Louisville Slugger Solo 618 -11 USA Baseball Bat: WTLUBS618B11
Features
-11 Length To Weight Ratio
2 5/8 Inch Barrel Diameter
Approved For Play In AABC, Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken, Dixie Youth, Little League, & Pony
Free Shipping!
New USA Baseball (USABat) Certified Stamp
Anti-Vibration Handle Construction Helps Reduce Sting On Mishits
Balanced Swing Weight Score (1.1)
Colorway: White / Blue / Red / Black / Gray
Custom Lizard Skins Baseball Bat Grip Provides Premium Comfort
Full Twelve (12) Month Manufacturer's Warranty
Hot Out Of The Wrapper Performance
Lowest Swing Weight Profile & Fastest Swing Speed In Louisville Slugger Lineup
One-Piece, Aluminum Baseball Bat
SL Hyper Alloy Material Delivers Maximum Energy Transfer
Speed Ballistic Composite End Cap Increases Barrel Length & Improves Balance
Stiff, Traditional Feel For Immediate Impact Feedback
Description
New baseball bats for the season! For the second year running, Louisville Slugger has created a one-piece, all alloy, hybrid bat: the Solo. This season's model, the Solo 618, may be known as a single-piece construction, but due to the new and improved Speed Ballistic Composite End Cap, Louisville Slugger has deemed it a hybrid design. The enhanced end cap, combined with Slugger's SL Hyper aluminum material, delivers increased swing speed, better overall control through the zone, and the most balanced swing weight score (1.1) in the Lineup. As the fastest swinging baseball bat Louisville Slugger has ever manufactured, this model is an excellent choice for players looking to ensure fastballs no longer phase them. Not only does the SL Hyper Alloy provide an increase in swing speed, but it ensures a stiff, traditional feel on contact with maximum energy transfer for further ball flight and more base hits. Not to mention, Louisville Slugger has applied a brand new vibration dampening handle design that helps reduce sting in the hands on mishits so that negative vibration is a thing of the past. The best part? A custom Lizard Skins baseball bat grip comes pre-wrapped around the standard handle for premium comfort and a better overall feel. Louisville Slugger: Hit For Power, Average, & Pride!
This Louisville Slugger Solo 618 USA Baseball Bat (WTLUBS618B11) features a lightweight drop 11 length to weight ratio, a 2 5/8-inch barrel diameter, and the USA Baseball (USABat) certification. With that stamp, this model is approved for play in AABC, Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken, Dixie Youth, Little League, and Pony baseball. Make every swing count and pick up one of these Solo 618 USA baseball bats today with free shipping and a full one (1) year manufacturer's warranty. Don't forget, with our 24/7 customer service, we'll be here for you from click to hit!
Reviews
Average Ratings Based on 88 Customer Reviews
My 8 year old loves it JPalmer parent
Pros: Light balanced swing weight, my 8 year old is swinging faster through the zone, hitting the ball well. Sweat spot seems to be rather large giving the bat good pop. My 8 year old loves the look of this bat, says it's his favorite over his other two bats which are the Rawlings Quatro-10 usa bat & the Easton-10 Beast X Hybrid usa bat
Cons: None
Decent Bat MNava parent
Pros: Bat handles well and seems to be very durable. Most of his fall little league team has been using this bat due to availability of usa stamped bats. Most of them seem to be very comfortable with it. Seems to be very balanced. He has gotten some pretty good shots with it in game play.
Cons: Cons is the pop. After using 2 3/4" barrel bats standardized for select ball play for the past 4 years. Going to this usa stamped bat has been quite a significant change. Ball definately does not jump off the bat like the ones he has used for select ball. Still a great bat, will just have to adjust to the change.
Best USA bat Doug parent
Pros: Good pop for a USA bat, but the main thing is the feel---very smooth and balanced swing weight compared to others...why spend $250 or $300 plus when this bat provides what my kid needs
Cons: USA bats are not like USSSA bats
Best Value! Frank parent
Pros: Great light swinging bat for youth players. The pop is decent for the price and I don't think paying an extra $100 for a bat is warranted. Get this bat!!!
Cons: The sting on a not squarely hit ball hurts, but that is with any USA bat.. Even my friends Ghost X which was $350..
