I've read this whole post and I have been looking for a Freak. From what I am understanding the first batch is what a guy would want correct? Are the other batches that inferior? I've never owned a Miken but have heard nothing but good about them. What would be the next best thing to the original Freak in your opinions?
this is how i see it:
1st batches: hotter than hell. they are a little endloaded (the smooth endcap makes them that way). and they are also pretty damn durable from my experience. if you are a 295' hitter and are looking for that little bit extra, the first batch might get you over the "hump"
2nd/3rd batch and limited: i lump these all together because imo there is no difference. they are all nasty when they are broken in. all are balanced. ive personally never hit a 2nd/3rd/limited that was as flat out nasty as as my 1st batches were, but im not saying they are bad either. for the price differential between the 1st and 2nd/3rd/limiteds, id personally go with the 2nd/3rd/limiteds. imo if you are good with the endload of the 1st batches, then they are better....but thats up to you if you feel the slight performance gain is worth the extra coin.
i have seen some of the limiteds that werent very durable (broke in 500ish hits), but most of them i have seen were nasty as hell and took a lot of hits. again, for the price difference of the limiteds to the ogs and the fact that the limiteds are returnable (pretty much no og freak regardless of batch is returnable without a little "magic") makes them all the more appealing and well worth it and an excellent value. id personally go with the limited cause i dont need the "extra little bit" the 1st batch gives you and the price is awesome.
take my opinion for whats it worth. you are gonna read a lot of people on here who say the llimiteds suck and to go with the og, but i respectfully disagree with them based on my own personal experience. go with what you can afford and are comfortable with...thats ultimately what its all about.
and if you are looking for the "next big thing", i personally have been using my 27oz supermax mv-1s and havent looked back and could give two ****s about an og freak