What is the quick review?
After considerable time in the cage, direct feedback from hitters at different levels of the sport and discussions about the upgrades with several in the know, we present our 2017 Rawlings Quatro bat review in both Senior League and BBCOR.
What models and sizes are available?
We always check prices on new stuff at justbats.com. (Here is their Quatro search). Hard to beat their return policy and knowledge of bats. After that, places like Amazon might be a good bet.
How is it built?
At its core, the 2017 Rawlings Quatro is a two piece composite bat with a centering balance as close to the hands as possible. This gives the bat a large barrel and a light swing. Rawlings added a silicone collar within the connective area of the handle and barrel. This feature dampens sting on mishits and the general idea has been used in several other brands, confirming it works.
One could assume the name Quatro means a four-piece bat---just as the Trio from 2015 and 2016 was a three piece bat---yet this is not the case. The Quatro is officially a three piece bat: the handle, the barrel and the transition piece.
How does it compare?
The Quatro is a new line of bats for Rawlings in 2017. In the Rawlings line, you will not find a similar BBCOR bat from year's past. In the 2 3/4 Big Barrel version, the VELO Composite from 2016 is somewhat similar, although it lacks the silicone collar around the connective piece.
Other models in the line, like the VELO, TRIO and 5150, are not very similar to the Quatro. The composite end cap on those bats has taken over the entire barrel in the Quatro. The composite handle could be found in the TRIO, but not the 5150 or VELO. The connective collar piece is entirely new in the space.
Bottom line
Every vendor site we've read claims the 2017 Quatro allows for flex between barrel and handle to increase 'accelerated bat speed through contact'. They all must simply be copying from the same Rawlings adslick.
Sadly, this idea of 'bat whip', or bat acceleration, is a terrible misconception about two piece bats. Two piece bats DO NOT flex on the down swing (like a golf club) to store up bat speed for impact. Instead, two piece bats flex at impact. The flex actually delivers less power to the ball, but feels better on the hands. This is one reason better hitters use one piece bats (or bats with very stiff transitions). Don't be fooled by such silliness.
Rawlings is also claiming this is the first composite barrelled bat they've made. In the BBCOR space that is true enough. The Quatro is Rawling's first BBCOR composite barrel. However, they did produce a two piece composite design in the Big Barrel space (2 3/4) just last year. It was called the VELO Composite.
