Louisville has a long and respected history in the baseball bat industry, but has fallen behind in the composite segment of the market. Its 2009 entry into the high-end composites category, the Triton, met with a lukewarm reception. For 2010 they haven’t changed ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING in their lineup except for the cosmetics. They didn’t even try to trick us into thinking they made any changes. The verbiage on their 2010 bats is identical to the verbiage on their 2009 bats. They even changed the name of their second-tier composite bat for the third year in a row without changing anything about the bat. This is extremely disappointing from what is considered by most to be the holy grail of baseball bat manufacturers. On a positive note, they have adjusted their pricing policy to bring the price (except EXO) in line with the material of the bat.

Here’s the breakdown of Louisville’s lineup:

louisville compound bats

• Triton TPX – A 3-piece bat made from 100% composite material with a stiff Louisville handle and a balanced design. The 2010 Triton is the exact same bat as the 2009 model except for a putrid blue/yellow color change that makes it look cheap. This bat has by far the largest barrel I have ever seen on a baseball bat. As I’ve said in the past, it would be best for Louisville to call this a multi-piece bat or stick to a one-piece design. Instead, they continue to market it as a three-piece bat attached as a one-piece bat. I’ve hit with the Triton and seen high school kids use it in games and it seems to be a quality bat, but it just hasn’t caught on fire. You will rarely see him in high school games and almost never in college. Even on college teams using Louisville rhythms, players choose Exogrid, Omaha, or H2 (in that order) and not Triton. Retail price remains at $399.99 for the Adult -3 model. If you like this bat, you’ll save about $100 by choosing the 2009 model on the discount rack (and you’ll have a good-looking bat). I recommend the Easton Speed ​​for experienced players who want a 100% composite racket.
• TPX Dynasty Compound – This 100% 7C Composite one-piece bat features the stiff Louisville handle and balanced design. This bat is the same bat as the 2009 Omaha Comp and 2008 Catalyst. Louisville seems to be playing musical chairs with the name of this bat and decided that the old Dynasty name would make sense for 2010. I think this bat is an excellent second-tier composite bat choice for two reasons. First, it’s a great price of $259 for the Adult -3 model. Second, it has a proven track record as a Catalyst/Omaha Comp. An excellent option for those looking for a lower priced composite bat.

louisville
Hybrid bats:

• H2: The 2010 model is exactly the same bat as the 2009 but with one big difference, they have adjusted the price to what a hybrid bat should be! Do you believe in miracles? It seems the H2 didn’t sell well in 2009 and they were forced to price it right. It’s a two-piece bat that snaps the pieces together to state that it’s a one-piece bat (we’ve already covered this). The 100% composite shaft is the stiffest in Louisville, which says something. The barrel is a 100% ST+20 alloy barrel and balanced swing weight design. The Adult -3 model retails for $299 in 2010, which is $70 less than its 2009 retail price. You can also find the 2009 model for even less.
• exogrid: EXO keeps moving forward! It has been one of Louisville’s best selling bats and the 2010 model is identical to the 2008 and 2009 models. Clearly they are going to milk this goose that lays the golden eggs for as long as possible because it continues to retail for the unbelievable $369. In my opinion, this bat is closer to a 100% alloy bat than a hybrid, but with the carbon sleeve cut into the handle, it’s in the hybrid category. I think the price of this bat is too high and I can’t recommend it when for an extra $30 I can get the Triton 100% Composite. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good bat but I can’t recommend pulling the trigger at $369. If you love this bat find the 2008 or 2009 model. It’s the same bat and it will cost you a lot less money. As mentioned there are no changes to the design, it is still a 100% one piece alloy bat with some metal cut from the handle and replaced with composite material. It comes with the stiff Louisville handle and balanced design. As mentioned above, most college players using Louisville rhythms swing with the Exogrid.

louisville
alloy bats

• TPX omaha: Omaha also continues to advance. It is a 100% one-piece alloy bat with the stiff Louisville handle and balanced design. It’s a great option for those not looking to break the bank to buy a baseball bat. Many college players with contracts from Louisville prefer to use Omaha instead of Triton or H2.
• Omaha XT hardtail: Apparently this bat has been available since last year, but I haven’t seen it anywhere except on Louisville’s website. I don’t know if it’s a hybrid or an alloy, all Louisville says is that it has an ST+20 alloy and an extra stiff composite reinforced transition. It seems strange to call this bat Omaha Stiff when all Louisville bats are known for their stiff shafts and the H2 has the stiffest shaft of them all.

Louisville makes quality bats, but they need to decide whether or not to jump into the multi-piece bat market. If you are submitting a multi-piece design, tell me what a multi-piece design is and why it makes sense. Don’t tell me it has to be a one-piece bat.

Take a look at the Baseball Bat Review Blog for reviews of all 2010 baseball bats.