When it comes to the subject of top baseball bats, Louisville Slugger is always in the conversation. Currently, it’s the company’s Meta baseball bat that’s making a splash. One of the best options for baseball bats on the market today, it excels on all fronts.
Interested in learning more about it? Then read on. Here is your full 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta review.
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The History of the Louisville Slugger Meta
The Louisville Slugger Meta came to be in 2018 and was instantly regarded as one of the best bats on the market. Characterized by an oversized barrel and well-balanced weight distribution, it swings easily and provides a lot of pop upon contact.
Also characteristic of the Meta is its huge sweet spot. It’s difficult to mishit the ball with this bat in your hands, as even making contact close to the handle will still produce a good amount of pop.
The 2019 and 2020 models were BBCOR-certified only. In other words, they were designed only for high schoolers and college players.
In 2021, however, a USSSA model was released. This enabled middle school and little league players to benefit from the Meta. It came in three weight drops. These include -5, -8, and -10.
In 2022, a -12, USA-approved Meta was released. This is designed for new players, such as those who just started in tee ball.
Also released in 2022 was a Meta softball bat. This packs the same pop and sweet spot that the Meta baseball bats possess and has quickly become a popular option among softball players throughout the country.
The 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta models have already been rolled out. While they’re not much different from the 2022 models, they’re still of extremely high quality and stand up against any other bats on the market today. We’ll review them all in detail below.
The 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta BBCOR Review
We’ll begin by reviewing the BBCOR version of the 2023 Louisville Slugger. This bat is designed for use by high school and college players and possesses a weight drop of -3.
Sizes
The BBCOR version of the 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta comes in 4 different sizes, all of which have a -3 weight drop. These include 31 inches/28 ounces, 32 inches/29 ounces, 33 inches/30 ounces, and 34 inches/31 ounces.
Cost
This bat isn’t exactly cheap. It’s selling for between $500 and $700. This makes it one of the most expensive BBCOR bats on the market.
The Barrel
The barrel of this bat is made out of EKO composite. This material provides a great deal of pop, even for light-swinging hitters. It offers an oversized sweet spot as well, keeping mishits to a minimum.
In addition, it produces a pleasant, pro-level sound upon contact. So, whenever you get a hold of one, you’ll know it instantly.
The End Cap
The end cap on this bat is a GT1. This is a technologically sophisticated and short-statured end cap that extends the length of the barrel, thereby providing extra pop. It also aids in maximizing swing speed.
At the present time, there isn’t an end cap that beats this one. It’s as good as it gets.
Construction Style
This bat consists of 3 different pieces. These include the handle, the barrel, and the end cap.
The effect of its 3-piece style? A rigid feel while swinging but with tons of barrel whip upon impact. It also helps to keep bat vibration to a minimum, thereby limiting the risk of hand-sting and mishits.
Grip
This bat comes equipped with a Premium LS Pro grip. This grip offers tons of tack, ensuring good traction throughout the swing. It also supplies a great deal of cushion, thereby keeping hand-sting to a minimum.
All the same, it allows for a terrific feel, thereby giving the user tons of control over the bat throughout each swing.
Color
The 2023 model of this bat carries a green, blue, and gold color scheme. This all comes together to create one of the most attractive-looking bats on the market today.
The 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta USSSA Review
Next, we’re going to cover the USSSA models of the 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta. These include weight drops of -5, -8, and -10, all of which have a great deal to offer to middle school and little league players. Let’s get into their specifics below, shall we?
Sizes
First, let’s cover the sizes that are available. We’ll begin with the -5 drop and then follow it with the -8 and -10 drops.
The -5 drop comes in only one size: 32 inches/27 ounces.
The -8 drop also comes in only one size: 30 inches/22 ounces.
The -10 drop comes in 4 sizes: 28 inches/28 ounces, 29 inches/29 ounces, 30 inches/30 ounces, and 31 inches/31 ounces.
Cost
For a USSSA bat, this is on the expensive side. It’s currently going for around $400. This is true regardless of its size.
The Barrel
Like with the BBCOR model, this model’s barrel is made out of EKO composite. This is a material with a lot of bounce and pop. This enables it to make solid contact on most swings.
It also extends the length of the bat’s sweet spot. Therefore, if you mishit the ball, you’re still bound to get a decent amount of power.
The End Cap
Again like the BBCOR model, this model is equipped with a GT1 end cap. This is a short and discrete end cap that takes up very little space. Because of this, it enables the barrel of the bat to be extended to its maximum length.
This extra length not only provides a larger sweet spot but more bat speed as well. Therefore, when contact is made, more power is applied to the ball.
Construction Style
Like the BBCOR model of the 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta, the USSSA model possesses a 3-piece construction style. This includes the end cap, the barrel, and the handle.
