Bat Spotlight: Louisville Slugger Solo 617

The buzz around Louisville Slugger's latest addition to their BBCOR lineup is justified, trust us. The rumors that last season's Select 716 is being replaced are, in fact, true. But only because Louisville Slugger is releasing the Solo 617. 

JustBats explains why Louisville Slugger decided on the change and what the Solo 617 will entail.

Slugger has decided to go away from the two-piece hybrid design (alloy barrel with a composite handle) and concentrate on a more traditional one-piece construction. Because of their focused concentration, the Solo 617 is the lightest swinging BBCOR baseball bat in Louisville Slugger's 2016-17 lineup.

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This is in large part due to their two newest features: the SL Hyper Alloy and the Speed Ballistic Composite (SBC) end cap. What exactly are these new features?

1. The SL Hyper Alloy is forged into a solid one-piece construction for an extremely stiff feel resulting in unmatched energy transfer on contact. This allows every player to achieve that line drive power they've always wanted and experience positive feedback like never before. Plus, thinner walls create one of the hottest baseball bats with the most pop on the market!
2. The Speed Ballistic Composite (SBC) end cap reduces the weight that is shifted towards the end of the barrel to provide the absolute lowest Moment of Inertia possible. This end cap is 50% lighter than Louisville Slugger's standard BBCOR end cap and the result is an extremely fast swing speed and exceptional confidence at the plate. 

Known as "the -3 baseball bat that swings like it's a -5", the Solo 617 is technically a one-piece alloy construction with a composite end cap, very similar to that of the newest Rawlings VELO. Some of the other features on the new Solo 617 include:

• 2 5/8 Inch Barrel Diameter
• -3 Length to Weight Ratio
• 31/32 Inch Tapered Handle
• Balanced Swing Weight
• BBCOR Certification
• Custom Lizard Skin Grip For Enhanced Comfort and Decreased Vibration
• Full Twelve (12) Month Manufacturer's Warranty

Unfortunately, for now, the Solo 617 is only available in a BBCOR model. But, it will be offered in all sizes ranging from 29-34 inches for players of all ages and sizes at the high school and collegiate level.

Have you been able to swing the Solo 617? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below. Or, if you have any questions on baseball bats or the new Louisville Slugger Solo 617, give the Bat Experts at JustBats a call at (866) 321-2287. We're here for you from Click to Hit!