Louisville has a long and respected history in the baseball bat industry and gets a lot of respect in baseball bat reviews. But they've been lagging other manufacturers in developing composite bats. They've upped the ante in 2009 with a spankin' new design that is unique in the industry, and have added a lower cost composite to try and surround Easton in this category. Here's the breakdown of what they offer:

100% Composite:

• Triton - Three piece, 100% composite bat with Louisville's stiff handle design. Louisville's has finally responded to Easton's multi-piece bat design with a three piece bat. But they claim this three piece bat is bonded into one piece? Does this make sense to you? Me neither. Louisville has to either admit multi-piece bats are worth it, or stick to a true one piece design. I've hit with the Triton and seen high school kids use it in games. I'm currently undecided on this bat and would recommend the Easton IMX to experienced players who want a high priced 100% composite bat.

• TPX Omaha Comp - The Omaha has been a quality bat for a long time. This 100% composite, one piece bat has the standard Louisville stiff handle. I have a strong hunch this is the same bat as the Louisville Catalyst which was discontinued for the 2009 model year. This makes the Omaha Comp very appealing for two reasons. First it is priced correctly for a second tier composite bat and second it has a proven track record being a reborn Catalyst. An excellent choice for those looking for a lower priced composite bat.

Hybrid (composite handle/aluminum barrel):

• H2 Hybrid - one piece, a 100% stiff composite handle with a 100% alloy barrel. The handle is actually stiffer than the Exogrid. Currently this bat is priced too high. For another $20 - $30 I can get the new 100% composite bats. That's a no brainer, take the 100% composite bat. On the flip side the H2 and Exogrid (see next category) are priced the same. This also makes no sense as it's a no brainer to take the H2 instead of the Exogrid at the same price.

100% Alloy:

• Exogid - One piece, 100% alloy bat with a stiff handle. I've been a big fan of the Exogrid over the last two years, but unless the price drops it's time to move on. I can't recommend spending about the same as the 100% composite bats on this model.

• TPX Omaha - One piece, 100% alloy with a stiff handle. It's a great choice for the younger player or those who are more fiscally responsible.

Again, Louisville needs to decide if they're going to jump into the the mult-piece bat market or not. If you're coming out with a three piece bat design, tell me its three pieces and why that makes sense. Don't tell me it's bonded to be a one piece bat. Also, Louisville needs to price their bats correctly. The Triton, H2 and Exogrid are all priced within $30 of each other. This makes absolutely no sense.

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