Unfortunately, I don't get to actually swing the Easton 2011 BD11XL Rival XXL (-9) Senior League Bat but judging from my son's response, the way it sounds when it connects with a baseball and results we see in power and batting average, this bat is a winner in my eyes. This bat was used during my son's 11U Travel ball season this past spring and he loved it.
We moved to the Easton Rival after using the ComBat Stealth for a few season. That was a great bat, but I did miss the PING sound that we get from the THT100 alloy Easton Rival versus the THUD from the ComBat composite bat. With a bigger barrel at 2 5/8" the Easton Rival also provides a larger sweet spot. Mix in an ultra-thin handle with just the right amount of flex and you've got a bat that will provide great bat speed and power through the hitting zone.
My son loves the feel of the bat and feels confident using it. Now, we all know that a good swing is a good swing regardless of what bat you are using, but for an 11-year-old, the extra confidence the bat provides doesn't hurt. The ball really flies off this bat and he's recognized that. And less important to the skill, but attractive to an 11 year-old are the graphics on the bat. It's a cool-looking bat for sure.
No real cons when it comes to the Easton Rival. My son has never felt stinging in his hands and the bat is incredibly durable, having help up so far over 80 plus games and countless rounds of batting practice.
Something else that tells me this is a great bat -- the reaction it gets from the dugout. Not only is my son's Easton Rival the most used bat in the dugout by players, but over the course of the season I saw a few more Easton Rivals show up on the bat rack. Obviously, the hitters like it.
At $179.99 the price point is great compared to what I've paid for bats in the past. Considering the durability, results and use we'll get from it, I think there's great value in it. Also, at that price we'll probably be looking to add the Easton 2011 BD12XL Rival XXL (-5) Senior League Bat to the bat bag for the next season.
We moved to the Easton Rival after using the ComBat Stealth for a few season. That was a great bat, but I did miss the PING sound that we get from the THT100 alloy Easton Rival versus the THUD from the ComBat composite bat. With a bigger barrel at 2 5/8" the Easton Rival also provides a larger sweet spot. Mix in an ultra-thin handle with just the right amount of flex and you've got a bat that will provide great bat speed and power through the hitting zone.
My son loves the feel of the bat and feels confident using it. Now, we all know that a good swing is a good swing regardless of what bat you are using, but for an 11-year-old, the extra confidence the bat provides doesn't hurt. The ball really flies off this bat and he's recognized that. And less important to the skill, but attractive to an 11 year-old are the graphics on the bat. It's a cool-looking bat for sure.
No real cons when it comes to the Easton Rival. My son has never felt stinging in his hands and the bat is incredibly durable, having help up so far over 80 plus games and countless rounds of batting practice.
Something else that tells me this is a great bat -- the reaction it gets from the dugout. Not only is my son's Easton Rival the most used bat in the dugout by players, but over the course of the season I saw a few more Easton Rivals show up on the bat rack. Obviously, the hitters like it.
At $179.99 the price point is great compared to what I've paid for bats in the past. Considering the durability, results and use we'll get from it, I think there's great value in it. Also, at that price we'll probably be looking to add the Easton 2011 BD12XL Rival XXL (-5) Senior League Bat to the bat bag for the next season.
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