Hitting with the DEMARINI ZEN | BBCOR Baseball Bat Review

Summary

In this video, Will from Baseball Bat Bros reviews the 2025 D Marini Zen BB core bat, priced at $500. He notes it's the lightest two-piece composite bat since the Zoa BB core, but finds it disappointing in performance. Despite initial hopes, the bat's exit velocity is mediocre, and the sweet spot is smaller than expected. Will compares it to the Atlas, a superior bat, and concludes the Zen isn't worth its price, ranking it a C-tier bat. He advises against paying $500 for it, recommending other options instead.

Takeaways

• 🏏 The video reviews the 2025 DeMarini Zen BBcor bat, priced at $500, which is the most expensive BBcor bat to date.
• 🔨 This bat is the first two-piece composite since the Zoa BBcor, which previously had poor performance.
• ⚾ The bat feels light, almost like the Voodoo One, and has a small sweet spot, making it feel similar to a one-piece alloy despite being a composite.
• 📉 The performance of the bat was mediocre, with exit velocities hovering around 99-103 mph, lower than expected for such an expensive bat.
• 🧱 The reviewer emphasizes that, for $500, the bat should perform at an 'S-tier' level, but the Zen falls short in this regard.
• 💡 The bat is considered better suited for contact hitters due to its lightweight and ease of control.
• 👎 The reviewer criticizes the bat’s sweet spot and overall pop, stating they are underwhelming for the price point.
• 💵 The Atlas bat, priced $150 cheaper, outperformed the Zen in most categories, including sweet spot, consistency, and power.
• ❌ Overall, the Zen is rated as a 'C-tier' bat, and the reviewer strongly advises against paying $500 for it.
• 👊 The video concludes with a comparison of swing weight, noting that the Zen's lightness negatively impacts both the sweet spot and power output.

Q & A

What product is being reviewed in the video?

The video reviews the 2025 DeMarini Zen BB Core bat, which is priced at $500.

Why is the 2025 DeMarini Zen significant?

It is the first two-piece composite bat since the Zoa BB Core, which had a poor reputation.

What are the initial impressions of the bat's performance?

The bat initially feels very light and easy to control, but lacks power and exit velocity, staying around 102 mph, which is considered mediocre.

How does the 2025 DeMarini Zen compare to other top-tier bats?

The Zen is compared to the Atlas, an S-tier bat, and is found lacking in both power and sweet spot consistency, despite being $150 more expensive.

What is meant by the 'sweet spot' of the bat, and how does the Zen perform in this area?

The 'sweet spot' refers to the optimal hitting zone on the bat. The Zen's sweet spot is described as inconsistent and small, especially compared to other bats like the Atlas.

Why is the bat's swing weight a topic of concern in the review?

The Zen has an extremely light swing weight, which makes it easy to control but sacrifices power and sweet spot size. Heavier bats like the Atlas provide better backspin and more power.

What are the reviewers' thoughts on the price of the Zen?

They believe the $500 price tag is not justified, as the bat's performance does not match that of cheaper options like the Atlas, and they consider it more appropriate for contact hitters.

How does the sound of the bat impact the reviewers' assessment?

The sound varies depending on where the ball is hit on the barrel. Hits near the end produce a 'pingy' sound, while hits near the hands sound more like a 'thud,' adding to the bat's inconsistent feel.

What is the conclusion regarding the DeMarini Zen's tier ranking?

The Zen is placed in the C-tier, close to D-tier, despite its high price. The reviewers do not recommend paying $500 for it.

Would the reviewers recommend this bat at a lower price point?

Yes, the reviewers mention that if the bat were priced around $150, it could be considered solid, but at $500, it is not worth the money.

Outlines

00:00

🏏 First Impressions of the 2025 D Marini Zen BB Core Bat

The video starts with Will introducing the new 2025 D Marini Zen BB core bat, priced at $500, which is the most expensive BB core bat ever. This two-piece composite bat is the first since the Zoa BB core, which had a poor reception. Will questions whether D Marini can redeem themselves in the composite bat market. They begin testing it with high hopes, aiming for an 'S tier' bat performance given the price, but initial impressions are underwhelming, with a soft barrel feel and pingy sound.