Slugger has a winner Here CoachPete63 coach
Pros: This -11 swings nice and light and relative to the competition still seems to have a good bit of pop. Weight is a big issue for everyone this year and going with anything heavier than a -10 will likely be a mistake. This is the best performing -11 we have played with so far.
Cons: none yet. well, the new usa standard is a con for everyone.
FINALLY! TinaG77 parent
Pros: It's light, it has pop, it's the bat for my kid and yours.
Cons: none so far!
Good “wood”. Umpire other
Pros: Affordable, looks good, balanced. Thanks to USA baseball for levelling the playing field with the usa bats. It was needed. Dont take my high ratings too literally cuz its all relative with these usa bats - its now personal preference for the "wood" you choose. I fondly bid farewell to the days of the calculating dads using an outlaw easton or combat b2 da bomb to create an illusion/distortion of the game with young players (unlike mlb's new baseball which doesnt put kids at risk). Gone are the days of the 50 pounder generating crazy back spin to loft a ball far in the air with his orange mako and/or softball swing. Now... with usa bats it will be more if not completely obvious to everyone if a bat has been tinkered with, and levels the playing field for the safety and betterment of the players. Maybe the spoiled usa kids that play baseball should use what kids iin other countries use. Having said all that, this bat seems good.
Cons: none so far.
Best USA bat Under $200 Donnie Batman parent
Pros: This bat has great pop compared to other USA bats. My son tested out the beastX, GhostX, and Velo. The 618 not only had better pop and sound but had the best feel, not to mention it was the lightest. Tapered grip/handle is also a great feature.
Cons: none.
Great Bat gina parent
Pros: Got this bat for my 10 yo for Christmas and he used it at baseball camp and absolutely loves it!
Cons: na
Best USA Bat Don coach
Pros: I bought several bats for my youth players. The best performing by far was the Louisville Slugger. Most of the kids hated the Easton Ghost as it didn't seem to have much pop. All of the kids swung this bat faster through the zone. I will be ordering a few more in different lengths to satisfy the various sizes and abilities of the kids. Strongly recommend the bat and the price can't be beat.
Cons: None
Good USA bat Players play parent
Pros: Very balanced. Nice barrel/sweet spot. not too big/small. Ball jumps off the barrel on solid contact. The line drive contact hitter is finally rewarded. No longer is the high pop up a HR...
Cons: Haven't had the bat long enough to gauge durability but that's always a concern. Otherwise there are none to speak of at this time.
This is a good bat for kids with new USA ratings Jason parent
Pros: Good grip with wide bottom handle making it easier to choke up if needed. If you don't like a wider bottom handle, then this may not be one for you. It widens out towards the very bottom. May want to go with a Rawlings that has a skinny grip all the way down. Good pop when hit on the sweet spot. There will be learning curve with kids who are used to just hitting anywhere on bat. This bat also great weight distribution making it feel lighter than it really is. Barrel seems a bit wider throughout the barrel too.
Cons: If you don't hit the sweet spot, will sting. The wider bottom handle may not be good for kids will small hands. Not a true drop -11, but that is consistent with all new USA bats. I just wish they would all just give them a true Length/Weight rating.
great bat and great price Dave parent
Pros: very balanced feel! my eight year old is on the smaller side, so i got him the 29" 18oz. he has no problem swinging it. This bat also has great Pop for a USA bat. very comparable to the ghost x. I definitley recommend this bat!
Cons: only negative, but not a big deal. stings the hands at times. but wouldnt let that keep me from buying it.
28-17 Louisville solo 618 Jeff D parent
Pros: More pop than expected, my 9 yo loves it, moved on from his Dimarini 28-16. No vibrations so far, sounds nice. Only cages so far, well see when we take the field. Overall, great bat at a great price.
Cons: none as of yet
Believe me, this bat is the Bell of the Ballpark. Jeff Harper parent
Pros: I have purchased no less than 4 USA bats for my 8 year old son. But this is the bat he that went to try outs. We got a lucky break when Little League and a local retailer made nearly every new USA bat available to test drive.After being sized Each kid got to go into tunnel and hit 10 balls with several new bats. Seems the brand we had gone with before was nothing close to the Solo. It just swings faster and hits further. The balance just seems to work, This was the best hitting youth bat of the whole bunch. There is a composite big barrel by a big named brand,-11. We both thought it was great when he first got it. He needed thicker batting gloves and we changed the grip to lizard skin to ease the hand sting.We thought after a 1000 balls it would break in, like his last composite bat ,it never did. This bat out hit the big barrel composite and everything else we have seen and it served him well in try outs. He hit hard everything they threw at him, it's the best for 2018.
