BBCOR bat in high school?
Of course! In fact, BBCOR certification is required for all high school baseball bats.
What materials are BBCOR bats made of?
A knob, grip, handle, barrel, and end cap – just like any other metal bat.
Do BBCOR bats lose pop?
Yes, all aluminum bats, including BBCOR do lose pop and power over time.
What is the best BBCOR bat of 2020?
Our analysis found DeMarini’s “The Goods” series to be the best BBCOR bat for the 2020 season. This hybrid bat built for power hitters received the highest ratings online and was one of the most hyped bats this year.
What is a one piece bat?
A one-piece is made out of a single material from the knob to the end cap. Aluminum one-piece is the classic metal bat construction. Today, we see up to three-piece bats.