Bargain basement bats

jhitman

jhitman

Well-Known Member
Since I have been watching some videos on-line about bargain basement bats I figured I would start a thread. You don't have to pay these manufacturers top dollar for the brightest brand new bat with the new tech. I usually wait until the bats are discounted and they are trying to clear inventory to get a deal.

What is the best bargain basement bat that you bought?

I bought a Voltage years ago for $99.00 at a local sporting goods store and sold it for $250.00
I also recently bought an Easton Smack for less than $100 and an Easton Kapow for a little over $110.
 
bigcam406

bigcam406

Addicted to Softballfans
The best deal I ever took advantage of was back in 2017 when there was a clearance sale up here for the Miken Freak 12. Picked one up for $99. Most recently, purchased an Easton Fireflex 1 piece (purple) for $129.
 
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BigdogTim

New Member
Just bought a 2023 Miken Freak KP23 for $140 on one of the big bat web sites and then after hitting about 3,000 balls it cracked.
Miken didn’t have anymore to replace it, so they sent me my choice of the 2024 Miken DC 41 long barrel priced at $230.
I bought a Easton Ghostmondo for $180 on the same site, and it had been $140 when I bought the Freak, but they jacked the price up to $180 and that bat broke in half in under 2 weeks, so a ripoff in my opinion, until I replaced that warranty bat with the 2023 Worth Bedlam, so I could own an assortment.
I purchased another Freak on the same site after the Easton bat broke and the 2nd 1 cost $150 and still using it.
I realize after the long amount of time that it took to get the replacement bat, it’s better to turn the broken bat in early before the next season and replace it with an even newer bat.
 
westdude

westdude

Addicted to Softballfans
I could go back a long time. I used to buy bats at auctions and flip them, OG freaks and Sunergy 2s going for 10x the price paid. In recent times, I think it’s hard to beat the sis and Louisville end of season clearance sales. I’ll say $125 pass em outs and $99 anarchs’s were my best picks in the last year.
 
Knollie

Knollie

Member
BigdogTim said:
Just bought a 2023 Miken Freak KP23 for $140 on one of the big bat web sites and then after hitting about 3,000 balls it cracked.
Miken didn’t have anymore to replace it, so they sent me my choice of the 2024 Miken DC 41 long barrel priced at $230.
I bought a Easton Ghostmondo for $180 on the same site, and it had been $140 when I bought the Freak, but they jacked the price up to $180 and that bat broke in half in under 2 weeks, so a ripoff in my opinion, until I replaced that warranty bat with the 2023 Worth Bedlam, so I could own an assortment.
I purchased another Freak on the same site after the Easton bat broke and the 2nd 1 cost $150 and still using it.
I realize after the long amount of time that it took to get the replacement bat, it’s better to turn the broken bat in early before the next season and replace it with an even newer bat.
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I bought the same 'kp23 for $150 this spring. Way less than 3k swings on mine so far but starting to open up decently. I was out of softball for a few yrs and haven't seen any others in use or heard of anybody swinging them. What were your thoughts on it b4 it broke?
 
etnstudios

etnstudios

Addicted to Softballfans
Combat PTE for $70. Great bats in and of themselves and then even better when they break and get returned for avocados and fire flexes
 
hitless45

hitless45

Addicted to Softballfans
I got couple of combats several yrs ago for like $50/$60 from sis. i believe it was when combat was on its way out, sis was blowing them out and did a promotion raffle type thing where if the sis team won or placed within top 2 or 3 in one of the upcoming tournys those who entered would win another combat so a two for one deal. i was one of the idk how many lucky ones to win. then i purchased a couple few more that i turned for alil profit
 
hitless45

hitless45

Addicted to Softballfans
I recently grabbed a 240 easton only cuz it was $80ish. Back in the day of demarini factory hitters i was in good with a few of them and would get flippers, juggys etc for $100ish and would turn those locally for decent profits.. i really miss those days
 
nam2212

nam2212

Dr. Nick
hitless45 said:
I recently grabbed a 240 easton only cuz it was $80ish. Back in the day of demarini factory hitters i was in good with a few of them and would get flippers, juggys etc for $100ish and would turn those locally for decent profits.. i really miss those days
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I got the Fireflex 240 on the same sale when they were letting people stack codes. I got it for $63 shipped. It sat in the closet for months but took it out a few weeks back for the team to break in. It is an excellent bat.
 
T

tuells10

hitting slow rollers to the pitcher is my game
several years back worth green and yellow titans old stamps on here i think they were like $70each and bogo back then it was when the new stamps just came out
 
bigcam406

bigcam406

Addicted to Softballfans
Knollie said:
I bought the same 'kp23 for $150 this spring. Way less than 3k swings on mine so far but starting to open up decently. I was out of softball for a few yrs and haven't seen any others in use or heard of anybody swinging them. What were your thoughts on it b4 it broke?
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I bought one earlier this spring and finally put 200 swings off a tee last week using 52/300 and an assortment of 40 and 44 375's. Initially it was so so then after 100 hits with the harder balls, it opened up nicely. Distance, pop and feedback improved greatly.
 