Cons: It's still a 2018 bat, what are you gonna do?
Great USA Bat Daddy and Coach parent
Pros: Feel, comfort, ball comes off the bat real nice.Was looking for -11 for my 10 yr old. Contact, gap speed type hitter about 70lbs. He tried out Ghost x hyperlite and LS Solo 618 over about 5 hitting sessions(including break in period prior for Ghost x hyperlite composite). Loves the solo. Don't be misguided by fact ghost hyperlite has a bigger barrel and slightly lighter. He squares up more baseballs with the LS 618 and the mishits spin far better than the ghost hyperlite off the bat. The ghost x hyperlite so far- unless struck in (small sweet spot on a huge barrel) the ball knuckles, floats, and dies. It's like the oversized barrel absorbs the energy. They would be much easier for fielders to make outs. Meaning more hits with the LS 618 ( because ball spins and darts). It is a great bat (as far as USA) if your son likes a light swinging, balanced, fast bat with a bit of pop. He loves it. Hope this helps
Cons: Not many but if you are really picky like me- A bit of sting which is the reason for the 4 in vibration. However, the ghost x hyperlite stings his hands so bad it drops him to his knees every 3 or 4 mihits he has to take a break. He says the sting from the LS 618 is a "normal sting", and he is able to shake his hands out, get back in box and continue. Keep in mind my son primarily plays catcher at this point, so has a bit of toughness, and same results other hitters. The 4 for durability is because the bat has developed a barely noticeable "tiny rattle", I believe in the end cap. it has not affected performance, and i'm sure LS will replace. But my son loves the bat so much with all his (hit marks) he doesn't want me to send it back. It weighs about 1.3 ounces heavier than advertised (almost all bats USA 2018 are heavier) so it is actually a -9.5/10, but swings very light, fast and easy. Also, I'm not knocking easton. They are replacing our Ghost x hyperlite with easton
Hype is real Batting_Coach coach
Pros: My 8yr old son plays Travel ball and AAU for a local club. We have Owned the Ghost X 2 piece, Ghost HL, Beast HL and been to a few Demos for the Demarini, Mizuno and Rawlings. A lot of dads on the team have been waiting to see this bat in action and it doesn't disappoint. The ball screams off the bat and the mishit ground balls are so spinny that it was eating up our infielders. First few hits in the cages during BP all the heads turned due to the unmistakable sound of the Solo. My son moved up from a 28/16 Mako beast to a 29/18 Solo and has way more pull power with the Solo. My son is hitting the Solo harder and ball velocity is up over his Mako. Most of us baseball dads have been fumbling around checking reviews and buying the normal Eastons and have been bashing the USA bats due to performance. The Solo 618 or the Demarini VooDoo one piece bat are the hot bats that we have seen so far at our baseball school. Ordering the -10 Big Barrel for AAU play!
Cons: Hard to find in stock.
Light swinging and feels good AZ dad coach
Pros: My son tried several bats including: Easton Hyperlite, Demarini Voodoo Balanced & 1 piece, Easton Hyperlite, Beast X, Ghost X, and Ghost-X Hybrid, and LS Omaha before figuring out the 618 Solo was the one. He's small for a 9 year old...only 50 pounds. Previously, he had a Combat Maxum -12 so he's accustomed to a light swinging, balanced stick. He gets decent pop but I'm most happy that he's been able to adjust to a 1 inch length and 2 oz. weight uptick with no problem. I attribute this to the bat's balance point. Great bat...cool grip too and he likes the tapered handle. Also, to top it off, the price is right on this compared to the others I listed.
Cons: Barrel isn't as big as the Easton and Rawlings line.
1 1 parent
Pros: my nine year old loves its. Spent an hour in the cage today, no stinging, great pop and great sound.
Cons: none so far
So far so good. My son is 9 yrs old, 4'11", 95lbs Jeff Owens parent
Pros: very balanced feel, swings well, good median price point / I bought this for my son due to the new USA baseball guidelines. He has probably about 100 plus swings in it already and he seems to be adjusting to the feel. He swings a combat Maxum 30/19 with the 2 3/4" barrel and this bat hasn't seemed to affect his swing at all. The sound is very dead unless you strike a ball perfectly but he seems to have the same power in the cage so far. I will revise this after the season to see how it works against live pitching.
