20 Best Single Wall Softball Bat (2023 Updated)

I purchased this bat for my daughter in March ’21. Initially I was very happy with the results of this bat that my daughter was getting with her hitting. It is now June ’21 and this bat is having issues with separation in the barrel of the bat.

It has not even gone 4 months!!! Luckily we purchased the extended warranty thinking that if we had a problem with this bat we could exchange it or another Rawlings Mantra. Ohhh. I was so wrong! We took the bat back to our local Dicks to exchange it only to find out that Dick’s does not carry this bat any longer in their stores or on their website.

I was not offered any explanation why this is the case. I have researched it online and have not found what the reason may be either.

Bought the 33/23 for my HS freshman daughter. Hit it the first 2 days off a tee with the sorry Dicks bucket balls. Took it to HS practice on Saturday. Hit off the tee and soft toss. Hit 10 +/- pitches.

2 out of park one of which was a bomb. Took it to travel practice on Sunday within 6 swings it sounded like marbles inside. Both days was mid 60s and using decent well hit balls. No new balls or water logged balls.

You can tap on one side and it sounds good the other side sounds like said marbles. Lost all of its pop after that. Pretty sad to only get about 50-75 swings from a $400 bat. And only maybe 15 or so of those was at a moving ball.

My daughter is a 12 year old travel ball player. Up until now she has used the Easton Ghost but I got tired of replacing them constantly. The last Ghost Advanced she had lasted one tournament before it cracked.

This led us to try the Mantra. It has been a great bat, it doesn’t have the Ghost distinctive sound and not quite as much pop, but it’s durable. I would compare it more closely to an LXT than Ghost.

I bought the Miken Freak Primo 34/26 on 5/30/22 and slowly breaking it in…just a couple of batting sessions (live pitching), twenty swings each time. Has a lot of pop coming off the bat…just feels like it still needs to be broken in.

I think after a couple of more sessions that will do the trick. The “USA Softball” label is on the bat and should be good for certified league play. ASA changed their name to USA Softball in 2020 so you won’t find the old ASA label.

I had my doubts too…. but thanks to a very knowledgeable Dick Sporting Goods person…got me straighten out. Look it up. Anyway, I think this bat will do well…. and be sure to purchase the extended warranty…good for replacement of bat due to damage.

Just got my matrix bat in yesterday and WOW this is a good looking bat. The detail inside the logos looks so clean. I hit the bat today for the first time and the pop when you hit the sweet spot is awesome.

I cant’t speak to much on the durability of the bat since I just got it yesterday but it feels like the real deal. I can’t wait to use it in my next game.

Great sound out of the wrapper. Took it to BP and then to a tourney. It was used heavily and quickly became the favorite for those looking for a quality pop on contact. if you make a solid connection with the sweet spot, this bat you will in turn give you excellent velocity.

This balanced bat is ideal for hitters looking to drive the ball hard and get on base with a high percentage. I lead off for our team and this is my go too. Again this is a great option for those looking for swing control and ball placement.

I can also still get to the fence when bases are full and a longer swing is needed. This bat is HOTT and sounds great when hitting the sweet spot. My line drives have never looked so good and my on base percentage has risen.

The grip has seemed to wear a bit, but that is sometimes expected with additional use and switch hitting. If only the white stayed fresh and as clean as the day I opened it. Great looking bat and excellent product.

No real complaints.

Our daughter (16) got this bat from her grandma for her birthday. She had it custom made and was so happy with the way it looked and performed. Started out being her most favorite bat, but less than 2 months later, it started rattling and the handle came off.

Being that it’s customized, we can not return it. For the cost, I was expecting to get more than a couple months out of this season. We are faithful Louisville purchasers and are disappointed with the quality of this bat.

She finished the last few weeks of her high school season and only a few weeks into her travel before the handle came loose and the rattling began. Very disappointed.

Purchased about mont ago for 13 yr old. 5’4 110# approximately 33 drop 10. Hit approximately 50-60 each off tee and soft toss. Rotating each hit. Then hit live vs pitching 45-55 mph. Great balance and pop.

Definitely a confidence booster. Pricing is same everywhere. Price is steep for sure but if you can get coupons, rewards etc. Then go for it. Only 4 star until we find out longevity but seems solid !.

