Demarini Vendetta (-12) Youth Baseball Bat Review
Demarini Vendetta (-12) Youth Baseball Bat Feature
- Innovative composite bat brings power inside handle thanks to new internal Rails system
- Composite handle with built-in internal rails brings power closer to player's hands, generating more "pop" and improved feel, while delivering maximum vibration dampening
- Multi-density ion end-cap eliminates vibration while retaining energy for maximum power, and comfort is further boosted thanks to tac-heavy, two-piece grip
- Exclusive SC4 extrusion process tunes the walls down entire length of the barrel for optimized sweet spot
- Includes limited one-year manufacturer's warranty
DeMarini's Vendetta strives to change the way players think about strength and feel, bringing power inside the handle thanks to a new internal Rails system. A composite handle with built-in internal rails brings the power closer to the player's hands, generating more "pop" and an improved feel, while still delivering maximum vibration dampening qualities. A multi-density ion end-cap eliminates vibration while retaining energy for maximum power, and comfort is further boosted thanks to the tac-heavy, two-piece grip.
The barrel is made with DeMarini's exclusive SC4 extrusion process, tuning the walls down the entire length of the barrel for an optimized sweet spot. A Rotation Index system helps players significantly prolong the life of DeMarini bats with a numerical index on the handle and barrel, reminding players to incrementally rotate the bat after each hit.
Warranty Information
DeMarini offers a limited one-year manufacturer's warranty that covers the following three items:
- A severely dented bat from normal use and occurring one year from the date of purchase
- Structural cracking from normal use for one year from the date of purchase (paint chipping or cosmetic imperfections are not covered under the warranty)
- The end-plug may be repaired or replaced if found defective and will not affect your warranty
The warranty applies when the bat is used under normal conditions, and does not apply to altered bats or damage related to accident, misuse, improper care, overuse, or negligence. If DeMarini agrees that your bat is defective, it will be either repaired or replaced in its discretion. Please note that Items not covered include, but are not limited to, grip replacement, abuse or misuse, bats used in commercial batting cages.
Ray DeMarini
A cult hero among avid players, Ray DeMarini emerged on the professional softball scene at age 40, a veritable geriatric among younger players. With a scientific approach to training, a batting speed of 96 miles per hour and a bombastic attitude, DeMarini fast earned a reputation as a savage competitor.
In June 1987, ESPN launched a nationwide search for a hardcore player to advise on a series of instructional softball videos. When approached by producer Erich Lytle, the biggest names in softball repeatedly spoke of a five-foot-seven softball giant--Ray DeMarini. DeMarini had mastered reflex hitting, a technique that drops the ball squarely between the infield and outfield. Impressed with DeMarini's knowledge and scientific approach to training, Lytle not only hired DeMarini as an advisor, he hired him as the host. Together, they produced Ray DeMarini's Reflex Hitting System.
Having garnered national recognition through ESPN, DeMarini turned his efforts toward designing a high-performance bat for the masses. To accomplish this, he needed an engineer. DeMarini's call was answered by Mike Eggiman. Having grown up on a farm, Eggiman was adept at making the most of a situation. Case in point: the company's first piece of automated bat-making equipment was powered by an abandoned washing machine. With Eggiman as chief engineer, DeMarini Sports delivered a series of industry firsts: the first multi-wall bat (Doublewall Distance), the first high-performance bat for massive players (Fatboy), and the first high-performance youth bat (Black Coyote).
DeMarini: The Bat of Champions
With more than 225 team switching to DeMarini in the past five years, DeMarini ranks among the leading name in college baseball and college softball. In 2007, three college baseball national champions won swinging DeMarini bats: Oregon State University in Division I, University of Tampa in Division II, and Kean University in Division III.
Amazon.com Baseball Bat Guide
Choosing the Right Baseball Bat
For a relatively simple piece of equipment, the variety of options when it comes to buying a baseball bat--wood or aluminum? what size is right for me? should I pay or 0?--can be intimidating. The most important factor to keep in mind, from Little League to the pros, is that buying a bat is a personal decision. It's critical to select a bat properly tailored to your height, weight, skill, and strength levels, within your budget, but equally important is simply how the bat "feels" to you.