Cons: lots of vibration with the 1 piece design when a ball is hit anywhere besides the sweet spot, handle is pretty thick compared to his combat which has a larger diameter barrel
Great bat Mark coach
Pros: So my son had the Rawlings Prodigy -11 2 5/8 USABaseball bat in fall. It was good. He hit mostly solid line drives into the outfield. Saw a kid I had previously coached at a lesson with the Solo. He was crushing the baseball pitch after pitch. Okay, it's a lesson right. At spring tryouts, he was launching the ball again. This bat has POP for a USA bat. So I bought one for my son and those line drives are now deep in the outfield. The bat is balanced and feels lighter. It does not clank the the Rawlings did. it's a solid and sounds that way. The only thing left is the games. This bat is the real deal.
Cons: The other boys want to use it.
BY FAR best USA bat Drewb23 coach
Pros: Has the pop and feel of a composite bar with a nice barrel and sweet spot. Sound is pretty good too. Great grip. Price is lower than many others. I have hit bslls to my players with just about every USA bat, including the expensive Easton bats. This one is much better. My 10 year old is using the 30-19 and he loves it.
Cons: None so far.
Great Bat Lucas Larson player
Pros: It has really good pop.Its super balence
Cons: It does sting a little.
worth it! RA parent
Pros: My 8 year old loves this bat. It is light and more importantly balanced as described in other reviews. Went from a 27in 14 oz composite last year to this 28in 17oz. this year. Researched the heck out of USA bats. i think its a great bat for the price.
Cons: no complaints.
Great for the little guys Doug parent
Pros: -I have a younger boy just starting out and this Solo 618 lets him get the bat through the zone. It has a very light swing. The new so called -10 & -9 bats are just too heavy. Not to mention they are really closer to -9 & -8 when you put them on the scale. -It still has the new bigger barrel and just as much pop as any other USA bat for a much better price. -The Lizardskin grip is a great perk.
Cons: -USA standard is weak. -There is still quite a bit of vibration, but expected because it's still just a one piece barrel. A two piece bat will help reduce some of the shock, but you're paying quite a bit more for that. -The hitting area / sweet spot is small.
Best USA BAT Lucas Larson player
Pros: Has good pop for a usa bat
Cons: None
Enjoying this bat! Jim V parent
Pros: Balance and feel of this bat are great according to my 11-year old son. Having the -11 drop with this bat makes a difference. No noticeable issue with vibration and sting upon contact.
Cons: Still adjusting to the decrease in pop of the USA bats.
Solo 618 30" 19 review John parent
Pros: Very balanced bat, fast through the zone , better pop than I thought. The lizard skin is nice and taper at end of bat. We are indoors at winter training so all hitting is done in cages or stations. I coach and see all the bats cycling through, ball appears to come off the bat hotter on the Solo. Looking forward to going outside to see how it performs but I do not anticipate things to change. There is always the 'one" bat and I think this may be it for now.
Cons: none
BEST BAT ON THE MARKET!!!! Andrew Estrad parent
Pros: Lightweight for bat speed, Huge POP, NO Vibration or stings, Great size sweet spot, Lizard grip is awesome, great durability, can't believe it out performs the $300+ bats no questions. My son is going to out bat every kid on our team because of this bat and the fact no one else has it and it's sold out until May-June per LS.
Cons: SOLD out coast to coast, every kid on the team wants to use it and haggles to buy it since there is non avail.
Great Bat! Pete parent
Pros: My son loves the bat. Seems to have good pop for a USA bat. He hit a wood Phoenix all winter so he was very happy to starting hitting this bat. He said there is no vibration and great balance.
Cons: Only complaint we have is the bats all weigh in heavy compared to their advertised weight.
No sting and feels great Marc Geissel coach
Pros: I've returned 2 top of the line Easton bats this year because of the sting to the hands. I purchased this bat based on reviews that I've read. I'm happy to report that after 3 cage sessions, my 10 year old son hasn't felt any sting to his hands at all.
Cons: No pop. It will be interesting to see how many balls go over outfielders heads this year in 8-10 year old age group.
