Short version: the Easton Dub is the two-piece composite with the lowest barrel compression of any USSSA bat, which is why travel ball players ask for it by name. For 2027, the Dub Darkside keeps that barrel, the ConneXion Max joint and the size-tuned OptiFlex handle, and adds two things: a new Gen2 In2uitiv Feel soft knob and a DUBL VZN finish that shifts from chrome to red as the bat gets used. It's $399.99 in -10, -8 and -5. The 2026 Dub has the same Double Barrel and is on closeout at $299.99 while it lasts. If your player wants the Dub barrel and doesn't need the new look, that's the buy.
The Dub family right now
| Model | Drops | Knob | Look | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Dub Darkside | -10, -8, -5 | Gen2 In2uitiv Feel soft knob | Chrome over black; logo shifts silver to red with use | $399.99 |
| 2026 Dub | -10, -8, -5 | Power Boost soft knob | Original Dub graphics | $299.99 (closeout) |
| 2026 Dub Spring Break Pink | -10, -8, -5 | Power Boost soft knob | Pink Spring Break edition | $349.99 (closeout) |
All three: two-piece composite, Double Barrel, ConneXion Max elastomer connection, OptiFlex handle tuned by size, balanced swing weight, 2¾" barrel, USSSA 1.15 BPF, one-year warranty.
What the Darkside changes
- The knob. The Power Boost soft knob becomes the Gen2 In2uitiv Feel soft knob, an asymmetric shape meant to sit more naturally in the bottom hand. Small, but it's the one functional change.
- The finish. DUBL VZN is a two-layer graphic: an ultra-chrome top coat that wears to reveal a darker design underneath, and a logo that changes from silver to red. The more it's used, the more it changes. Twelve-year-olds will care about this more than anything else on the page.
- The grip: a 1.8mm Flow+Tack instead of the standard Flow Tack.
What didn't change: the barrel. Easton describes the Darkside's 2X Double Barrel the same way it describes the 2026's: a lower-compression outer barrel for flex across the hitting surface, with an inner barrel that governs performance at the USSSA limit. Same ConneXion Max, same OptiFlex, same balanced swing. Performance-wise, these are the same bat.
Which Dub, and which drop
- USSSA 9U–12U: the -10 for most players; the -8 for strong 11s and 12s.
- USSSA 13U: -8 or -5. USSSA requires -8 or heavier at 13U, and BBCOR -3 at 14U as of 2026, so a -5 bought now is probably a one-season bat.
- Little League or other USA Baseball leagues: not this bat. The Dub is USSSA only.
Darkside or 2026? Same barrel, $100 apart. Buy the Darkside if the color-shifting finish is the point, or if the 2026 is gone in your size. Buy the 2026 if you want the Dub barrel for the least money. The Spring Break Pink sits in between for players who want a loud bat at $349.99.
Shop the Darkside in -10, -8 and -5, or the 2026 Dub in -10, -8 and -5. Stamp or drop questions? See the baseball bat buying guide.
Dub vs. the other USSSA composites
The Dub's pitch is the softest barrel in the category, which makes it hot out of the wrapper and especially forgiving for a player who doesn't square it up every time. The trade is that very low compression barrels are the least tolerant of cold weather and cage balls. Compare it to the Rawlings Icon, a stiffer two-piece with a slight end load, the Louisville Slugger Supra, a balanced two-piece at $399.95, and the Marucci Rckless Gen 2 Comp at $299.99.
Before the first swing
The Dub needs less break-in than most composites, but it needs more care: never below 60°F, never against dimpled cage balls, never as the team bat. Use real baseballs and rotate the barrel each swing. Details in how to break in a bat.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Easton Dub and the Dub Darkside?
The 2027 Dub Darkside has the same Double Barrel, ConneXion Max connection, OptiFlex handle and balanced swing weight as the 2026 Dub. It adds a Gen2 In2uitiv Feel soft knob, a 1.8mm Flow+Tack grip and a DUBL VZN finish whose logo shifts from silver to red with use.
How much is the 2027 Easton Dub Darkside?
$399.99 in -10, -8 and -5. The 2026 Dub is $299.99 on closeout and the 2026 Spring Break Pink edition is $349.99.
Is the Easton Dub balanced or end-loaded?
Balanced. Every Dub model, including the Darkside, is built for bat speed and barrel control rather than end weight.
Is the Easton Dub legal in Little League?
No. The Dub carries only the USSSA 1.15 BPF stamp and is not legal in Little League or other USA Baseball leagues.
Does the Easton Dub need to be broken in?
Less than most composites, because its barrel compression is already low. It still benefits from a few sessions with real baseballs and should never be used below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or against cage balls.
Direct Sports has sold bats from Pearisburg, Virginia since 1988. Shop all USSSA bats, or email us your player's age, size and league.
