What is the quick review?
The long-awaited Marucci CAT 9 was made widely available on 8.31.2020. (Check here to buy it). For 2021, expect the same great barrel with a new alloy and the same AV2 knob found in the CAT 8. The 2021 Marucci CAT 9 comes in BBCOR, USSSA and USA. It's big barrel and light swing in USSSA will attract a lot of hitters, again. The not too end-loaded BBCOR performs as well as any BBCOR bat on the market, has a loud ping and a great look.
What models and sizes are available?
Our hitters like the loud sound, great feel for a single piece, and what feels like a long sweet spot on the 2021 Marucci CAT 9. The bat looks great and doesn't feel much different (if at all) when compared to the 2020 CAT 8. That isn't a bad thing, but it does feel a bit like the same old CAT with a new look and a differently named alloy.
How is it built?
Marucci has used the same general principles in their CAT line of bats ever since the now illegal Cat 5. That is, they:
- use a high performing barrel that uses variable wall thickness to create a longer sweet spot.
- Implant a silicone piece inside the knob of the bat to help dampen sting on mishits (they call this the AV2).
- Do not use any rings inside the barrel.
- Focus the bats swing weight towards the knob for a lighter feeling bat.
- Use a single piece of aluminum to construct the entire bat.
How does it compare?
As we stated above, the 2021 Marucci CAT 9 comes with an upgraded allow when compared to the CAT 8. They changed some things to make it more durable and a bit thinner. Marucci still uses multivariable wall thickness to extend the length of the sweet spot and bring down swing weight. As well, in the BBCOR bats, they added a groove along the length of the barrel to bring down the swing weight even more.