Great bat Greg Carter parent
Pros: Great pop compared to other USA bats he has tried, including the Easton ghost hyperlight. Very light feeling bat due to its even balance makes it a very fast swinging bat. My son is getting more hits with this bat.
Cons: none yet, after two weeks
Solo -11 Great Bat william H coach
Pros: -11 with great pop
Cons: Tough bat to get at 30 drop 11
Good Bat. SDSC805 other
Pros: first of all, this company has fast shipping. This bat is highly recommended for its price! it has a nice pop and super light!
Cons: Don't be negative and give it a try, it'll be worth it...
Excellent pop for USA bat Baseball Dad parent
Pros: My son hit two deep Fly balls with this bat. 1 for a double and was a fly out. but in the game they were the two deepest hit balls between either team. I like to think his hard work in the tee and taking endless BP has made his approach consistent and powerful bit I truly believed based on the reviews that he was going to struggle to hit the put of the infield. Even with the new bat he is hitting the ball further than just this past fall with a USSSA bat. I highly recommend this bat. it is as close to or better than the pperformance of a USSSA bat. I should say that by the time he used it in live game he probably had over a 1000 swings on it and rotated it between every swing. It was well broken in by the time he used it in league. I think that is the most common mistake parents make. They do not take the time to properly break in a bat before using it in a game situation. There is a right and a wrong way to do it.
Cons: Its the sweet spot or nothing so barrel control and the ability to square the ball is a must. A miss hit is a weak grouundball and an automatic out.
My 10 year old loves it Marc Geissel coach
Pros: No sting. We had to return the Easton Hyperlite because the sting was so bad. My son has tested a few friends bats and he prefers the Solo 618 over them all.
Cons: USA stamp = No pop.
the solo Brent Holyfield parent
Pros: v
Cons: this bat almost broke my sons hand the vibration was so bad during weather below 55 degrees, wouldnt suggest biying this bat!!!
Hottest bat on our Travel Team Travel Parent parent
Pros: Got a 29" bat for my son for Christmas and have been using it for winter workouts and have a few months to give good feedback. Our travel team has a mix of all the top USA bats hanging on the rack and the 3 top hitters on the team are all using Solo's. It almost looks like an unfair advantage over the Teams we play with the other big brand bats. Our middle infielders are just feasting on their weak ground balls coming off the other USA bats. My sons 29/18 weighs 19.2oz and took a few weeks to adjust coming from a 28/16 Mako but is now hitting with some pull power and the Solo just sends it every time with coach pitch. 7 out of 10 hits with the Solo are equal to his MOAB but the MOAB still has 3 balls that are 35-40' longer. Solo is the best that I have seen so far and is very balanced and great acoustics. You can tell how well they hit the pitch just off the sound.
Cons: The 28" Solo's look a lot different then the 29" Solos. The 28"s have a similar profile to the 518 Omaha's and seem to ring your hands a bit. The 29" sweet spot is a lot bigger then the 28's. The 28" Solo's sweetspot is right on the 6 of the 618 and anything higher up will ring hands. The 29" sweet spot covers the whole word SOLO. Seems 3 times bigger for the extra inch. The acoustics are clearly different from a sweetspot hit vs an off center hit. Last 2" of the 29" will produce a weak ground ball and some hand sting. Had to move my son closer to the plate as an adjustment. Our Solo's get a lot window shoppers sitting on the fence due to the lack of availability in any retailers anywhere. 2 of our 3 removed the foam padding under the grip with just a normal LizardSkin grip. Taper seems ok for a bigger kid but not an 8 yr old.
1 1 parent
Pros: First, remember it's the kid swinging the bat and the work he or she puts into it. The bat itself is super balanced. We tried other bats that are end loaded and were toughter to get around. My son is 9 and playing up a level against quicker pitching, so this bat was necessary. A great alternative is LS Omaha 518. Same bat balance, just different metal compostion.
Cons: non yet.
Best USA bat we found geoff parent
Pros: We tried many of the new USA bats for my 7 & 8 year old boys. This was the best combo of balance, feel, pop, and TRUE weight. Our 28/17 weighs 17.6oz. All others were close to 3oz above published weight.
Cons: It's a USA bat.
Mr Coach coach
Pros: This is a nice bat. Has good balacen.
