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Online now: 4 members: CDNSmitty, CowboyVis90, Golfman, TABLE SETTER 11; 109 anonymousDiscussion: What's the best bat for open tournaments?
| Posted | Discussion |
| Nov. 27, 2013 bobkat Men's 65 6 posts | What's the best bat for open tournaments? I recently hit my first over the fence homer with a balanced 2-piece Ultra II. I've also hit this year with the end loaded Reebok Melee Legend and the balanced black Ultra II, the balanced Combat Dirty, and an end loaded Miken Recoil (for ASA competition). I seem to have the best bat control with a balanced bat but have been steadily hitting further and further due I think to my workout regime. I like the way the black Ultra II hits, but don't like its lack of durability. I liked the 2-piece Ultra II but wonder if it will hold up any better. I hit the ball well with the end loaded Melee and Recoil, but don't seem to be able to hit the right field line (rh hitter) as consistently as with the balanced bats. I was leaning toward the balanced Melee (which I have not tried) until I read reviews indicating the bat may not have the pop and distance that the end loaded Melee has. Any suggestions? |
| Nov. 27, 2013 bobkat Men's 65 6 posts | Don't think I want to go to a 28 as I want to keep my bat speed up. You like the Ambush better than the Dirty? |
| Nov. 27, 2013 Fabe Men's 65 456 posts | I agree with Alan…Ambush is a fun bat n much better performance than the Dirty…Aloha, Fabe |
| Nov. 27, 2013 bobkat Men's 65 6 posts | Thanks for the advice guys. The Ambush it is. |
| Nov. 29, 2013 17Black Men's 60 414 posts | Alan? Melee's not going to be made anyore????? |
| Nov. 29, 2013 17Black Men's 60 414 posts | anymore?? |
| Nov. 29, 2013 hemi racer Men's 65 237 posts | There are several good senior performance bats out there, but I promise you will love the Ambush. |
| Nov. 30, 2013 big unit 19 posts | well alan and fabe I have to disagree with your opinion on the dirty combat !!! I swing the dirty in tournaments and by far its a way better bat than the ambush !!!! hands down.... I have tried the ambush,not bad but to me doesn't compare to the dirty!!!! my friend swings it in FHC and kills the ball with it!!!the ambush reminds of the black centenarian ! put them side by side there are close!!! think maybe alan trying to sell bats !! |
| Dec. 1, 2013 hemi racer Men's 65 237 posts | I'm sure everybody's swing is deferent, but I'm just the opposite of big unit. I do manage to hit a home run every now an then. They are always with my Ambush. Have hit with the dirty in a couple of year ending tournaments as two of my teammates have the dirty. Good senior bat, but just didn't have the success as I do with the Ambush. Like I stated everybody's swing is deferent. |
| Dec. 1, 2013 Dbax Men's 65 2100 posts | Awesome price and free shipping! I just ordered one. |
| Dec. 3, 2013 miken44 90 posts | hi guys have swung both the ambush and the dirty to me both are good bats but when it comes down to it i prefer the ambush has been durable and all the pop i want from a bat |
| Dec. 3, 2013 Gorilla Boy Men's 50 271 posts | So we don't get to out of control. Alan I disagree with you being the most knowledgeable person in senior softball or softball itself. I think I am a pretty knowledgeble person. Just remember there is other people that know as much as you do about softball. I am by far not trying to be shitty here. As a matter of fact I am your friend. Just slow down a little bit. Combats are great bats whether it be a Ambush, or Dirty. Mike Macenko |
| Dec. 4, 2013 the wood Men's 65 1123 posts | Alan, You may be a very knowledgable bat guy, as is Mike. There are some other ones as well... Kevin Schullstrom comes to mind. But you previously stated that there is no comparison between the Dirty and the Ambush... why? because you say so? I recognize that you are involved with the Ambush and that it's impoosible for you to be impartial. But come on... no comparison? I look at the bats other players swing and I see 3 times as many Dirtys as I see Ambushes. Perhaps in another area it would be closer... I play in the So West. But I've tried both and, for my money, the Dirty swings better. Neither of them is my bat of choice because I prefer a shorter barrel... I use the White Combat. I am not involved with bat sales of any type so I am not obligated to any of them. In fact, I have bought bats from you... an Ambush and a White Combat. Give credit where credit is due. You want to sell bats on this message board, fine. Just don't BS us. Bob Woodroof |
