![\"Easton](\"http:\/\/www.baseballbats.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/bats_baseball_xl1_2013_lrg.gif\")
<\/p>\nPossibly the best known of the XL\/extra long barrel bats, perhaps no other bat sparks as much debate about performance and weighting as the Easton XL1. What\u2019s truth, and What\u2019s hype? We took one onto the diamond to find out, and here\u2019s what we found.<\/p>\n
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Classic Easton Power Brigade. Perhaps no other bat is as immediately recognized at the plate, I\u2019m sure Pirates and Steelers fans were ecstatic when this bat was first released. It\u2019s classic, it\u2019s cool\u2026 everyone knows when someone\u2019s bringing one to the plate.<\/p>\n
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2-piece composite.<\/p>\n
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Size tested was a 30\/22 (-8). Actual weight was 24.3 oz. Yup, the stories are true. This bat was 2.3 oz. over sticker weight, and unlike some other bats that we\u2019ve tested that were slightly overweight (none of them near 2.3 oz. over, though), you felt every single overweight ounce.<\/p>\n
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Very end-loaded, and very heavy. This bat swung heavier than some -5\u2019s we\u2019ve used, and there\u2019s absolutely no way around the fact that if you have an end-loaded bat that\u2019s 2.3 oz. over sticker weight, it\u2019s gonna swing VERY heavy. We had boys who were used to working with wood and BBCOR in the cage, and in their other work, comment that this bat just felt end-loaded and heavy. It absolutely forces the hitter to work to get this bat around, start his swing early, and gives very little room\/time for last second pitch adjustment.<\/p>\n
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Unlike other bats we\u2019ve tested that were slightly overweight, you felt every single overweight ounce.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Barrel\/profile<\/h2>\n
Very long barrel, with the barrel going a good deal down the taper. The connection piece is also very far down towards the handle, so it absolutely doesn\u2019t interfere with the hitting area of the bat. No way can a hitter claim that there\u2019s not enough barrel on this bat, the only ones that can compete with this are the -8 and -5 Combats.<\/p>\n
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Grip<\/h2>\n
Bat uses Easton\u2019s Diamond Pattern Grip. It\u2019s nice for those who don\u2019t like their grips too thick and cushy, doesn\u2019t feel that different than the Lizard Skins 1.1 mm grip, but we had some durability issues with it fairly quickly as the top rubber-like layer started peeling off the grip. Kinda hoping for a little more quality from a grip on a $300 price range bat, it looks like this one will need a Lizard Skins replacement very quickly. No flare at the knob so add a knob cuff if that\u2019s what you like, or build up the flare under the Lizard Skins grip that this bat will quickly need.<\/p>\n
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Performance<\/h2>\n
Really can be all over the place, with this bat. Squared up shots with very fast bat\/swing speed were launched very far, but here\u2019s where the combination of endload and overweight comes into play. Because of the weight factors while it\u2019s not particularly hard for very strong hitters to connect with good bat\/swing speed on moderate fastballs and launch them, facing very fast pitching and\/or facing good breaking\/off-speed stuff can present a problem. Slower swing speeds and slower reaction times can be the result, and a corresponding decrease in success at the plate and contacts that don\u2019t get max distance were seen too. If a hitter absolutely owns the pitching at the level that he\u2019s playing, has great mechanics, and great bat\/swing speed, this bat can definitely benefit him\u2026 for others, it can be a challenge. Sound off the bat is very nice with the traditional Easton composite \u2018crack\u2019, but most every hitter said that it felt like this bat needed a lot more break-in to feel game ready. I would definitely say that the XL1 is definitely not a bat to unwrap and immediately use on tournament day.<\/p>\n
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Durability<\/h2>\n
Hundreds of hits on it, and nothing more than the normal scrapes, scratches, and ball marks. Bat actually looks a little meaner now that it\u2019s little scuffed up, and has lost some of that bright bumble bee look.<\/p>\n
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Overall<\/h2>\n
Straight up, this bat is very overweight (more than 2 ounces over sticker) and very endloaded. Like I said before, if your hitter absolutely owns the pitching he\u2019s seeing this can be an effective bat for him. For many\/most hitters who are trying to learn how to succeed against pitching that is continually getting better\/faster\/better location with a greater percentage of effective off-speed and breaking pitches, this bat might not be the best choice as it takes a lot more to get it around quickly and is harder to make last second adjustments with it.<\/p>\n
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