05:06

⚾ Bat Performance Comparison and Initial Thoughts

Will and John continue testing the Zen bat, struggling to break 105 mph exit velocities, which is average for top-tier bats. The bat feels light, but the sweet spot is less forgiving than other models, feeling more like a one-piece alloy. Despite hitting the ball with good control, the performance remains disappointing, especially for a $500 bat. The pingy sound on hits near the hands and the low exit velocities raise doubts about its quality. They express frustration, unable to achieve consistent high velocities even after multiple swings.

10:10

🚨 The $500 Bat Debate: Is It Worth It?

The comparison moves to the Atlas bat, an S-tier model, priced $150 cheaper than the Zen. Will highlights that composite BB core bats, especially expensive ones, often fail to outperform cheaper alloy bats. The Atlas performs better, with more consistent sweet spot feedback and slightly higher exit velocities. Will critiques the trend of expensive composite bats, arguing that they don't justify their price tags and often underperform compared to alloy models like the Atlas. The team expresses doubt about the Zen's value for money.

📉 Final Verdict: Zen's Performance Falls Short

After additional swings, the Zen continues to underperform, struggling to break 104 mph exit velocities. Will criticizes the bat's light weight, which negatively impacts pop and sweet spot size, ultimately placing the Zen in the C-tier, far from its $500 price tag. He discusses how lighter bats often sacrifice power and launch angle, concluding that if someone finds a bat like the Zen too heavy, they might be using a bat that’s too long for their size. The team gives a harsh final review, suggesting that at $500, the Zen simply doesn't deliver.

Keywords

💡D Marini Zen

The D Marini Zen is the featured baseball bat in the video. It is a 2025 model priced at $500, and the video is centered around testing its performance. The D Marini Zen is significant as it represents a high-end, two-piece composite BB core bat, which is the first of its kind since the Zoa BB core, a previous model that had underwhelming performance.

💡BB core

BB core refers to the standard governing the performance of aluminum and composite baseball bats used in high school and college play. The video discusses the BB core standard extensively, as the D Marini Zen is evaluated based on how it compares to other BB core bats in terms of power, swing, and exit velocity.

💡Two-piece composite bat

A two-piece composite bat is a baseball bat constructed with two distinct parts: the barrel and the handle, usually connected by a joint. In the video, the D Marini Zen is a two-piece composite bat, and its performance is compared to both one-piece alloy bats and other two-piece composite models. The video highlights the unique characteristics of composite bats, such as lightness and barrel control.

💡Exit velocity

Exit velocity refers to the speed at which the ball leaves the bat after contact. The video measures the exit velocity of the D Marini Zen in multiple swings, consistently noting speeds around 102 mph. The speaker uses exit velocity as a key metric to assess the bat's effectiveness, with higher speeds indicating better performance.

💡Sweet spot

The sweet spot is the ideal point on the bat's barrel where contact with the ball yields the best results in terms of power and control. In the video, the D Marini Zen's sweet spot is described as smaller and less forgiving compared to other bats, particularly the Atlas, which is considered superior in this regard.

💡Swing weight

Swing weight refers to how heavy or light a bat feels when swung. The D Marini Zen is noted for having a very light swing weight, which is described as both an advantage for bat control and a disadvantage for power. The video emphasizes how swing weight affects both the sweet spot and pop of the bat, with the Zen’s light weight being criticized for limiting its power potential.

💡Atlas

The Atlas is another baseball bat referenced in the video as an 'S tier' bat, meaning it ranks among the best available. The performance of the D Marini Zen is compared to the Atlas, particularly in terms of sweet spot size, exit velocity, and overall feel. The video suggests that the Atlas is superior despite being $150 cheaper.

💡S tier

S tier is a term used to denote the highest possible rank or quality in a tiered system of evaluation. In the video, the host ranks BB core bats into different tiers, with 'S tier' representing the best-performing bats. The D Marini Zen was expected to be an S tier bat, but it ultimately falls short of this designation in the review.

💡Composite vs. Alloy

The video contrasts composite and alloy bats, with composite bats like the D Marini Zen typically being more expensive and lightweight but often not performing as well as alloy bats. The video suggests that despite the high cost of composite bats, they don't always outperform alloy bats like the Atlas, which are heavier but provide better exit velocity and sweet spot consistency.

💡Break-in period

The break-in period refers to the time it takes for a new bat, particularly composite models, to perform at its full potential. In the video, the D Marini Zen is swung multiple times to ensure it is 'broken in' before the final performance assessment is made. This concept is important because composite bats often need several swings to reach their best performance.

Highlights

Introduction of the new 2025 DeMarini Zen BB Core bat, priced at $500, making it the most expensive BB Core bat ever.

