If you're seeking an end-loaded bat, prefer a single-piece design for power, or need an exceptionally light swing, this bat might not be for you. Budget considerations are also crucial; while its price aligns with hybrid performance BBCOR bats, it's not the most affordable option. The Easton Z-Core Hybrid, with its larger barrel and lighter swing, competes closely with options like Slugger's 716 Select, making the decision a tough one, possibly coming down to personal preference for stiffness and user feedback.
Models Overview
We've now hit with the Z-Core Hybrid from Easton no less than 300 times. A handful of players, small to big, took it in the cage for hacks. We also exchanged a few emails with folks at Easton about the bat's data. That information, combined with our 2016 review of the Z-Core Hybrid and our extensive knowledge of bats, went into developing this 2017 Easton Z-Core Hybrid Review.
Performance Comparison
Like last year's 2016 Z-Core Hybrid, the 2017 version is a two-piece hybrid bat. This means the bat consists of a composite handle and an aluminum barrel. The composite handle is the exact composite handle found in the 2017 Easton MAKO (our review). The barrel is the exact aluminum barrel found in the Z-Core speed lines. This fusion of composite and aluminum is what makes it a hybrid bat and what drives the name.
As well, the swing weight is right in the middle of Easton's performance bat line. This bat is not nearly as light as the MAKO, for example, and not nearly as heavy swinging as the Hybrid XL. This feature is also not a change from the 2016 version.
If you've been following along, this means, in essence, the 2017 and 2016 BBCOR Z-Core hybrid bats are remarkably similar.
Overall grade: A-
Overall grade: A-
Overall grade: A-
