The Verdict: 4.2/5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
23 Reviews
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| 30" 27 oz. - Check Price |
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| 34" 31 oz. - Check Price |
The 2017 Easton Mako Beast BBCOR is the latest to bear the hallowed Mako name, and it follows a long line of worthy ancestors. The truth of the matter is that the Mako brand was and still is a game-changer.
It’s a name that changed the youth baseball bat industry back when Easton launched the 2014 Mako.
With this 2017 Easton Mako BBCOR, players can play in in high school and college leagues and continue to use the kind of bat they loved when they were younger.
Every year the Mako bat in all its versions continued to dominate various “best of” baseball bat lists.
So it’s fair to say that many were anticipating the arrival of what’s now known as the Easton Mako BB17MK.
What’s more, ever since word leaked out about how the 2017 Easton Mako Beast BBCOR composite bat will be an “enhanced” version, countless fans have awaited its coming with bated breath.
The 2017 Mako will obviously come with lots of different versions.
Features of the 2017 Easton Mako BBCOR
Lots of players dream of making it to high school and college baseball, and they plan or dream of playing with the 2017 Easton Mako -3.
Let’s see if their dreams are realized.
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This is BBCOR-certified, so at the very least it is legal to use in the adult leagues. So it has a drop -3 ratio, with sizes ranging from 30 inches (27 ounces) to 34 inches (31 ounces).
The barrel measures 2⅝ inches while the composite handle measures 31/32 of an inch. So far, everything’s all standard, although not all bats offer the 30-inch size.
At least smaller players can have this option that suits their size. Many other premium bats only offer 31-inch bats as their smallest option.
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What’s now standard is that this design comes with a longer barrel.
So what that means is that you’re able to reach outside pitches more easily. You can do this without leaning over the plate, which can be painful when the pitchers go for an inside fastball.
You won’t have to get in the 6 inches of neutral space on the inside part of the plate. It’s not fun getting hit by a 90 mph fastball.
Also, a longer bat means you have more power to bear on the ball. Why else would Easton call this bat a “Beast”?
Imagine if you have a hammer and you cut it by 1.5 inches on the handle. A short handle provides less force for the handle, and it’s the same thing for a baseball bat.
And this Beast is the longest 2-piece composite barrel in the game.
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The fast swing weight also contributes to its power, because the speed generates force. Again you can just see this when you use a hammer.
Lightly tap your thumb with it, and it’s not all that painful. Now take a faster swing.
The same effect obviously is in play with the Easton Mako BB17MK.
Since it’s very light, you don’t have that slight hesitation at the start of your motion. It fairly zips into action.
Of course, this fast swing weight also helps contact hitters too. Since they don’t need as much time to swing the bat, they can afford to spend more time tracking the ball.
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Another contributor to the power is the 2-piece ConneXion technology that boosts the energy transfer back to the ball.
This is the trampoline effect, which is fairly obvious when you see it in action with a tennis racket (or an actual trampoline). It’s as if the ball is slingshot back to where it came from.
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Finally, there’s the much-lauded 1.2mm Hyperskin grip, which originated as the material for dirt bike handle grips.
This grip gives you the most secure hold on a baseball bat, so there’s no worry about letting go.
Also, it gives you a fairly accurate feel when you make contact with the baseball. You know when you hit the ball solidly.
What About Bat Speed?
Pros of This 2017 Easton Mako Beast BBCOR
There’s a reason why the Mako is so popular. Actually, with the Beast there are several.
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The power is awesome. They don’t call this the Beast for nothing.
For homerun kings and contact hitters alike, this kind of power is amazing.
The balls can really zoom past speedy infielders, or go over their heads.
Instead of popping up safely for outfielders to catch, the balls can travel well beyond the fence.
Even contact hitters will appreciate a bloop single over infielders, rather than a weak dribbling groundball that can be picked up easily and thrown to first base.
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The fast swing speed also benefits the hitter in so many ways. Basically, it gives them the chance to catch up to a fastball at any time.
The pitch can travel farther before the hitter starts their swing, so they can have a better chance of predicting the flight path correctly. They can also avoid swinging at pitches that end up outside the strike zone.
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The grip is also a nice touch.
Hyperskin grips are famous for good reason, and having them here as standard equipment is another symbol of Easton’s commitment in providing the very best.
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Even the look is quietly tough. It’s far from the neon “look at me!” colors that the Mako sported when it first came out, but this is just right.
It’s for high school and college games after all, and serious looks are “cooler” than fun colors for players at this age.
What About The New Look?
It’s that simple. You feel good, you look great, and in the end you just perform better at the plate. And that’s the point, isn’t it?
Knowing that you have one of the best BBCOR bats in the world (we’re not the only people to say that) can be uplifting.
Just that knowledge alone can give you the self-assurance you need to perform well at the plate.
It’s like a talisman—having it in your hand can make you feel better. And consequently, you actually are better.
Cons of the Easton Mako BB17MK
While for many players the Mako name represents the highest levels of baseball bat performance, it’s still not perfect.
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The price is an obvious sticking point, although when you think about it, it’s no longer as big a deal as when you were younger.
After all, this represented a rather shaky investment when you were still unsure about how serious you were with baseball.
Since you’re now going into high school and college play, you’re obviously taking it seriously. So you need a serious bat.
The Mako bats were best sellers even though they came out on the market with outrageously high prices, and in all likelihood players and parents will still find this a good investment.
Still, some people will simply be unable to afford it. It really is that expensive.
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The other main point is that you may find yourself enduring the sting of a mishit.
This is literally true, as the vibrations can cause a stinging sensation in your hand when you make contact outside the sweet spot of the bat.
But some people don’t mind.
Verdict on the 2017 Easton Mako Beast BBCOR
Easton calls this Beast the most powerful composite barrel they’ve ever produced.
That’s saying a lot coming from Easton, which already has a firm reputation for creating high performance alloys for their bats.
And this monster of a bat lives up to the Mako reputation that started way back in 2013.
It has everything you need. You’ve got the long barrel, lots of power, a very secure grip, and an impressive look. Of course, the price point is still an irritant, but so what?
If you’re going to save up for a serious bat for serious play, then sure as heck the 2017 Easton Mako Beast BBCOR is worth the sacrifice.
Get up to the plate, size up the pitch—and release the Kraken!
You may want to look around online for some bargains, although that can be difficult. Or you can just charge it to your credit card and pay for it slowly over the coming months.
It doesn’t really feel all that bad to pay so much for a bat, when you get so much in return.
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