The 2025 Zen is the first two-piece composite since the Zoa BB Core, which was considered to be a poor performer.

The bat feels very light, even more so than the Voodoo One, and offers a different sound depending on the area of the barrel where the ball is hit.

Initial impressions of the bat are average, with exit velocities stuck at around 102 mph, considered mediocre for the price point.

Comparison with other BB Core bats like the Atlas, which is a certified S-tier bat. The Atlas consistently delivers higher exit velocities.

The reviewer notes that despite its light weight, the Zen’s sweet spot is not as forgiving as other bats like the Select Power.

Exit velocities remain stuck at around 102 mph, and the bat performs poorly at elevations, struggling to hit beyond 420 feet.

The bat is better suited for contact hitters due to its light weight, but the performance doesn't justify its $500 price.

Reviewers agree that composite BB Core bats like the Zen are not necessarily better than alloy bats, despite being more expensive.

The Atlas bat, priced $150 cheaper, outperforms the Zen in both swing weight and exit velocity, with a sweet spot that feels larger.

A bat with a slight end load, like the Atlas, helps generate better backspin, making it easier to achieve ideal launch angles compared to a lighter bat like the Zen.

The Zen bat’s swing weight, rated 8 out of 10, is too light, which negatively impacts its sweet spot and pop.

The Zen is placed in the C-tier for BB Core bats, with reviewers calling it a $500 'C-tier' bat.

The reviewers believe the Zen should be priced at around $150 to be considered a solid option, but at $500, it’s not worth the cost.

The bat performs poorly compared to more affordable alternatives like the Eent Speed, with both reviewers agreeing that the Zen is a mediocre choice at its current price.

Transcripts

what up what up Will here with the

baseball bat Bros and today folks we are

swinging the brand new 2025 D Marini Zen

BB core for

$500 and this is actually the first

two-piece composite since the zoa BB

core that was pretty

bad there it

is 103 okay pretty soft for BB cor bat

we haven't been a huge fan of this it

it's just it's honestly just so average

so today is D Marini back in the

two-piece composite game let's get

it all right folks so the way I see it

if you're going to price your bat at

$500 which in case you didn't know is

the very most expensive that any BB cor

bat has ever been uh you are claiming

that this is going to be uh as we say an

S tier BB core bat so here's current

tier list rankings for all the 2025 BB

cor bats and uh we would hope that this

is at least an s or a and that's very

elite company I think there's only six

bats there uh however we have seen some

of those two-piece composits ain't so

hot so first things first this is a

composite we're going to get some break

and hacks both me and John will swing so

here we go World premiere of the new

2025 D Marini Zen BB Corp

okay there's the first actual

Barrel that felt really good all the

other ones sound super pingy

all

right so that's my second round with

this bat I would hope it is good and

broken in by now so let's get into the

review so with our yellow baseballs that

we're using here today uh good V is I

I'd say good is 105 Elite is like 108

even maybe up to 109 uh with like the

atlas the icon the select power the

clout we've been up at 108 but uh most

bats more like 105 106 is let's see if

the Zen can at least compete and we got

another good bat we're going to compare

it to but let's get into

it there we go

baby it can hit it out at 4,000 FT

elevation

98412 so it feels a lot different than

the zoa it's really really light like as

light as the voodoo one if not even more

light that's the meat of the barrel 102

the sound is pretty dramatically

different uh depending on where you hit

it on the barrel towards the end it's

really pingy towards the hands it's kind

of more of a

thud

tattoo 102

there's that end of the bat Super pingy

99 hammered that

ball wall scraper 100 mph

409 okay we're not getting a lot of

Juice yet super easy to control the

barrel does feel oddly short and what I

mean by that is like you do have to get

the head out it's not even as forgiving

down on the hands as like a select power

um the The Sweet Spot is almost a little

reminiscent of a one piece alloy even

though it's a composite that's kind of

the price you pay for having a bat so

light and so

balanced tattoo that's over the

Tre easy yeah that was smoked still Vos

aren't crazy 99 still still haven't even

broke 420

yet man that sound towards with the

hands is really sick

99 oh

budy yeah that that's

hammered 102 mph

bro uh we're not we're not getting very

good vas yet definitely screams contact

hitter bat that's my initial reaction

let's freaking step into one or two more

here then we'll go on to our s tier bat

oh got out in a hurry got to be 103 102

we are stuck at a very mediocre exit

Belo so

far no just

hands did that go yeah

97 yeah

goodness 100 miles hour okay we're going

to return to This Bat uh maybe it's just

early but we got another one all right

so we have the atlas an S tier bat

certified s tier and if your bat's going

to be

$500 our expectations are going to be

way up here we would hope it is as good

as the best of the best in the BB cor

class so uh we might be surprised today

and I might not be able to exceed 102

with the atlas but uh we have previously

so let's see what we

got that's a lot more annoying

sounding dude The Sweet Spot legit feels

better

101 end of the bat 103

dude bro these are effortless 101 okay

let's ramp up

[Music]