| Dec. 4, 2013 swing for the fences Men's 50 1224 posts | Dirty/Ambush/Combat have the same Barrel... all the same materials! call the factory and ask them the difference between them.. maybe the handle and the paint.. that's about it! |
| Dec. 5, 2013 PJ3P Men's 50 94 posts | Popcorn ready. This will be fun. Now if you said Dirty and Centenarian were the same, ok. But the Ambush is very different than the other "one". |
| Dec. 5, 2013 hoovedog Men's 50 73 posts | Well here's my 2 cents,, In eleven yrs of Senior Ball I've had 3 black U-2's 4 yellow combat mm, 3 reebok melee's, 1 combat ambush, and 1 combat Dirty,, I'm a line drive hitter through the infield,when I started using the ambush in tournaments,and league ball my batting avg fell from 750 to low 600's ,after 3 months I went back to the yellow mm, and my avg. shot back up,, 2 weeks later at about 400 swings the ambush cracked,,and a friend, who ordered his at the same time cracked,, maybe we just got a bad batch, but that sweet spot for me, was the smallest I'd ever used, when I did connect, it was some of the longest, I'd ever hit,( yeah, I know, over the infield) My Dirty has 800 swings on it, and is right up there with my yellow mm for avg. and power |
| Dec. 5, 2013 ju25 Men's 60 236 posts | I must have got a bad Ambush, because my Combat original, white centenarian, black centenarian, twilight, and Worth 454 all outperform the Ambush. 300+ swings on all of them. Ambush is not a bad bat, just not the best bat for me. |
| Dec. 5, 2013 the wood Men's 65 1123 posts | Alan, I initially responded to your 'no comparison' comment because I felt that it was/is an unfair statement. I had read your disclaimer to MM but I interpretted it as applying only to your purported status as the most informed bat person around. I did not get the impression that you were disclaiming your statement about the Ambush v. Dirty part. That is why I posted my comments. In your reply to me you insinuated that Kelly Sports is dumping the Dirty line of bats. This was after you stated that 'BSing is not something that you do'. Well, if you aren't BSing about the future of the Dirty bat you must be poorly informed. In your role as one the leading bat gurus, making statements that are less than correct can't be a long term positive. I was unaware that Kelly Sports was 'dumping them' so I called Mike Kelly. The current price of $129 is a holiday sale, similar to previous holiday sales that his firm has had over the past few years. He also stated that they zero thoughts of discontinuing the Dirty senior bat. As I said before, I have no ax to grind in the 'Dirty v. Ambush' debate other than I like to think the posts are accurate. Everyone has an opinion as to which bat works best for them... and rightly so. But because you have placed yourself on such a lofty perch shouldn't you be more forthcoming or better informed (disclaimer or no disclaimer)? BW |
| Dec. 5, 2013 RoyHobbs 20 posts | Amen!!! |
| Dec. 5, 2013 tg69 393 posts | As my son keeps reminding me, its not the arrow, its the INDIAN. |
| Dec. 6, 2013 The real deal Men's 70 114 posts | My dad was stronger than your dad, and my muscles are bigger than your muscles... |
| Dec. 6, 2013 KC Jim Men's 60 180 posts | I have swung/tested all the bats discussed here and the Reebok Barrage Legend is the best "out of the wrapper" bat I have swung so far- for distance. This bat has real pop- thanks Alan! I have the Miken Ultra II black balanced and love it. Also like the Miken Ultra II two piece balanced. Have the Miken Ultra II two piece max end load but like the balanced bats better. Love all my Miken's- but the Reebok Barrage Legend is even hotter. Just tested it for the first time and am impressed. A real pleasant surprise- can't wait for the 2014 season. The Combat Ambush is a good bat, but the Reebok Barrage is even hotter. Alan can supply both- but he should be stocking up on the Reebok Barrage! |
| Dec. 7, 2013 bobkat Men's 65 6 posts | Alan, got my Ambush this week. Thanks for the prompt shipment! Started the break in process and was hoping to get out on the field and hit some but the weather intervened. The bat felt really good off the tee and I had good bat control at all three strokes (lf, cf, & rf). I'll let you know how she hits if we get some good weather here in Carolina. Any temperature restrictions as far as cold weather is concerned? I've heard 50 degrees is the cutoff point. |