Improvements in technology have given today's players more options than ever. A few basic rules of thumb, however, can help narrow your search:
- Weight: Heavier bats provide more power while lighter bats enables faster swing speeds. Are you strong and athletic, or smaller and more likely to benefit from greater swing speed? Practice-swing a number of differently weighted bats until you find one that's right for you.
- Drop: A bat's drop is its length-to-weight ratio, measured as a negative number. For example, a 34-inch bat with a -6 ratio weighs 28-ounces. The larger the drop, the faster the swing speed, while smaller drops are associated with greater power.
- Length: Longer bats provide greater reach and ability to connect with pitches on the other side of the plate, but the added weight can reduce swing speed and power. Once again, the best approach is to experiment with different lengths to find a bat that suits you.
- Barrel Diameter: As a general rule of thumb, players age 12 and under should use a 2.25-inch barrel diameter to comply with the majority of youth league regulations. Older players, through high school and college, are typically restricted to a 2.625-inch barrel diameter.
- League Rules: Most leagues have their own bat requirements, and it's a good idea to be clear on your league's specifications before shopping.
- Feel: The most crucial factor ultimately comes down to whether a bat feels good to you. It should be comfortable in your hands, have a balanced and fluid swing, and seem like a natural extension of your arms.
Anatomy of a Bat
While bat terminology and technology can seem complex, all bats are made up of three basic components--grip, bat taper, and barrel size.
- Grip: The bat handle covering, typically made of leather or synthetic leather for a solid grip, or rubber (sometimes with cushioning) to decrease sting when striking the ball.
- Bat Taper: The diameter of a bat's handle, with a standard taper being 0.97-inches (which can vary based on weight). A larger taper reduces ball shock while adding weight, and smaller tapers enable faster wrist rotation while reducing weight.
- Barrel Size: Includes the length and diameter of the barrel, or top part, of the bat. Longer barrels provide larger, more forgiving sweet spots, and several different diameters are available.
Different Materials for Different Players
The sheer number of bat materials available today can boggle the mind, but ultimately the options are grouped into three categories--wood, aluminum, and composite.
Wood
Although the sound of a wood bat hitting a baseball has become iconic, the number of players using wood bats is typically restricted to professionals and wood-bat-only leagues. Whether you're a Major Leaguer or simply a baseball purist, look for a bat with a long, wide grain, which indicates a dense, mature tree. Wood bats offer more choices in terms of shape and taper to customize to a player's swing. On the other hand, they have three significant disadvantages: tendency to crack or break, smaller sweet spot, and less hitting power than metal bats.
Aluminum
A majority of non-professional players today use aluminum bats, mostly due to their lighter weight (which increases swing speed and control) and better durability. Aluminum bats come in single- or double-layer construction, with double-layer bats offering greater durability, power, and rebound.
Aluminum bats are constructed from a variety of alloys. Lighter alloys are thinner and more durable, and the alloy used in an aluminum bat is typically the most significant cost factor. Nearly all aluminum bat alloys represent some combination of aluminum, copper, magnesium, and zinc. Here's a quick overview of today's most popular aluminum alloys:
- 7046: This durable alloys has been a baseball industry standard for many years, and offers a good balance of price and performance.
- CU31/7050: One of the first high-performance bat alloys, this proven option is more durable than 7046 as a result of greater levels of copper, magnesium, and zirconium.
- C405/7055: A common alloy used in more expensive, high-end aluminum bats, this alloy includes greater zirconium content than CU31/7050 for added strength.
- C555: The addition of scandium to this alloy results in up to 10% more strength than C405/7055.
