Before we get into it, we would like to point out that none of these recommendations are driven by kick backs, ease of shave or margin like you may see on paid reviewed sites or from other bat doctor companies. Every bat on the list below are proven performers backed by 15+ years of bat shaving experience. We are not in the business to sell you a garbage bat already knowing it will turn you off and make you not want to come back and purchase with us again. Doesn't make a lot of sense operating that way which is why our company model is literally the complete opposite. Our job as bat doctors is to know all these products inside and out, how they perform stock and how they perform altered. Nothing can replace experience and understanding the ins and outs of all the models out there. So with this said, lets get down to what will drop some BOMBS!
VERY IMPORTANT --> Stock bat reviews are not shaved bat reviews. Review sites are popping up everywhere and they do heavily influence bat sales. The most influencial of them all is Baseball Bat Bros of which many reading this drink the kool-aid they serve. Not that I will get into it here, but I do pay attention to these sites and some reviews I see leaves me scratching my head. I get it, most every one wants a bat that is on point within swings vs weeks / months. The only downfall to these types of bats is durability which means you will be burning a hole in your wallet. Lets use a good example of a mediocre review stock, but phenomenal review shaved
Some stock bats need a lot of swings to break in but when shaved and rolled, its a totally different ball game. One of the best current examples for a baseball bat is the 2025 LS Meta BBCOR. Very average stock with a ton of break in needed, but shaved, its a totally different ball game. Once broken in, I will put this bat up against any shaved BBCOR bat out there to see which bat is hotter. Yes you will need to put in some effort to get it there, however, end all be all, not much to worry about on the durability front and it is just as good as any other bat out there shaved vs shaved
Bottom line is every bat at the end of the day is rated to be within compliance of the certification stamp on the barrel in stock form. There is nothing out there, stock, that exceeds this benchmark. All things equal, every single bat fully broken in will be about as hot as the other, but zero review sites will mention this. We strongly suggest to not be overly concerned with initial exit velocity when choosing what bat to go with it as every hitter will compress the barrel differently and bats do not break in the same as others in the comparison. Just because you see it online being the top dog, doesn't mean your reality will be the same. Choosing a bat with the correct balancing and feel that works with your swing is how it should be selected. If you cant make good contact, it doesn't matter how hot the bat is, the ball simply wont go.
The bats on this list are not listed in any particular order from best to not quite the best, all are recommended and are equally as hot as the other. The only material difference is look and feel.
ALL BATS ON THIS LIST ARE AS SHAVED AND ROLLED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
USA BASEBALL
USA (-12 or 11)
USA (-10)
USA (-8)
USA (-5)
USSSA BASEBALL
YOU CAN DRINK THE BASEBALL BATBROS KOOL-AIDE OR YOU CAN LISTEN TO US
USSSA JBB
USSSA (-10)
Best Overall performance / durability combination
2025 Louisville Slugger Meta Prime
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Marginal durability
USSSA (-8)
Best Overall performance / durability combination
2026 Marucci CatX RCKLESS Composite
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Marginal durability
USSSA (-5)
Best Overall performance / durability combination
2026 Marucci CatX RCKLESS Composite
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Marginal Durability
BBCOR BASEBALL
Composites
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Alloy (sleeve or puck removed)
2025 Easton Split -- ULTIMATE SLEEPER BAT
2026 Louisville Slugger Select PWR
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Alloy (barrel reconditioning service)
2026 Marucci CatX 1P RCKLESS Alloy
GIRLS FASTPITCH
Shaved and Rolled (-10 or -9)
Shaved and Rolled (-11)
* The Ghosts have iffy durability
MENS SLOWPITCH
USSSA (Shaved or Rolled) -- 240 models below
There are a lot of good shaved USSSA bats. To many to list specifically. You may see a lot of hype around a few bats, but this is stock, not shaved.
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Best Perforamance / Durability Combination
Miken
Worth
Easton
Combat
Marginal Durability but HOT
Louisville Slugger
Demarini
Short Porch
USSSA (Shaved or Rolled) -- 220 models below
ASA 52/300 (Shaved or Rolled)
2026 Miken Super Freak Highlighter
ASA 44/375 (Shaved or Rolled)
Senior
Lets be honest, every senior bat shaved is going to be ridiculously hot. The real separater is durability
Best Durability
All other senior bats, just as hot not nearly as durable.
Clincher Balls
** USSSA bats do not hit these balls good at all. 1 piece Senior bats or low compression ASA bats hit clinchers the best. If you are in a fastpitch mens league and on the clinchers, do not use any low compression ASA bat, go for a senior bat **
Mens modified Fastpitc
Suncoast Melees (1 piece models)
California Bat Company (1 piece models)
** stay away from low compression ASA bats if you want the bat to hold up **