The 100% composite Freak Plus is designed similarly to the 2004 Freak, but has been re-designed to meet the USSSA’s hotter Bat Performance Factor 1.20 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 Plus 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 Plus puts Miken back at the front of the class when it comes to bat making.
The Freak Plus is exactly what its name says it is – the 2004 Freak with about 30 extra feet added to your drives. 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 ½-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 undeniable pop.
The most negative comment generated over a half-dozen hitting sessions was that the Freak Plus was not as hot as the Ultra II, but with that bat irrevocably banned and with the new, tighter bat standards in place or 2005, the Freak Plus comes across as the next closest thing possible.
All types liked the bat. Power hitters noticed a bit more distance to their home runs well as an increase in the number of balls leaving the park out of each 40 pitch round. 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 or over 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 a slight increase in distance, but those with slow hands who depend on strength rather than speed for distance saw a lot of fly balls become homers.
After a minimum of 80 swings each, all of the testers said that they would use the bat anywhere they were allowed to and the only reason they wouldn’t rush right out to buy one is the Freak Plus is only allowed by USSSA and ISA; it exceeds the 98 mph bat exit speed used by ASA and is also not approved for NSA play, even though NSA uses the same bat standard as USSSA.
Hitters included Rusty Newton, Jeff Eades, Ed Sisneroz, Ben DeBolt, Rob Deno, Ron Howard, Denny McAdams, Bobby Ponto, Nathaniel Hines Jr., Sal Moreno, Joanne Andreoli, Martha Peden
Let us hear your bat review!Click here to review this bat.
The freak plus is the baddest and the hottest bat out on market
its a powerfull bat any hitter could use it from slap hitters to homerun
hitters. its worth spending some money on.
lites out 22
Wow. This bat was hot right out of the wrapper. A great line drive
bat with tons of pop for those times you need to go deep. Everyone used it
on my team and everyone loved it. I played with a Syn2 last season and the
start of this one and this bat is far superior to my broke in Syn2. Buy
this bat........
Kato
Right out of the rapper this bat is amazing, I have an edge and it
hits everything from line drives to homeruns. The thing is with the plus is
I'm hitting lazer line drives, being a power hitter I haven't hit a really
big bomb as I do in b/p I'm wondering why? Anyways this bat is all gold
and if it's legal in your league best buy one, your be a better player for it.
Joseph Martinez
I used it once in a game, and that is all it took. I purchased one
myself for the 05' season in feb and still today no complants. I so far
have had no durabilty problems. Two other teammates and myself swing it
and no cracks or stress fractures. When you hit the sweet spot or even
miss a little the 44 core just jumps off the barrel. Miken has new war
clubs out. If it's anything like or better look out.
LF3
I was skeptical at first because if you search through enough
"reviews" someone somewhere always say that "such and such a bat" is going
to be the next big thing. All I can say is: THIS BAT IS FOR REAL! I have
never hit anything like it. And I have owned quite a few sticks.
(Techzilla, F2, Vexxum, Synergy2, WrapTech, One Cryo, Shockwave...)
The ball carries for what seems like forever. If you play USSSA there is
no other bat you need to get.
Lou Colandrea
I am a homerun bomber. This bat not only helps me hit close to
400 feet but it is a great bat to demoralize the other team. When I hit 4
homeruns in one game and the last one I hit was a low line drive
homerun,the short-stop tried to jump up and catch it! It clear the 300 ft.
fence by 60-70ft. I use a 29 oz. and it hits like a hammer. I suggest
using a heavier bat now that the Balls are so flight restricted. Good
luck and great bat.
Sunny
