Short version: we stock eleven of DeMarini's 2027 slowpitch bats, and the paint jobs make the line look more complicated than it is. All eight USSSA models use the same APC composite barrel technology. What actually separates them is four things: the association stamp, balanced vs. end-loaded, barrel length, and whether the handle is composite or alloy. Pick on those and ignore the graphics. Most are $299.95, all are built in the USA.
All 11 bats at a glance
| Bat | Stamp | Swing weight | Barrel | Build | Weights | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Culture | USSSA 240 / NSA / ISA | End-loaded | 13" APC | 2-piece, composite handle | 25, 26, 27 | $299.95 |
| Twisted Mistress V2 | USSSA 240 / NSA / ISA | End-loaded | 13" APC | 2-piece, composite handle | 25.5, 26.5, 27.5 | $299.95 |
| Twisted Mistress Signature | USSSA 240 / NSA / ISA | End-loaded | 13" APC | 2-piece, composite handle | 25.5, 26.5, 27.5 | $299.95 |
| Stadium | USSSA / NSA | End-loaded | 13" APC | 2-piece, composite handle | 25, 26, 27 | $299.95 |
| The Standard | USSSA 240 / NSA / ISA | End-loaded | 13.5" APC | 2-piece, alloy handle | 25, 26 | $299.95 |
| Island Kings | USSSA / NSA / ISA | End-loaded | 13" APC | 1-piece composite | 25, 26, 27, 28 | $299.95 |
| Twisted Mistress 13" | USSSA 240 / NSA / ISA | Mid-loaded | 13" APC | 2-piece, composite handle | 25, 26, 27 | $229.95 |
| El Mero Mero | USSSA / NSA / ISA | Balanced | 13" APC | 2-piece, alloy handle | 25, 26, 27 | $299.95 |
| Mercy | USA / ASA | Balanced | 13" Stack3d double wall | 2-piece, composite handle | 25, 26 | $299.95 |
| Merciless | USA / ASA | End-loaded | 13.5" Stack3d double wall | 2-piece, alloy handle | 24.5, 25.5, 26.5 | $299.95 |
| Silva Gorilla | Senior (SSUSA) | End-loaded | 13" APC | 2-piece, composite handle | 25, 26, 27 | $249.95 |
Step 1: Start with your association
- USA Softball / ASA leagues: you have two choices, the balanced Mercy or the end-loaded Merciless. Nothing else on this page is legal for you.
- USSSA, NSA, ISA: the eight bats in the top of the table.
- Senior softball: the Silva Gorilla. It's certified for SSUSA play only and is not legal in USSSA, USA, NSA or ISA games.
A USSSA bat can't be used in a USA/ASA game. If that's news, read the stamp section of our slowpitch bat buying guide first.
Step 2: Sorting out the USSSA bats
All eight share DeMarini's APC (Advanced Performance Composite) barrel, built for high compression and a fast break-in. So don't agonize over which one is "hottest." Decide three things instead.
Balanced, mid-load or end-load?
- Balanced: El Mero Mero is the only balanced USSSA bat in the line. If you're a line-drive or gap hitter, or you value bat control over raw mass, this is your bat and the decision is over.
- Mid-load: the Twisted Mistress 13". Some extra barrel weight without the full end-load feel, and at $229.95 it's $70 less than everything around it. The value pick of the whole line.
- End-load: the other six. These are power hitters' bats. If you don't already generate good bat speed, an end-load will slow you down more than it helps.
Composite or alloy handle?
Most of the line uses the stiff 4.One composite handle. The Standard and El Mero Mero use DeMarini's ZnX alloy handle instead. The alloy handle flexes less, which forces the barrel to do more of the work at contact. It feels stiffer and more direct, and you'll feel mishits more. Hitters who like a one-piece feel but want a two-piece barrel tend to like it.
Barrel length and pieces
- 13.5" barrel: The Standard. The longest hitting surface in the USSSA line, paired with the alloy handle.
- 1-piece: Island Kings. The only one-piece composite here: stiffest feel, most feedback, and the only bat offered in 28 oz.
- 13" two-piece, composite handle, end-loaded: The Culture, Twisted Mistress V2, Twisted Mistress Signature and Stadium. On the spec sheet these four are the same bat. Pick by weight and looks. The two Twisted Mistress models come in half-ounce weights (25.5, 26.5, 27.5); The Culture and Stadium come in whole ounces.
Step 3: Mercy vs. Merciless (USA/ASA)
Both use DeMarini's Stack3d double-wall composite barrel, which gives a softer, game-ready compression under the lower USA performance limit.
- Mercy: balanced, 13" barrel, composite handle, 25 or 26 oz. For most USA league players.
- Merciless: end-loaded, 13.5" barrel, alloy handle, in 24.5, 25.5 and 26.5 oz. The listed weights run light because the end load makes it swing heavier: a 25.5 Merciless will feel closer to a 26.5 balanced bat.
Picking a weight
Most men swing 26 or 27 oz; most women 25 or 26. With an end-loaded bat, consider going down an ounce from what you'd swing balanced. If you're late on pitches or fouling everything off to the pull side, it's too heavy. More in the buying guide.
Break-in and care
Every bat here is composite-barreled. Give it 200 or so swings with real softballs, rotating a quarter turn each hit, before you judge it. Keep it out of games below 60°F, never hit cage balls with it, and don't make it the team bat. Details in how to break in a bat. Need balls? Slowpitch softballs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the DeMarini Mercy and Merciless?
Both are USA/ASA slowpitch bats with a Stack3d double-wall composite barrel. The Mercy is balanced with a 13-inch barrel and composite handle. The Merciless is end-loaded with a 13.5-inch barrel and a ZnX alloy handle.
Which 2027 DeMarini slowpitch bats are balanced?
El Mero Mero is the balanced USSSA model and the Mercy is the balanced USA/ASA model. The Twisted Mistress 13-inch is mid-loaded. The rest of the models covered here are end-loaded.
What is the difference between the Twisted Mistress models?
The Twisted Mistress Signature and the silver Twisted Mistress V2 are both end-loaded two-piece USSSA bats with a 13-inch APC barrel, offered in 25.5, 26.5 and 27.5 ounces. The Twisted Mistress 13-inch is a mid-loaded version in 25, 26 and 27 ounces at a lower price.
Can I use a DeMarini USSSA bat in a USA or ASA league?
No. USSSA bats are built to a higher performance limit and are not legal in USA Softball play. For USA/ASA leagues, choose the Mercy or the Merciless.
Does DeMarini make a senior softball bat?
Yes. The 2027 Silva Gorilla, from the Jason Magnum series, is an end-loaded two-piece bat with a 13-inch APC barrel, certified for Senior Softball (SSUSA) play. It is not legal in USSSA, USA, NSA or ISA games.
Where are DeMarini slowpitch bats made?
DeMarini lists every 2027 slowpitch model as designed and built in the USA.
Direct Sports has sold slowpitch bats from Pearisburg, Virginia since 1988. Tell us your league, your current bat and what you'd change about it, and we'll get you to two or three. Email us, shop all DeMarini slowpitch bats, or start at Slowpitch HQ.