Knollie

Knollie

Member
bigcam406 said:
I bought one earlier this spring and finally put 200 swings off a tee last week using 52/300 and an assortment of 40 and 44 375's. Initially it was so so then after 100 hits with the harder balls, it opened up nicely. Distance, pop and feedback improved greatly.
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Thanks for the feedback, that's pretty much what I'm seeing too, but since this is the 1st "good" bat I've had I don't really have anything for comparison
 
TWmccoy

TWmccoy

3DX Connoisseur
I've scored MANY cheap bats over the years. I generally buy during the winter, and it's almost always closeout/prior year bats. Very seldom will I spend more than $99 for bats.

Easton '22 Biff! was $69.99. It performs fine.
Easton SV100 Salvo (2013) was also $69.99. Very durable, great performer. I still have it.

Too many good $99 bats to even list.

Seriously, around black Friday you can search online and find dozens of good bats for $99 or less.

It is a HUGE misconception that you have to spend $250 on a bat and have the current model. What people forget is that bats have to pass the same compression standards year after year. Bats don't vary much in performance yearly.

Right now I'd say Easton is the cheapest company for 240 bats. Many of their models can be found for $100 or less. They perform decent as well, and are durable.
 
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DirtBag215

Well-Known Member
Knollie said:
I bought the same 'kp23 for $150 this spring. Way less than 3k swings on mine so far but starting to open up decently. I was out of softball for a few yrs and haven't seen any others in use or heard of anybody swinging them. What were your thoughts on it b4 it broke?
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Mine has about 200 swings. 175 with 52’s and the rest with classic M’s. Hit this on a 15 ft line with 52’s during BP yesterday. Sound starting to change. It would probably be hotter if I stopped hitting 52’s with it but that’s all I BP with.
 

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Knollie

Knollie

Member
DirtBag215 said:
Mine has about 200 swings. 175 with 52’s and the rest with classic M’s. Hit this on a 15 ft line with 52’s during BP yesterday. Sound starting to change. It would probably be hotter if I stopped hitting 52’s with it but that’s all I BP with.
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Yes, I've got to the sound change. I've been real careful to hit only 52s with it since that's what I thought we were supposed to hit with it to keep it and heard stories of people breaking bats with the harder balls etc. Is that not really a thing, or are you just ignoring the "rule" to help it break in faster?
 
bigcam406

bigcam406

Addicted to Softballfans
For me personally, I always try to break in a new bat with 100-150 52/300's, then switch to 40 and 44/375's for another 100. Usually by that time, its optimal and I just throw it in the bag for game use.
Our leagues up here use 52/300 balls exclusively, so I have no worries about bat breakage.
You have to remember that these new standard 240 bats usually test high compression wise, so softening them up with a few hundred hits before game use isn't going to hurt them.
 
D-ROCK13

D-ROCK13

Well-Known Member
Highly recommend looking at 240 dudley dooms on the bay. I've paid as little as 60 new in wrap. great bats

Best deal I ever got was on a combat dirty 120 reload for 50 with free shipping around 2015. still my favorite bat of all time
 
TWmccoy

TWmccoy

3DX Connoisseur
D-ROCK13 said:
Highly recommend looking at 240 dudley dooms on the bay. I've paid as little as 60 new in wrap. great bats

Best deal I ever got was on a combat dirty 120 reload for 50 with free shipping around 2015. still my favorite bat of all time
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Yeah. I'd never pay full price for Dudleys, but they're decent bats. As long as you don't abuse them in cold weather they'll actually last a while.
 
basilray

basilray

Well-Known Member
$100 Anarchy sale was wild. People immediately turned around and tried to resell those for (small) profit. Hell, a lot of those bats are still going to cost you over $100 used at this point.
 
jhitman

jhitman

Well-Known Member
I seemed to see more Easton's for bargain basement prices over the last few months. I ended up getting a Smack and Kapow for around $100. Both are good bats and mostly I need them for BP as I try to keep the hits off of my gamers.
 
D-ROCK13

D-ROCK13

Well-Known Member
Bought a handful of the cheap anarchys too, moved all the 220s when the stamp changed, had a couple 240s for awhile too. good bats for sure, especially for 99 bucks.

only issue I have with all the cheap eastons is the damn handle connection. broken 4 220s, and 3 240s and seen several others as well. start out wobbling and eventually the barrel Flys off or the handle telescopes
 
TWmccoy

TWmccoy

3DX Connoisseur
basilray said:
$100 Anarchy sale was wild. People immediately turned around and tried to resell those for (small) profit. Hell, a lot of those bats are still going to cost you over $100 used at this point.
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I wish I had bought more of those at the time. For $100 those are some damn good 240s.
 
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