Two years ago, we took the new Anderson Flex for a spin, and with plenty of 2015 Flex cage time since, it still serves as one of our main BP bats.
Models Overview
With that in mind, you can imagine our excitement to try out the 2017 version. We have come a long way since then, and after several hours of hitting and comparison, the following comprises our 2017 Anderson Flex Review.
Performance Comparison
We referenced Anderson's site a number of times to verify sizing and end cap construction. Of course, our 2015 Anderson Flex Review was also very helpful. Our Louisville Slugger 517 Omaha Review and our 2017 Rawlings 5150 Review are useful too. As the bat has not changed much, Amazon's user reviews on the 2015 Flex are also referenced.
Comparable Bats
There are a number of single piece aluminum bats built for a stiff feel and good power transfer. The 517 Omaha from Slugger and the 5150 from Rawlings are likely the two most popular with the best user reviews.
Expert Recommendations
For 2017, the Flex continues the one piece aluminum track it started in 2015. The barrel size and general contact feel are very similar to the previous model. The swing weight, however, has decreased slightly. This feature improvement, as we understand it, is attributed to the upgraded, lighter end cap found only in the 2017 version.
There is also a color/design upgrade for 2017.