| Dec. 8, 2013 boston Men's 60 355 posts | I read a review on softballfans.com senior board. The gentleman review senior bats puts the 1) Ultra SE 2) Worth senior Legit 3) Miken senior Triad 4) Fossil/Reebok Melee Legend Check it out |
| Dec. 10, 2013 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | As others are saying, everyone has an opinion and seems to make it known. This is my first time on the boards since driving across country and flying back last week, both trips among the nasty cold winter storms. Thankful the great Lord guided me safely home to Colorado. Wishing all of you folks a wonderful Christmas and let's keep Christ in Christmas!!! Ed Andrews |
| Dec. 10, 2013 swing for the fences Men's 50 1224 posts | BW, I called and talked to combat company about the Ambush and Dirty and the Cent, and he told me all three barrels are Identical! nothing different other that the paint and handle! So the bottom line is you are buying a pretty color over the other! Fact!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Dec. 10, 2013 Coop14 3 posts | I received a couple calls about this and wanted to clear up a couple things. 1. If someone called Combat and was told the Dirty was the same construction as the Ambush, original or Cent I'm sorry but that information was incorrect. 2. The Dirty was a construction that I had tested and worked on for about three years. Kelly's ultimate sports was involved the entire time and had the rights to the construction. We also built a non- senior bat for them in a mid- load using the same insert different outer shell. This design has lead you or Portent and Avarice line in non senior slow pitch as well. 3. The New Jeff Wallace cent is a made with our new Gen 2 resin system and I think most folks have seen the durability increase with this new system. 4. The newest run of Dirty bats were also made with the new Gen 2 resin system. 5. All bats we produce going forward will be made with that system. 6. The original both in short shell and long shell are the same construction. The MM gear was the same barrel as the original with gear in the taper. 7. The Twlight was a two piece cent. -- very similar barrel with different insert turned into a two-piece -- in my opinion the most underrated of them all. 8. The original Cent. Was a new senior construction same insert as the original with a completely new frame. The short shell, long shell were same construction. 9. The new wanted senior league is all new barrel and insert with gen2 resin and new paint primer system that should really help with paint issues. 10. The new Jeff Wallace Cent. is the same barrel and insert as the wanted just in one piece - made with new paint and resin system. 11. We have completely rebuilt our plant in the last 5 months. New automated resin system- all new paint and primer system - new cap - weighting system. All improvements geared towards product improvement. If anyone has questions please contact me. Dcooper@combatsportsgroup.com |
| Dec. 10, 2013 swing for the fences Men's 50 1224 posts | not what I was told last year! I called the company because I was curious about all the hype of the Ambush.. was told by someone at the factory that the barrels were the same... I don't know what to believe other than hitting the ambush cent and the Dirty personally they felt alike.. no big deal.. I prefer the Melee over all three of them... Just don't believe the hype on the Dirty or the Ambush! |
| Dec. 11, 2013 hemi racer Men's 65 237 posts | Now THAT my dear friends sounds like info we can count on. Coming from the horse's mouth so to say. Thanks D. Cooper for taking time to help clear the air for use confused old guys. |
| Dec. 12, 2013 ? 121 posts | Ambush works well. |
| Dec. 12, 2013 Full Monty 88 posts | The Original Combat Da Bomb has always worked well for me! |
| Dec. 12, 2013 Snot Nose Kid 67 posts | REEBOK |
| Dec. 12, 2013 Perl 212 posts | There are a lot of great bats out right now, however if you look in the dugouts you will see more Ultra's than anything else. I am not representing any bat company, which some on here are doing, just stating what I see. |
| Dec. 12, 2013 Pull My Finger 81 posts | Most any BPF 1.21 Senior Bat will do. It just depends on how comfortable you feel with the bat. |
| Dec. 12, 2013 softballnuts 81 posts | Yeah |
| Dec. 13, 2013 Shut Up & Pitch 67 posts | GSC! |