No doubt best bat my daughter (16, plays High school and competitive travel ball) has owned. She’s always liked the LXT best, especially the 2018 LXT and now this year’s model. She prefers it over her Ghost.

This bat has great pop and is hot immediately. My daughter is a power hitter and has been hitting bombs with this bat. Highly recommend. Been using it for almost 3 months now.

Good power & pop on the ball, very lively for an aluminum bat! Very end loaded, I should have went with a 26oz instead of 27oz. My league requires you to use an alloy bat! I have an old DeMarini Double wall and the Miken has more pop then the DeMarini!.

I like the feel of this new bat. I’m a senior in an early morning pick up game and went 1/5 my first game with this new bat. I expect better results next game. Another fellow, a bit younger than me, really liked my new bat too.

Most of the other guys there, have their own bats. But this one guy loved mine! I’m happy.

I’ve been buying the Miken Vicious every year and this year’s model is by far the best. I like the new addition of an end load and the graphics. Can’t go wrong for the price! Tons of pop out of the wrapper.

Great Pop! Balanced feel is Smooth! You don’t have to swing your guts out, let the bat do the work. This changed the game back in the day. To swing it now in Senior Softball is pretty cool for me.

There is no other bat that I have ever used that performs as well as a Miken Ultra II. The ball just pops off the bat. Many leagues have banned it from use. Check your leagues rules before you purchase it.

There are only 2 negatives on this bat that you should be aware of. It can crack in time and has no warranty. The previous Miken Ultra II that I owned lasted for 8 years. The second concern is try not to use the bat when the temperature is under 60 degrees.

Other than that you will not be disappointed with this lethal weapon!.

Never used in outside game only inside practices 2 times a week for 1-1/2 months. Bat never felt like it was broken in and then developed a crack. I am a 64 year old non home run hitter. Poor quality bat.

Contacted Miken via their web page and never got a response but has only been a week since attempted contact.

This has been a starter bat for my 10yr old who’s playing her first year on a travel ball team. WE. LOVE. THIS. BAT. This is, so far, the only bat style that hasn’t had to be replaced or cracked on our team.

Most have Easton Ghosts that are currently cracked, and one just got a brand new 2022 Meta for Christmas – first swing at practice, CRACKED! That is absurd for a $400-$500 bat. Now you gotta work for the pop on this prism.

There is a pretty small sweet spot, but when you hit it – to the fence it goes! Mine has already hit a homer. I am currently looking for a secondary bat for my daughter and can’t find one with the durability ratings DeMarini has.

Might need to just go with the CF at this point.

Right out of the box this science experiment was the surprise winner of the Miss America Beauty pageant. We knew right away looks isn’t all this bat had. After swing a drop 13 for the past 6 months going with this drop 11 was a little nerve racking.

My 10U rockstar feels like the bat swings lighter with a touch of weight on the end. She went from driving solid shots with her old bat to the outer edge of the infield to. laser beams to the outer edge of the universe.

We heard that the Guardians of the Galaxy have been called in to recover some of the lost balls. You like I’m joking. I’m not. All seriousness the bat has great pop but the sweet spot might be a little narrow.

Referring to that beautiful cracking sound we all love so much.

Here’s the straight truth. Daughter is 5’4” 125lbs athletic build. Bat is 32/22. Our highschool fence is a big one, 225ft. The first week of use the bat didn’t get past 170-180ft. Less than most new bats straight outa the wrapper.

The second week it reached about 190ft the third week it loosened up to 200 consistently. After the fourth week it is putting a couple over the fence around 230ft. Same weather 70-75, same buckets of balls.

If you like the CRACK of a ghost or lxt you’ll be dissatisfied. Like most demarini, this bat is very quiet. My daughter says it took her a week to figure out the sweet spot by feel instead of sound. I rate it a 4 because it does need a couple weeks break in time.

Even though this bat is labeled the 2022 Freak, it appeared to be the 2021 Freak based on price. I couldn’t really tell as the pics showed two different bats and the info in the description was minimal.

Turns out it was indeed to 2021 Freak. I plan to start breaking it in tomorrow to see if it holds true to my previous experience with Miken.

This review is really about the shipping because we haven’t even used the bat yet. I ordered the bat last night after dinner and it’s here the next day at noon! So excited! Really wanted to use it for the next game and now we can AND be able to work with it before then.