This 3-piece construction style has the same effect as in the BBCOR model. In other words, whereas the barrel provides tremendous pop and power, and the shortened end cap allows for maximum barrel length, the handle still ensures max rigidity and control throughout the swing.
Grip
Like the BBCOR version, the USSSA version comes with a Premium LS Pro Comfort grip. This grip not only offers tons of traction but good cushioning as well. As such, it’s easy to control throughout the swing and does a great job of absorbing shock.
Color
Stylistically, this bat is identical to the BBCOR version. It possesses a green, blue, and gold color scheme, and features the exact same design. Aesthetically speaking, it’s up there with any other bat on the market today.
The 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta USA Review
We’ll round this out by discussing the USA model of the Louisville Slugger Meta. This has a weight drop of -13 and is designed for very young little league players.
Sizes
This bat comes in two different sizes. One of these possesses a length of 25 inches and a weight of 12 ounces. The other possesses a length of 26 inches and a weight of 13 ounces.
Cost
Cost-wise, this bat is much less expensive than its BBCOR and USSSA counterparts. That said, it’s still fairly expensive when compared to other tee-ball bats. Generally speaking, you’ll find it for between $70 and $85.
The Barrel
The barrel of this bat is made of a composite material. This provides decent pop and also minimizes mishits. Note, however, that it’s not on the same level as what you’ll find in the BBCOR and USSSA models.
That said, it’s great for a tee-ball bat and will most certainly give your child a good feel for the game while they’re in their early stages of learning.
The End Cap
Where this bat is equal to the BBCOR and USSSA versions is in its end cap. It’s extremely short and molded into the end of the bat so as to lengthen the barrel as much as possible. The effect of this is a larger sweet spot, not to mention greater bat speed.
Construction Style
There is nothing complex about the construction of the USA model of the 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta. It contains two pieces: the bat itself and the end cap of the bat.
The bat itself is made out of high-quality composite. This offers good power while also doing a good job of absorbing shock on handle hits. It’s not the most sophisticated of bats on the market but it will get the job done nonetheless.
Grip
This bat also possesses the same grip found in its BBCOR and USSSA models. This is a Premium LS Pro Comfort grip that’s equal parts tacky and cushioned. It will help keep your child’s hands on the bat through each swing while also protecting their hands from handle stings.
How Does the 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta Compare to Other Bats?
Now, you might be wondering: how does the 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta compare to other bats on the market? While most of it comes down to personal preference, it’s certainly in the conversation for the best bats on the market in 2023.
The Meta has no real weaknesses, from its oversized sweet spot to its powerful barrel to its shortened end cap to its tacky, cushioned grip and more. It’s easy to get over the plate, easy to control, and provides a good deal of pop upon impact. The only notable downside is its price, which is — admittedly — quite high.
But are there bats that provide similar functionality at a lower price? You might consider the 2023 Marucci Cat X. This is a high-end bat available for between $100 and $200 less than the 2023 Meta.
The Marucci Cat X doesn’t sport quite the level of sophistication that the Lousiville Slugger Meta sports. That said, it still offers plenty of power and control, and is an easy swing for players of all ages and experience levels.
Yes, the Meta is the better bat overall. However, the Marucci Cat is hardly a slouch, and at a price that’s more manageable for a good many players.
How Does the 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta Compare to Previous Models?
We’ve discussed how the 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta compares to other bats on the market. Now, let’s discuss how it compares to previous models.
Simply put, it’s not a lot different. The construction style and materials used in the 2023 model of the Meta are essentially identical to what you’ll find in the 2022 model.
Like the 2023 model, the 2022 model possesses a 3-piece construction. It also sports a shortened end cap so as to provide as large a sweet spot as possible. Its grip is essentially the same as well.
The only huge difference is in its appearance. The 2022 model possesses an orange primary color while the 2023 model possesses a green.
And then there’s the price. At the present time, the 2022 model is a good $100 to $200 cheaper than the 2023 model. Therefore, for many, it’s wise to buy the 2022 model over the 2023 model.
It’s important to note that the 2021 model isn’t much different either. It too sports the same construction style and materials. And it’s even cheaper than the 2022 model.
So, if you want to save as much money as possible, consider the 2021 Meta. We don’t advise going back further than that though, at least not if you want to maintain the same level of quality. But the 2021, 2022, and 2023 models are all at about the same level.
Looking for Information on Other Baseball Bats?
And with that, we’ve provided you with a full 2023 Louisville Slugger Meta review. As you can see, the Louisville Slugger Meta has a lot to offer. Not only does it have a large sweet spot but a comfortable grip and terrific construction quality as well.
Interested in other bats? If so, our website has you covered. Check out some of our other bat guides now!
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