The Combat B1 98 is modeled on the highly successful Combat B1, a 100-plus mile-an-hour bat that is approved for USSSA and NSA play. The B1 98 is designed for use under the ASA’s 98-mph standard.
The 100% composite Combats are made with numerous design and process patents including a multi-laminate layer design, proprietary resin systems, and a proprietary precision molding process.
They are designed with long barrels, large sweet spots, all-weather durability, and a unique wood-like sound. One of the most unique features however is Combat’s attention to designing a different moment of inertia into each bat; that’s because everyone has a different Moment of Inertia.
In layman’s terms, the Moment of Inertia defines how easy the bat is to swing in an arc: balanced bats have the lowest MOI, extreme end loads have the highest. If you are a power hitter, you probably want a higher MOI; if you are smaller then the balanced weighting just swings easier. There is a different best bat for each player. Everyone swings the same bat differently. Everyone swings a different bat differently.
Combat helps players obtain the proper MOI by offering more customized models than any other company. Each bat ordered comes with the following weighting options:
BA: Balanced – balanced swing weight for control hitters who are looking for more bat speed with lower effort and precision control of line drive hits.
EL: End Loaded – higher swing weight for power hitters who are looking for increased hit distance. Best all around bat weighting for average and above average players.
XEL: Extra End Loaded – highest swing weight for the larger and stronger elite level power hitters who are looking to hit that extra long ball.
XD Extra Drop – lowest swing weight for players of smaller build and most women
XL: Extra Long Barrel – longest barrel for bigger sweetspot and more contact area (for fastpitch)
The B1 98 is performance tuned for low compression (375-pounds max) balls, has a tennis racket style grip, and meets bat standards for ASA, NSA and USSSA.
We hit the 27 oz. BA version.
Combat’s original ASA-approved bat, the C4, didn’t get a wide release and didn’t make much of a splash in the softball pool. But the non-ASA B1 model created a bit of a sensation when it came out last September and even became part of this year’s WSL Stadium Power Tour home run contest. With the new B1 98, Combat has created an ASA-approved bat that has genuinely piqued the playing public’s interest.
The remarkable thing about the B1 98 is that it looks, sounds and feels just like the original B1. The weighting is custom (we hit a 26-ounce EL end load) and it has that signature Combat “crack” when contact is made. When swinging the B1 98, the hitter cannot tell it from the B1: it is designed to maximize the batter’s Moment of Inertia and provide a near-effortless swing. And it does.
The one way that it is different from the B1 is in its distance. The B1 98 is restricted to a maximum batted ball exit speed of 98 mph while the B1 has an exit speed in excess of 100 mph. The difference in the distance of a well-struck ball can be as little as 6 feet per 300 or as much as 20 feet per 350, according to the company.
We noticed the difference in pop, as the B1 98 did not drive balls as far as its predecessor, but many still went far enough to leave the softball field. It seemed to have about as much distance as any 98-mph bat we’ve tried so far.
Because everything else about the bat works so well, the reduced pop did keep coming up in the testers’ comments. Quips like “that sounded a lot farther than that” and “I thought I got more of that” were common. That is because the bat feels so comfortable and swings so easy, it seems impossible to miss hit. And the sound is so sharp and clean it seems strange that every ball doesn’t go 400 feet.
In truth, the bat can be used by power hitters, but it works just as well with slower hands and opposite field swings. We sprayed line drives to all parts of the field with ridiculous ease.
The ball comes off the bat well and there is no sting at contact. The B1 98 has a 13-inch barrel and comes with a tennis racket style grip that negates the need for batting gloves.
This bat was actually used in a double header before it was hit in a multi-player hitting session. Right out of the wrapper the bat was used for a 7-for-8 evening, impressive for a bat coming right out of the wrapper and onto the field.
Let us hear your bat review!Click here to review this bat.
