What is the quick review?
In the last two weeks, we've spent at least 2 hours reading player reviews, company literature and vendor takes on the new 2017 Rawlings VELO.
What models and sizes are available?
We've watched every VELO video we could find and spent a good hour, with several different hitters, in the cage with the Rawlings VELO. That data set, combined with our knowledge on performance baseball bats, prepped us to write this 2017 Rawlings VELO review.
How is it built?
Save the two piece VELO Composite, the VELO is built with a full aluminum alloy body with an extended composite end cap. This cap, you'll notice if you look closely, comes 2 to 3 inches into the barrel. An extended composite end cap drives the balance point toward the hands and gives the bat a lighter swing (lower MOI).
The other feature in the VELO is on the inside of the barrel. If you were to cut it open, you'd find a groove within the barrel. Rawlings refers to this as pOp 2.0. The groove isn't big enough to hurt durability, but it is, in large measure, how the VELO maintains its low swing weight despite being a mostly aluminum bat.
These construction details, we should note, are the same as the 2016 VELO.
How does it compare?
Last year Rawlings labeled this particular bat the VELO Composite. We've yet to see that differentiation from vendors for the 2017 model. The only way to tell, aside from the serial number, is by looking closely at the picture. The two piece composite looks like, well, a two piece bat.