Composite
Advances in technology have allowed manufacturers to use lighter, stronger composite materials--typically a combination of graphite, fiberglass, and resin--to produce bats with a unique, satisfying feel and large, forgiving sweet spots. Composite bats are lighter than traditional aluminum bats, increasing swing speed and power. Composites also come in single- and double-layer configurations, and graphite and titanium materials added to the inner wall help reduce vibration and "ball sting" when a ball is mis-hit.
Worth the Weight
Bats are weighted in ounces with emphasis on balancing length-to-weight ratio, a measure called a bat's "drop" and shown as -6, -8, as mentioned above. Larger drops offer faster swing speed--and, generally speaking, a steeper price tag--while smaller drops have greater power. Many players, when using a bat with a small drop, benefit a shorter bat to speed their swing.
Choosing the right weight depends on the type of player you are, as stronger players typically benefit from the power of a heavier bat, while smaller or younger players enjoy the increased swing speed and control of a lighter bat. There are, however, general guidelines for ideal bat weight based on player age, as well as weight or height. The table below--the result of a study conducted by The University of Arizona in cooperation with Worth Sports--summarizes these guidelines.
| Ideal Bat Weight |
| High School & College Baseball | Youth League Baseball (11-12-years-old) | Youth League Baseball (8-10-years-old) |
| Player Height, Inches | Ideal Bat Weight, Ounces | Player Weight, Pounds | Ideal Bat Weight, Ounces | Ideal Bat Weight, Ounces | |
| >66 | >27 | >70 | >18 | >48 | >16 |
| >68 | >27.5 | >80 | >19 | >50 | >16.5 |
| >70 | >28 | >90 | >19.5 | >52 | >17 |
| >72 | >29 | >100 | >20 | >54 | >17.5 |
| >74 | >30 | >110 | >20.5 | >56 | >18 |
| >76 | >30.5 | >120 | >21 | >58 | >18.5 |
| | >130 | >21.5 | >60 | >19 |
| | >140 | >22 | | |
| | >150 | >23 | | |
Selecting the Right Bat Size
The optimal bat size varies based on height and weight for a given player, and can impact technique, swing speed, and other vital components of your game. Selecting the right size from the table below will help ensure you get the most out of your equipment.
| Ideal Bat Length |
| Weight | Height |
| 3' - 3'4" | 3'5" - 3'8" | 3'9" - 4' | 4'1" - 4'4" | 4'5" - 4'8" | 4'9" - 5' | 5'1" - 5'4" | 5'5" - 5'8" | 5'9" - 6' | 6'1" + |
| Under 60 pounds | 26" | 27" | 28" | 29" | 29" | | | | | |
| 61-70 pounds | 27" | 27" | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | | | | |
| 71-80 pounds | | 28" | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | | | |
| 81-90 pounds | | 28" | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 32" | | |
| 91-100 pounds | | 28" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | | |
| 101-110 pounds | | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | | |
| 111-120 pounds | | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | | |
| 121-130 pounds | | 29" | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | |
| 131-140 pounds | | 29" | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | |
| 141-150 pounds | | | 30" | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 33" | 33" | |
| 151-160 pounds | | | 30" | 31" | 31" | 32" | 32" | 33" | 33" | 33" |
| 161-170 pounds | | | | 31" | 31" | 32" | 32" | 33" | 33" | 34" |
| 171-180 pounds | | | | | | 32" | 33" | 33" | 34" | 34" |
| 181+ pounds | | | | | | | 33" | 33" | 34" | 34" |
| Most Popular Length By Age |
| Age | 5-7-years-old | 8-9 | 10 | 11-12 | 13-14 | 15-16 | 17 and over |
| Bat Length | 24-26" | 26-28" | 28-29" | 30-31" | 31-32" | 32-33" | 34" |
Demarini Vendetta SC4 Alloy barrel with Internal rails Hybrid Handle, The Vendetta is made using our SC4 Alloy with Demarini Exclusive extrusion process that thickness tunes the walls down the entrie length of the barrel for maximum sweet spot barrel. Our internal rails hybrid handle brings power closer to your hands creating maximum strength and dampens vibrations for a smoother swing and total power. Ion endcap-multi density end cap