| Dec. 18, 2013 Gonedeep43 71 posts | I notice no one has mentioned the Worth Legit Senior Bat?? I've been using one and it by far hits better than alot of the bats that have been mentioned here and I've hit with the bats that have been mentioned here. Just a thought. |
| Dec. 18, 2013 Gonedeep43 71 posts | Alan, Are you a dealer?? If so, it's a long season, and who knows when my Legit will come apart? so if your able to send a Legit 27oz senior my way in the future, I maybe interested, if the price is right?? : ) By the way, I played over the weekend, and my teammates ended up putting their bats away and were using my Legit after they saw the bombs I was hitting with it and what they all seems to comment about the bat was how balanced it was, but with crazy pop. And most these guys swing either the Melee or the two piece Mikens. |
| Dec. 19, 2013 SSUSA Staff 3483 posts | POSTING REMINDER • This Message Board has (only) four posting rules, and one of them prohibits: - Advertising for commercial products, services or websites Reviews of bats and opinions on same are acceptable, but not in the context of offering to buy or sell through here. We recommend eBay.com or craigslist.com as a couple acceptable alternatives. Please respect this prohibition so that we are not forced to suspend posting privileges for repeat offenders. Thank you. |
| Dec. 19, 2013 PeteC Men's 60 5 posts | Alan, How would you rate the Legit senior bat compared to the 2007 gold Worth Launch 510? I really loved that bat. Thanks! |
| Feb. 9, 2014 bobkat Men's 65 6 posts | Alan, I've been able to hit a couple of times this winter with the Ambush and it is every bit as lively as you said it would be. Hit screaming line drives to all fields and some of my mistakes carried to the fence. It it's durability holds up, it will be a better buy than the Ultra II. I did take a ribbing from my teammates about buying the Ambush after hitting one out with the 2-piece Ultra II balanced but sometimes you gotta go with the gut feeling, you know? Thanks for the help! |
| Feb. 9, 2014 surf88 Men's 65 1000 posts | Guys, I just read this thread all the way through. Although I have had a good relationship with Alan, the thread above seemed to me to be way over the top. There are quite a few good experienced men that have knowledge and the desire to help players with their bat needs and I happen to be one of them. There are hundreds of players whom I have helped and there will be hundreds more. It was a bit disappointing to reread this thread this morning but it is what it is. I will be in Bullhead City and have ALL Reebok models, both end load and balanced Melee's and Barrage's. Ed Andrews Andrews Companies ea@andrewsdev.com |
| Feb. 9, 2014 db14 104 posts | Dave D. word it how you wish however once again the above post sounds like a blatent "offer to sell". Just like some of the others. Thought you made it quite clear. |
| Feb. 9, 2014 Foothills Men's 55 95 posts | If you want reviews on bats from someone ,who has no profit motive, other than getting free bats to test . Go to seniorsoftballbatreviews on utube . |
| Feb. 10, 2014 B1GPAP1 Men's 50 8 posts | my wife love's this kind of drama. |
| Feb. 10, 2014 deep14 102 posts | Reebok Barrage 30oz hit well for me.To those of you who hit the melee endloaded the same or better. |
| Feb. 10, 2014 armiho211 Men's 70 449 posts | i have played senior softball for about 13-14 yrs. i have fallen for the hype on new bats every year. i have bought a few based on the hype, and they are decent bats for senior softball. however, i started with the ultra 2 when it first came out, and have noticed that most new bats are always compared to the ultra 2. the problem with the ultra 2 is the durability issue. i have broken 10-12 since i have been playing, eventually it has soaked in that once you feel the ultra 2 is broken in, you only used it during tournaments. i have approx 10-13 bats hanging in the garage that i use ocassionally, IE: YELLOW COMBAT, AMBUSH, MIKEN 2 PIECE BALANCED, CENTENARIAN, REEBOK BALANCED, PLUS A FEW MISC OLD BATS. while these are all good bats, they do not have the consistency of the ultra 2 . i dont have the greatest eye for hitting the ball, most good hitters say , " hit the bottom part of the ball to create the spin ". my eyesight is not that good anymore, i just want to make good contact and see what happens. my .02c ( good or bad ! ) |
| Feb. 10, 2014 Cruzen_now 17 posts | Armiho..... Ditto.... Ultra 2 is still the Best bat out there.... 2nd is the yellow Reebok... I'll avg about 150 hits with the U2 and 800 with the Reebok yellow melee. |
