Short version: eight new slowpitch bats came in over the last two weeks, and they cover almost every kind of league. Four are USSSA 240 bats at $299.99: the one-piece Victus Vibe 36, the 13.5-inch wood-look Worth Thumper XL, the 13-inch Miken MV1 Maxload and the compact one-piece Easton Power Brigade. One is USA/ASA: the two-piece Victus Vibe 14. One is senior-only: the Victus Vibe 44. And two answer the questions we get every spring from players in restricted leagues: the DeMarini Corndog for wood-only leagues and the DeMarini Uprising for single-wall leagues at $109.95. Find your league below.
Updated October 2026. Check the stamp section of the slowpitch bat buying guide if you're not sure which stamp your league takes.
All eight at a glance
| Bat | Stamp | Build | Barrel | Load | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victus Vibe 36 | USSSA 240 / NSA / ISA | 1-piece composite | 12.75" | End-load (Ya-Ya) | $299.99 |
| Worth Thumper XL | USSSA 240 / NSA / ISA | 2-piece composite | 13.5" | 0.5 oz end-load | $299.99 |
| Miken MV1 Maxload | USSSA 240 / NSA / ISA | 2-piece composite | 13" | 0.5 oz Maxload | $299.99 |
| Easton Power Brigade | USSSA / NSA / ISA | 1-piece composite | 12.75" | End-load | $299.99 |
| Victus Vibe 14 | USA/ASA / WBSC | 2-piece composite | 12.5" | End-load (Ya-Ya) | $299.99 |
| Victus Vibe 44 | SSUSA (senior) / ISA | 1-piece composite | 12" | Heavy end-load (Big Boy) | $229.95 |
| DeMarini Corndog | USA/ASA / USSSA / NSA | Maple barrel, composite handle | Wood | End-load | $249.95 |
| DeMarini Uprising | USA/ASA / USSSA / NSA | 1-piece single-wall alloy | Alloy | Balanced | $109.95 |
USSSA: four ways to spend $299.99
Same price, same stamp, four different ideas about what a bat should feel like.
- Victus Vibe 36: the one-piece. Victus's V1.2 barrel is a high-flex layup built to be hot from the first swing, on a single continuous frame with a mid-stiff handle. End-loaded. For hitters who want direct feedback and a bat that doesn't need a break-in period. The paint-splatter graphics are the loudest in the store.
- Worth Thumper XL: the big barrel. 13.5 inches of X868 composite with a half-ounce XL end load and Worth's R-FLEX two-piece handle, finished to look like a wood bat. The longest hitting surface of the four, for players who want coverage and forgiveness. The wood look is the point for some people, and it won't be for others.
- Miken MV1 Maxload: the middle ground. A 13-inch E3M barrel, two-piece with a mid-flex handle, and Miken's half-ounce Maxload. Not as compact as a 12.5, not as long as a 13.5, with familiar Miken feel. The sensible choice if you don't have a strong opinion.
- Easton Power Brigade: the compact one-piece. A 12.75-inch barrel with Easton's G4orce three-zone flex layup, a Flex 150 handle and a loaded profile. For hitters who turn the barrel fast and want a concentrated sweet spot rather than a long one. Note that this one carries USSSA, NSA and ISA marks but not the ASA stamp.
Rule of thumb from the buying guide: all four are end-loaded or Maxload, so they're power hitters' bats. If you're a contact hitter, look at the balanced bats in the DeMarini 2027 line before these.
USA/ASA: Victus Vibe 14
Victus's answer to the USA/ASA limit is the Vibe 14: a two-piece with the CompStax ZERO-G barrel, a suspended inner barrel inside a very low-compression outer wall, tuned by weight and load. End-loaded, 12.5-inch barrel, mid-stiff handle, $299.99. USA/ASA and WBSC only, so it's not legal in USSSA play. For a USA-league power hitter who wants a two-piece feel, it's the new option alongside the DeMarini Merciless.
Senior: Victus Vibe 44
The Vibe 44 is a one-piece SSUSA bat with Victus's CompStax SR1 barrel, built to the senior performance window, and a Big Boy load, Victus's heaviest. Weights are 25.5, 26.5 and 27.5 oz, which is a tell: this bat swings heavy, and Victus expects you to buy it an ounce lighter than usual. $229.95, and like a number of senior bats it's sold with no warranty, which the product page says plainly. Legal only in senior associations and ISA. See where it fits in our senior bat picks.
For restricted leagues: Corndog and Uprising
Two of the eight exist for leagues that ban the other six.
- DeMarini Corndog, for wood-only leagues. A pro maple barrel over an internal composite tube, with a tapered Paraflex composite handle, so it sounds like wood and lasts longer than wood. End-loaded, 27 or 28 oz, $249.95. Carries USA/ASA, USSSA and NSA marks. Two honest notes: the warranty is 90 days, not a year, and if your league says "solid wood only," ask the director before buying a wood composite.
- DeMarini Uprising, for single-wall leagues. A one-piece ZnX alloy single-wall bat at $109.95, approved for USA/ASA, USSSA and NSA. No break-in, no cold-weather worry, and legal in the church and rec leagues that don't allow composites or multi-wall bats. It's also a fine cold-night backup for anyone who doesn't want to risk a $300 composite in April.
How to choose
- Stamp first. Four of these are USSSA-only, one is USA/ASA-only, one is senior-only, two carry both USA and USSSA. Get this wrong and nothing else matters.
- Then load. Every composite here is loaded. If you're a line-drive hitter, these aren't your bats.
- Then feel. One-piece (Vibe 36, Power Brigade, Vibe 44) for direct feedback; two-piece (Thumper, MV1, Vibe 14) for less sting.
- Then barrel length. 12.5 to 12.75 for a concentrated sweet spot, 13 to 13.5 for coverage.
Every composite needs the same care: 200 or so swings with real softballs, rotating each hit, never below 60°F, never cage balls. Details in how to break in a bat.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best slowpitch bat for a wood-only league?
The DeMarini Corndog pairs a pro maple barrel with a composite handle and internal tube for durability, carries USA/ASA, USSSA and NSA marks, and costs $249.95. Confirm with your league director that wood composites are allowed; some leagues require solid wood.
What slowpitch bat can I use in a single-wall league?
The DeMarini Uprising is a one-piece single-wall alloy bat approved for USA/ASA, USSSA and NSA play, at $109.95.
Is the Victus Vibe 14 legal in USSSA?
No. The Vibe 14 carries USA/ASA and WBSC approval only. The USSSA Victus is the Vibe 36.
Does the Worth Thumper XL have a wood barrel?
No. It's a 100 percent composite two-piece bat with a 13.5-inch X868 barrel finished to look like wood. It's not legal in wood-only leagues.
What does Ya-Ya Load or Big Boy Load mean on a Victus bat?
They're Victus's names for swing weights. Ya-Ya Load is a standard end-load. Big Boy Load is Victus's heaviest end-load, built for power hitters, and is offered in half-ounce weights so you can buy it lighter than usual.
Direct Sports has sold slowpitch bats from Pearisburg, Virginia since 1988. Tell us your league and your current bat and we'll narrow it down. Email us, shop all slowpitch bats, or start at Slowpitch HQ.
