The B2 is the latest model from Combat (2009). It has a different weave of carbon/Kevlar/glass than the B1 that gives the bat better durability. It also has a little more kevlar/arimid in the taper and the handle, with new vibration technology vs the B1. For the old guard who has never used anything but B1, whenever I say the B2 may be more durable, I immediately hear “that’s all I need to know, if it is more durable then they have taken away some performance thus I do not want the B2….” I counter by saying, after 3 years of research, do you really think that Combat would bring out the B2, charge $50 more, only for it to underperform? Would that make logistical business sense?Some think the only difference is the paint job. I really don’t think that is the case. My team is all using the B2 big barrel (grey) and whether it’s the B1 or B2, you need about 200 swings to break the bat in. Not so with the little league bat (youth bat), The Youth bat is it’s hot right out of the wrapper! The B1 (black/with hues of metallic green in the sunlight) is probably a tiny bit hotter than the B2 youth out of the wrapper, but it does not take long for the B2 (blue) to catch-up. In the youth barrel the B2 is blue. The B2 is grey in the big barrel (the marketing folks at Combat thought that the grey would accentuate the large barrel size). If you think other kids on the team will be using his bat because he will be the only one with it, then go B2. The B1 (black) big barrel is a good bat and performs just as well (as of now) as the B2. We have been using the B2 big barrel for 6 months now and they are really coming into their own and starting to change in contact noise i.e. that famous combat pop.Bottom line, if you think your son will use this bat for more than 1 season, then go with B2. If it just a 1 season bat then go with B1. Also, since baseball is 50% mental, you may just have to choose the bat based on what color your kid likes to stare at when he is getting in the box. Sometimes you need to take the technology out of the equation and just see what color he likes better. As all of you parents know, whenever a kid gets a thought in his head, it is pretty much going to stay there and there is not much you can to rationalize the discussion. Just as long as you are buying Combat then you are making the right decision.If he is 10 or under then I really do not see a reason to spend more money on the B2 (unless you have the mental challenge noted above). I think the stronger 11 and 12 yr olds need a more durable bat. Typically, a B1 will not last the full 12 months for a strong 11/12 yr old who is playing a lot of ball and practicing a lot (see notes below). All bats have a 12 month warranty.
B1YB
Which one of these 12 yr old Combat dudes took the first pitch out of the park 325ft on a high school field with a Combat B1 31/28?
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