Very lightweight. Has a good pop. I did however have it swapped and I wanted to mention that JustBats customer service is fantastic. They will help you out in any way they can. Probably some of the best customer service I have got from a company.

If you think your daughter would benefit from a composite bat, but she needs a drop 13, this is the bat for you! My small 8 year old (50 inches/55 pounds) hits solid doubles into the outfield now with the 28 inch version.

🙂 She says it doesn’t sting her hands either.

We bought this a few months ago. It is light weight but still delivers a lot of pop. It is a great bat for the price! My 6 year old smacks the ball to the outfield almost every at bat. No dents so far, and her teammates use it also.

It’s a hot bat at a decent price!.

This bat has lots of pop. Very balanced for an easy smooth swing. My Travel 10U daughter loves how it hits and loves the great look of the bat too. Definitely recommend to others.

I bought this 1 month ago, she hasI’m yet to strike out with this bat, bothing but singles & doubles. Light enough and strong enough to hit softballs all day. Highly recommended for 8U softball.

my daughter had the 2014 version of this bat and it was always her go to bat very hot, especially after break in. Well i bought this bat on accident, I was going to buy the LXT. Then my daughter got a hold of it.

O M G. this is one of the hottest bats she has ever swung. first time out, first pitch. over the fence at 200yds. both our jaws dropped. this is now her favorite bat. has a little end weight ( unlike the balanced 2014 ) but weight is pretty well placed to take away the heavy end feel.

great graphics and great new look. it has a new finish as well ( kinda rough like grip tape ). Louisville has done it again, i highly recommend this beast.

Got the 32” bat for or my daughter. Didn’t want to pay $150 plus for a bat. She loves it! No hand shock as others have said. Light weight and solid construction. Gives the ball a good pop. It’s lite weight allows for a faster swing and better control.

Very satisfied with my purchase.

Speedy delivery! Received the Xeno on Friday just before the daughters 1st tournament of the year. She loves the bat, she hit 3 doubles and 2 triples with a bunch of singles. She absolutely loves the bat and I am one happy father! Allot of pop in the bat with temperatures averaging 14 degrees Celsius throughout the weekend with rain showers.

Love the bat!.

It’s a great bat. Works like a bag should. Only thing I didn’t like was the color. I chose it because the ONLY options Academy had were varying shades of pink. I mean…beyond the whole gender stereotyping thing, I just don’t like pink.

I would have taken a lavender or chartreuse over a pink.

I bought the softball bat for my 5 (almost 6) year old granddaughter who is starting her first year of play. The store we went to had a great selection and a helpful display to make sure the bat we selected was the right size for her.

Very comfortable grip! Bat seems like a solid construction. My daughter loves the feel and look of the bat while seeming very confident with her new bat.

Amazing bat, lots of pop and a nice sound. Ball jumps off the bat right out of the wrapper. However, if you’re using Blast Motion in the knob and are a powerful hitter, the blast can break and come flying out.

This happened to us after about 30 minutes of front toss. Overall an amazing bat, the Blast could be secured better.

I bought the 20′ Prism for my 10 year old daughter. The end cap came off after 8 months. DeMarini replaced the bat as there was a defected end cap. The replacement 21′ did the same thing after 5 months.

DeMarini was then rude and said since it was over 12 months the warranty is over. I guess it’s my fault they have defective equipment that a 10 year old girl must swing too hard.

After two hitting sessions, the bat is opening up quite well. It’s pretty close to hot out of the wrapper. Day one was decent for exit velo, but it was better than any day ones that we can recall. The sound wasn’t quite there yet, so we knew there would be some break in.

Day two was a whole different story. It’s ripping hot and has a menacing, blast sound. We did the normal gradual tee work for break in plus about 30-50 full swings to get it to the kill zone. Though it has a little more load in the end, it has the Demarini feel and swings quick.

She loves the bat.

I purchased the bat on 4/19 for my 8 year old to use in a machine pitch softball league. She used it for one practice and dented the barrel. I filled out the warranty request on the Easton website. I was given an RMA number, but I am responsible for shipping the bat back at my own cost.

Once they receive the bat, they will determine if the warranty return will be honored, and will send a replacement.

Only lasted a few weeks before it got a large dent. I’m guessing that they don’t expect them to actually be hitting balls with strong contact at this age? Get the bat warranty if you purchase this bat, I should have.