Cons: My son has used this bat for three months now. For a 28" 17oz bat the Vibratons are not nice for young kids. My son plays 7/8 year old. Baseballes around 30 to 40 mph. On averge temp around 55 to 80
Good for new standards but not great BC parent
Pros: Pretty close to stated drop, my son has the 28/17 and it weighed in at 17.8 which is good for USA standards. Looks good and grip is nice. Seems to provide a good swing speed.
Cons: sweet spot seems small only top 2 inches are the max diameter. Seems to produce a lit of ground balls for kids. Personally i think it seems to need a breaknin period despite manufacturer. not sure there are any better options under $200.
Great Youth USABat Steve parent
Pros: After many tries, I was finally able to get my hands on a 29"/18oz Solo 618 for my 9yo son. After a couple years of swinging a 14oz. 2 1/4" barrel bat in his house league, I was a bit concerned an 18oz. bat would feel heavy, but the weight distribution on this bat feels excellent. It is really well balanced, and does not feel barrel heavy...as most of the USABat Easton's we tried, making them feel heavier than 18-19oz. I could tell right away after the first few test swings he took, the 29"/18oz. was the perfect size, and he was happy with how the bat felt. Taking his first live swings, the pop was surprising for a USABat, and my son was incredibly happy with it. If you can find it, I'd highly recommend this bat.
Cons: None yet. My son is very happy with the pop, feel, and lack of vibration so far.
Solid POP for a USA bat. Brian coach
Pros: - Solid POP for a USA bat. My son was swinging the Easton Hyperlite before this. Every hit on the Easton stung his hands to the point that he was swinging and missing on purpose. Obviously I had to get him something else. Compared to the Hyperlite the ball jumps of the bat. My son does not complain of any sting/vibration. Says its very balanced and light.
Cons: Cant find the bat in stock anywhere.
Best USA bat Boomer Big Daddy parent
Pros: Ideal swing weight. Ball travels farther that other usa bats. Nice looks. Only 1 ounce heavier than advertised so a 29/18 is a 29/19 and exactly what we were looking for.
Cons: Sting on mis hits A teammate's solo bat had end cap come loose. Had to send in for replacement.
Hot bat Angel Vill parent
Pros: has good pop to the bat considering the new USA standards my 11 yr old loves the grip and is easy to swing with. 2nd game of the year and already a straight shot to outfield for a homerun after that it went from one other player on the team using it to three other players.
Cons: there has not been any cons as of yet its a solid bat
Good bat Peter parent
Pros: First weekend with bat my son went 7-10 with 4 balls have to over the outfields heads. Good pop for USA bats. Easy to handle, good size, very pleases. Used a 31/20 for my 10 year old son who is big.
Cons: Hard to find bat
Best USA BAT!!!! Luis Torres player
Pros: very good pop for a USA bat
Cons: its a USA bat
Bat is amazing Spencer player
Pros: Last year i was using an Easton XL3 31"/20oz and the Easton Mako 31"/20oz.My dad got me this bat and i wasn't sure about it but, i was wrong, the bat is great.This bat is the closest iv'e found to that bat.Has amazing pop and very little sting.this bat weighs 20oz unlike the other USA bats.
Cons: If you don't hit it in the sweet spot it will sting where bating gloves.
Best of the USA bats MAD parent
Pros: Seems to be one of the better USA bats available at a "decent" price. Sone, started with a Easton Hyperlight. Broke that within a week. Save your money and buy this. No reason to spend any more. Decent "pop" for a USA Bat, Pre-Gripped with Lizard Skin
Cons: USA bat - (enough said) Has some hand sting if not hit right. Suck it up, there is no crying in baseball.
Great Bat!!!! S. Cardwell parent
Pros: My son , who is 14 loves the bat. Last season his batting was not so good. If he did hit the ball, it went straight to first and he went straight to dug out!!!!! This year , with his new bat, he is hitting so much better. They are even going outfield instead of to first where he always got out. The kids on his team are asking to use the bat!!!
Cons: some vibration
Great bat!!! John Moore parent
Pros: My 7 yo son switched to this bat a week ago and since is 7 - 8 with some of his most impressive hits to show for it. Entire team and coaches noticed immediate difference. Has been quite literally a game changer. - Excellent balance. - Great pop off the bat. - Bat speed notably better.