that's pretty good

Barrel jeez bro yeah 105

441 dude I I don't know how you

justify these $500 bats it's like for

whatever reason companies are just stuck

in this pattern like they have to

release a composite bat that's $450 to

$500 and I guess that's kind of like

left over from the B serrera the UA

composite era dude composite BB cor bats

just aren't better than alloy and you

know this is even kind of a spendy one

piece alloy it's $ 350 this is $150

cheaper than the Zen and that's you know

that's a pretty modest swing for 3 m

hour better John you're going to have to

tell me if I'm crazy here bro I'll tell

you all right

[Music]

the swing weight's a touch

more which I think helps The Sweet Spot

feels way better Sweet Spot feels way

more consistent more than anything the

head of the barrel just whips through

the Zone way cleaner and it's hotter

that's

103 yeah that's far I need to hit a

liner

bro that it like that's a bomb 104 450

the little bit extra end load and I've

said this a lot a little bit more

endload will help you back spin balls

better really light bats I mostly just

hit knuckle balls and top Spinners I'll

get a few out but it's way easier to get

like my ideal launch angle with a bat

with a little more weight on it and same

situation with the cadex same situation

with the voodoo one if you need a bat as

light as the Zen or the voodoo 1 to feel

comfortable with the BB core bat you're

swinging too long of a bat there is no

reason you shouldn't be able to control

an atlas or even like a Goods one piece

or even like a select power that means

you're swinging too much fat for your

size all right we're going to get one

more with each that's a tank

bro all right so it's not looking good

we're going to get one more absolute

father hack with each bat then then

we're going to see what JT

thinks that sweet spot towards the hands

is actually worse 97

similar hit to all those bombs to

center

98 nope

100 that's perfect Barrel but it's a

little low 104 there we

go gosh 10 102 just doesn't feel

right there it is anded

it okay that's the best we're going to

get 103 435 yeah bro it's not the worst

bat I've ever swung it's better than

that cat but you're absolutely tripping

if you're paying $500 for that maybe in

two years when that thing's

$110 go for it but that's insane that

that's $500 bucks okay a father hack

with the

atlas like

that tiny bit end 105

[Applause]

[Music]

yeah not close bro 442 it's pretty

good CF Zen we meet

again this thing

sucks damn

bro that was perfect

perfect all

righty look get one

everybody I like this

bet oh that feels so much

better and we're talking like sweet spot

like this sweet spot feels heaps bigger

dude that's a lot

better ouch couple more with the Zen

let's put this thing in the ground for

the next million

years please don't go

out

no what did I just

do eat it cam all right

this new one looks

good yeah

ball this might be the best of them

all thing's got a lot of barrels all

right John is the Zen s

tier oh oh no is it what you say it's

like d tier yes really probably okay

wait there's no F no there's no F I

think it's probably C

tier $500 C tier it's close to D tier

you want to buy a $500 Bat C tier no no

probably not I throw it in the D's C

minus yeah the very last bat in the C

tier yeah dude all right so let's put

together a little bat row scale for this

guy so uh first of all the swing weight

is stupid stupid light and a lot of your

feedback for this whole time we've done

the bat bro scale That Swing weight

plays too much of a factor and like for

sure like I I don't think swing weight

is as important as pop or or Sweet Spot

however if a bat has like an eight or a

nine swing weight I can almost guarantee

you that The Sweet Spot or the pop is

going to stink and sure enough The Sweet

Spot and the pop on the Zen is in my

opinion pretty mediocre so putting the

uh putting the swing weight at eight

John uh

I mean just tell us what do you got

sweet spot and pop if it's ridiculous

I'll probably override you but

three 66 so you don't like

it it sucks okay in theory what if it

was 150 bucks

oh yeah it's solid $500 you're getting

by I'd still swing the eent speed yeah

kind of my bet for $500 noo though no

way