Before the bat my kid was meh. After the bat, she is like the Mike Trout of her 8 and under coach pitch league. All the dads come up and ask me to teach their kids how to hit. Little do they know it has nothing to do with me, it’s all the bat.

So far so good. Mine has 79 cuts on it off the tee and all but about 5 were clean, solid hits on the sweet spot. On solid contact, it did have a cracking sound and I checked it after each hit but there was no discernible damage.

For the price I paid ($35), I’m not going to complain if I break it. If you’re hesitant to try a wood softball bat, brand new $200+ aluminum and composite bats have broken within 100 cuts. The only misgiving I have is it’s only ASA approved.

If I want a USSSA approved bat, I guess I’ll have to go with an Easton. Try this bat, you might like it. I’ll update this later as I get more cuts on the bat.

Used this bat in one game and during BP a week later. 30 or so cuts and it snapped in half. We used regular slow pitch softballs. Thing is garbage. Purchased the same bat two years ago, it sat for a year due to covid and during BP last week it also snapped.

Don’t waste your money, even if it is only $35.

I bought this bat for our wood bat softball team. We needed some extta wood bats in case one broke. It has been used by half of the team for the past 3 weeks of double headers and those who have used it like it.

It is a little heavy to me, compared to the comparable bats made of Ash, but it is also more durable. The bats we use that are made of ash usually only last 2 or 3 games before they break.

I needed a quality bat for my competitive softball league. I was happy to find a happy medium with the weight of the bat (27oz) compared to the 26 and 28 oz I was deciding between.

Even though it is 26 oz. with the max load it feels heavier and swings nicely. That has lots of pop right out of the wrapper. And the bat looks cool too.

Great bat hot out of wrapper im no softball. bro but the whole team used it day one and some of these guys quote un quote are tournament players and they liked it so yeah highly reccomend.

I bought this for my 10 year old daughter for her newest bat. More pop then the last…grey bat until she moves up. Great help from the sales man!

It is light, and seems strong and sturdy. no complaints.

Bought this for my daughter. Loves lightweight and grip

My daughter has used this bat from 8 to 13 years old. She was use to it and got some great hits off of it. No rattle, nor did the handle unravel after all of those years. I just convinced her to change over to something else as she’s about to start school ball.

But this one will remain in her bag as her “old reliable”.

Excellent softball bat for my 10 year old daughter. She loves it! It is lightweight, has a great handle and a nice design. It is the perfect size for her. We practiced with it the day we received it and she was smacking them softballs real good! I recommend this bat for the youth.

Great bat for my 12 year old daughter in her softball league. Lightweight and solid construction.

Purchased this bat after my daughter tested it out in the cages. Wound up bringing it back with more than 2 dents in barrel after a few practices and one game.

I needed a new bat for an upcoming intermural softball season. I wanted to get the best bat no matter the cost. After much research, I landed on this gem. I was a little hesitant when I saw the price, but decided to pull the trigger.

The bat came packaged well so the bat was perfect upon arrival. I was impressed with the overall feel of the bat from the start. The problem came after only using the bat a few times. The handle wrap started sliding down towards the bottom of the bat.

It only got worse and worse with each swing. I was able to unwrap and rewrap the handle. So far it has stayed together and not moved, but I worry that since it wasn’t right from the start, it won’t last as long as it should.

This bat is awesome. Ive always considered myself a “Demarini guy”. In my time playing baseball I used a CF4 and as I started playing slowpitch I immediately got “ The One” based on its dual stamp versatility.

As “ The one” has been discontinued I did some research and ended up getting the Nauatalai Volition. The bat was hot out of the wrapper and my first swing was off the top of the fence. As the bat has heated up, I’ve used it to hit several home runs.

The bat has quickly become the team favorite. My only small complaint is during the first game, the bat already began to show paint chips near the end cap. A small cosmetic complaint for an otherwise great bat.

Have been using this on and off during BP. On the last BP session of the season, it stung my hand and just felt dead. Not too impressed. Other Nautalai’s perform better. But I don’t regret getting it, the cause it goes to can justify me buying it.

Will I keep it… Meh,My wife likes it, but she can’t exactly hit it out of the infield often enough to know if it’s a good bat.