The Verdict: 4.5/5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
17 Reviews
| Options Available: |
|---|
| 31" 28 oz. - Check Price |
| 32" 29 oz. - Check Price |
| 32.5" 29.5 oz. - Check Price |
| 33" 30 oz. - Check Price |
| 33.5" 30.5 oz. - Check Price |
| 34" 31 oz. - Check Price |
A lot of things can happen when you (or your kid) are at the plate to bat. He (or she) can swing and miss.
They can make contact and foul the ball.
They can make contact with the ball straight to an infielder who throws the ball readily to a waiting first baseman. Or perhaps pop up the ball for a simple catch in the outfield.
So what is it about the 2016 Rawlings Velo BBCOR bat that makes it so special?
How come the typical Rawlings Velo BBCOR bat review seems to portray it as some sort of ultimate bat that’s especially geared for teens? And why are even some adults raving about it?
Features of the Rawlings Velo BBCOR Bat
The Velo is an impressive-looking bat right out of the box. It comes with a length to weight ratio of -3.
It’s available from a size of 32 inches and 29 ounces. It progresses in half inch increments all the way to 34 inches and 31 ounces.
The barrel diameter measures 2 5/8 inches. The Velo is BBCOR certified, so it can be used by high school and collegiate players.
It’s constructed from one-piece alloy. As such you don’t need a break in period at all. That’s only for bats with a composite barrel.
The handle is quite stiff on this bat. This is necessary to provide a consistent feel to the bat when it’s your turn at the plate.
The barrel is extended and Rawlings bats used advanced technology to create additional barrel flex.
Consequently, the “sweet spot” is now considerably larger. It’s now 25% bigger than it was before.
| Features | 15/15 |
|---|---|
| BBCOR Certified | -3 Length to Weight Ratio |
| Barrel Diameter | 2 5/8 Inch |
| Materials Used | One-Piece Alloy |
| Grip | Premium Synthetic Leather |
| Pop | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Vibration | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Durability | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Shipping | Free |
| Warranty | 12 Months |
That means the Velo is now much more balanced, so the motion of inertia is shifted towards the hands of the player.
In other words, a player with this bat can swing much faster.
Rawlings also offers a full warranty for an entire year.
Cool Promo Video For The Rawlings Velo BBCOR – 2016 Version
If this video doesn’t get you excited about this top 2016 BBCOR bat then nothing will!
Benefits of the 2016 Rawlings Velo BBCOR
Let’s talk about the balanced first. For many players, a top heavy barrel is an encumbrance.
There seems to be a tendency to let the bat drop to the ground. It’s not always so easy to get the bat up and ready when you’re waiting for the pitch to come to the plate.
When the pitch does come, you can swing much more quickly because of the reduced MOI. Remember, when it comes to baseball (and softball) pitches there’s always a time lag between deciding to swing and getting the baseball bat through the strike zone.
As a player, you want to make this period as short as possible. That gives you more precious time to decide whether to swing on a pitch or not.
Let’s Talk About MOI
The increased MOI quickens the speed of the bat. This also means you generate a faster speed for the ball you bat into the playing field.
Since the bat comes out of the plate much faster, the fielders have less time to react to the direction of the ball.
Infielders don’t have as much time to anticipate how the ball will bounce, and outfielders don’t have enough time to get to the space the ball will drop.
The speed of the ball and the direction it goes to will also depend a lot where the ball makes contact with the bat. The optimum area on the bat where you want to make contact with the ball is called the “sweet spot”.
This is the center of percussion, where the rebound of the ball from the baseball bat is at its strongest.
Vibrations and Sweet Spot
Here the vibrations that travel through the length of the bat cancel each other out. Your hands don’t feel the stinging and the shaking that’s common when you hit he baseball wrong.
This is the area you want the baseball to hit your bat consistently, because this results in greater speed for the baseball.
If the sweet spot is small, then you’ll find it more difficult to get the best results. It can fly off into the foul area or just roll slowly in the infield towards an infielder.
But with the Velo, the sweet spot is much bigger. It can go so much faster that you don’t just increase your chances of getting a hit. With enough force, hitting a baseball with the sweet spot can result in a home run.
Drawbacks of the Velo
There’s just one drawback to the Velo, although calling it a “drawback” may be too much of an exaggeration.
It’s just that the excellent balance will not be appreciated by everyone, since some people prefer a top-heavy feel to the bat.
In fact, some people may go for a heavier barrel altogether, and the overall lightness of the Velo may therefore be overlooked for some other bats instead.
This, of course, is just a matter of preference, and for the Velo it’s not really considered a weakness in itself.
Conclusion on the 2016 Rawlings Velo BBCOR
With its light weight, you’re able to react more quickly to pitches and swing easily in the direction you want. And with the bigger sweet spot, you’re more likely to get that hit your team needs to win.
With the Velo, Rawlings has come out with another winner, and it is a worthy bearer of the hallowed Rawlings brand.
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