2017 Louisville Slugger LXT Hyper Fastpitch Review

The LXT Hyper fastpitch bat is made of two composite pieces fused together in a design feature Slugger refers to as a TRU3 connection. This TRU3 connection places a sting dampening slug between the barrel and handle and has been on several previous iterations of Slugger performance bats.

The bat also boasts an inner and outer barrel. The outer barrel is hot out of the wrapper--requiring no break in time---while the inner barrel works as a sort of governor to make sure the outer barrel doesn't exceed maximum performance. This dual walled design isn't unique to Slugger's LXT Hyper, but it's use among several high end performance softball bats to achieve maximum performance and good durability at all pitch speeds shows the idea's value.

What is different in the LXT from last year's 2016 LXT Plus, however, is the focus on a longer sweet spot with a new composite design---Slugger is calling this PBF technology---which, they claim, doubles the size of the sweet spot. We didn't hear any complaints of the bats sweet spot being too small in the LXT Plus, but a longer sweet spot is never a bad thing. If the sweet spot is actually double in size then it would be impossible for us to confirm. We have no doubt it's bigger.

The other major difference from last year is cosmetic in the option for a custom made LXT Hyper.

We sound like a broken record when pointing out the comparisons of two piece composite fastpitch bats in the performance space. But we'll say it again: Every serious manufacturer in the fastpitch space produces a top shelf performance two piece composite with an extended barrel and light swing. And by 'every' we mean everyone but Anderson Bats. For example:

• DeMarini's CF9
• Marucci's Pure,
• Easton's MAKO,
• Worth's 2 Legit and
• Slugger's XENO Plus

Each have their own little twist in terms of swing weight, barrel length and transition point. But, to say the least, the space is crowded.