Easton 2014 S500C Youth Baseball Bat (-12)

This bat was bought for an 11 year old who only started playing baseball last year but is rapidly getting better. He has outgrown his 30 inch bat and we wanted to replace it with a longer but also better quality bat since he has really grown to like baseball. Our criteria was: 1) we wanted a 32 inch bat that was at least a minus 10. We spend a lot of time working on bat speed so a light bat is critical. 2) we wanted a composite bat with a strong metal that has pop 3) we wanted to spend less than $120. This was our dilemma: he would only be using the bat for summer practice, fall ball, and baseball next year at 12 years old. At 13, he moves to a minus three, so this bat becomes obsolete. With that in mind, we need above average quality at an affordable price 4) and this was a bonus requested specifically by the 11 year old: get one that looks cool.So with all this in mind, I begin my internet search. I check Modell's, Dick's and one or two others before moving to Amazon where I come across this bat. It comes in a 32/20, a full minus 12! That's awesome. It's a composite made out of aircraft alloy, which granted, I have no idea what that is but it sure sounds impressive, and best of all, it's only $55, far beating our price expectations for this quality of bat. So I check into the reviews, mainly to see if aircraft alloy has any pop, and the reviews say so, so we go ahead and buy.The bat arrives ahead of schedule and our first impression is okay, we got one right, because the bat does look cool. Sleek, black and a neon sort of green and the 11 year old is in love.That very day we go to the field his team plays on and everyone notices the pop in the bat. The eleven year old has been hitting the warning track but not over the fence in both games and batting practices. His third hit goes over the fence and throughout batting practice I can see the ball zinging off the bat. It is light and great bat speed comes easy. And God bless aircraft alloy, because we have had this bat almost a month and everyone is in agreement it has added an extra twenty feet of distance to his hits. We practice a lot so this bat gets constant use but it has held up.I can't recommend this bat enough.

My 10U son is real finicky about his bats. Not based on price either. The bat just has to feel right to him. I got a great clearance deal on a Louisville Slugger Omaha TPX bat in his size. Used at one practice and went back home never to be used again. Tried out teammate's pricier DeMarini bats. Didn't like them. He likes the S500C. He's hitting well with it. Loves the feel, balance and pop.Product had a small linear dent upon receiving. Like it had been struck against a sharp edge, not a ball. Finish is not as durable as his earlier Easton bats (Hammer 6-7 years old, Typhoon 8U)

We all want our kids to do well. My eight-year old has a nice swing but he isn't the strongest kid on the field (or even close for that matter). I chose the 29 inch, 17 oz. bat for him and it seems like a real winner. The bat is designed for base hits, as opposed to hitting for power (this is not a power bat). The handle is carbon fiber and the barrel is an aircraft alloy putting the weight where it is needed most. The base hits are pouring in. You could by a better bat, fully carbon fiber, but you'll pay for it.

My son has used this bat all year and loves it. It is a good middle of the road option if you want good equipment, but do not want to pay the high price for a so-called better bat.The bat itself has a sold feel and a large sweet spot. The ball seems to jump well off of the barrel and there is very little hand shock. It has held up well with near daily use. We plan to use it for at least one more season.

My son really likes this bat and has now used a couple different sizes of it. The composite handle does feel less substantial than other composite bats we've used so, I'm not sure how long it will last. In any case, my son really drives the ball with this bat and rarely complains of any vibration feedback in the handle.

Great bat!! My 12 year old just smashed his first over the fence homerun/(grandslam actually!!)with this bat just a few games of using it! Really hit the sweet spot and drove a line drive all the way out, not sure how much is due to the bar in actual and how much is due just to his own personal skill level improving but it did the job well:)

I do like that bat. My 9 yr old sons get pretty good pop out of it. The downside is after 2 weeks use I have already found a small dent in it. As soon as the season is over it will be returned under warranty.

A great value for the LL/CR minor league player. Can take abuse. Gets tossed around at practice and games like a bat should. Good looks, good sound, good "pop". Didn't break the wallet and more than adequate. As some know, others will learn....its nice to have shiny, straight arrows...but its not the arrow...its the Indian.