The 100% composite Freak Plus is designed similarly to the 2004 Freak, but has been re-designed to meet the ASA’s 98 mph batted ball exit speed standard. It has the longest barrel in slow pitch which makes it easy to hit.
The Freak Plus features Miken’s patented E-Flex Technology, which allows the barrel to flex latitudinally (also known as trampoline or hoop flex) on impact, keeping the ball from deforming and allowing it to spin faster and fly farther. It also allows the barrel to snap back into its original shape. E-Flex involves laying the carbon graphite and fiberglass fibers at optimal angles and specific thicknesses for the most trampoline effect. It also expands the traditional sweet spot by improving the flex on areas of the barrel where flex might not otherwise occur.
The Freak 98 has a 13-1/2-inch barrel and a thin handle. It has a rubberized plastic end cap and an MG-1 Sport Grain grip. The Freak Plus is available in 34 inches and 26-30 ounces.
Ever since the Miken Ultra II was banned from most softball parks and associations in mid-2003, players have been waiting for a bat to replace it. Miken’s first attempt, the Velocit-E II, felt similar but the drop off in performance was too great. The second attempt, the Edge, had good performance but with only a 10-inch barrel lacked Miken’s traditional large and forgiving sweet spot. The third attempt, the Freak, put Miken back on the right track with improved performance and durability; the new 2005 Freak 98 is the highest performance Miken allowed under the stricter ASA standard
It is a great bat across the board – it has a nice balanced feel which can be used by all types of hitters, it has a 13-and 1⁄2-inch barrel which provides the most hitting area in slow pitch, it has an easy-to-find sweet spot which helps raise the number of good hits per swings taken, and it has good pop. It does not match the performance of the Ultra II, Freak Plus, or original Freak – but by definition it can’t.
All types of hitters liked the bat. Power hitters noticed an ease at hitting home runs though the overall distance seemed a bit down. Line drive hitters noticed an ease in getting the ball over the infielders and also found a number of gap line drives carry all the way to the fence. The hitters that seemed to benefit most, however, were those with the slowest hand speed; those with quick hands and good power enjoyed great success, but those with slow hands hit the ball much more consistently than they are normally known to do with plenty of line drives and occasional power.
After a minimum of 80 swings each, all of the testers said that they would use the bat for ASA, but would not give up their BPF 1.20 bats for USSSA.
Hitters included Ed Sisneroz, Ben DeBolt, Rob Deno, Denny McAdams, Bobby Ponto, Nathaniel Hines Jr., Joanne Andreoli, Damien Helmbold, Woody Woodard, Jeremiah Martinez
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