Cons: None to speak of so far.
stings hands Mike M coach
Pros: My son says it has pop. I don't see it in his hitting.
Cons: I have to try to convince my son to use this bat. He is constantly saying it stings his hands and he is always switching to someone else's bat or using an old bat. I read that in other reviews, but he is almost to the point that he won't use the bat because it hurts his hands.
So far so good! scott walker parent
Pros: Good weight and ball comes off the bat pretty fast for a new USA bat.
Cons: Nothing yet....
Perhaps the best bat for 7-8 year olds Chris parent
Pros: This bat is popular because it's well-balanced, light, and moderately priced. At the younger ages 6-9, it should be all about making contact at the plate and learning "how" and not necessarily "how far" to hit. The 618 is made to support this view. I think depending on the player, power may be a focus from as early as age 9. My son's (age 7.5) first bat was a -12. This one is a -11. So around age 10, I predict a slighlty end-loaded bat will be best for him at-10. I hope LS makes a slightly end-loaded aluminum bat without the extra $100 price tag by then or I will strongly consider other options.
Cons: The pop issue is universal with the new standards. I've seen research out there that many composite bats underperform compared to the 618.
As good as the Composites Brimark parent
Pros: My 9 year old son has been playing with the Easton Ghost X (29) and lack of power moved me to look into other options. To note, several kids on the team have been using Ghost bat with similar results. With positive reviews, we purchased the Solo and with hopes of deeper hits but so far, we are seeing similar results from both him and teammates that have wanted to try out the Solo. Around the league we are seeing kids consistently hit the same regardless if they are using Composite or Aluminum. Bottom line, I am confident to say that younger hitters with the new USA bat standards are hitting relatively the same whether they are using a $50 bat or a $350 bat. For the money, the Solo is a great bat and definitely one to consider if you are looking for a mid priced/good performing bat.
Cons: USA bat regulations are having a strong effect on the game. I suspect that bat manufacturers will figure out how to sweeten the bats in 2019 once the manufacturers have a little more time to study the bats and responses to hits. Just as a reference to power with these new regulations, in the 2017 season, our league had 19+ kids hit at least one ball out of the park-for 2018 a total of 5 have done it.
Coach/parent Curtis coach
Pros: Bat is great! My 8yr old son is pounding the ball with it. My son is 4' 41/2" 71 pounds has a 29" -11 bat and loves it.
Cons: Only the price, but a good makes a huge difference
great bat Rodney coach
Pros: bat is light, quick thru zone with great pop. the whole team wants to use!
Cons: has scuffed quite abit in short time
The Insider That Travel Ball Family coach
Pros: Like many others have said, this bat is good. Everything except the vibration kills it. The technology at the end of the bat has proven to work, my son throws this bat through the strike zone so fast, because of this technology. But everything else for this bat is perfect.
Cons: My son states that every time he uses the bat it vibrates. He is a pretty good hitter, and we've tried everything. He squeezes the bat tight, and he definitely hits the ball in the middle of the barrel. I am actually quite disappointed, because I've seen all of these good ratings for the vibration. For example, one time my son hits a blast to RF. He told me down at first base that his hands were stinging so bad, that he couldn't pitch. This is one of the many accounts were this bat has proven not to be good when it comes to vibration.
Nice USA bat JW coach
Pros: Good price for a high performing bat. We have this and the ghost. The ghost is no longer used. The balance is better and thus my sons swing is better. I measures the exit velocity between this and his ghost. The solo had higher average exit velocity and conistently 5 mph higher on his best hits. A better bat for 1/2 the price.
Cons: The vibration on this bat can be pretty bad if you don't hit the ball correctly. Vibration is a little worse than the ghost.
Best bat out there. Kevin parent
Pros: Excellent pop no sting extremely balanced feel LS made a slugger out of my son Great job keep up the good work and great quality bats.
Cons: none
Best bat out there for young players shawn parent
Pros: very balanced. easy to get through the zone quick and has very good pop! son is 7 swinging a 28/17 and has hit the fence 4 times with it on a 145 ft fence. better sweet spot than other high $$ bats on the team. well worth the money
Cons: wish all usa bats had better barrel design
Solo 618 - One of the better USA bats Jason coach
Pros: It has good pop for a USA bat, but nothing like the bats from last year. My son has several USA bats from an Easton Ghost to a Voodoo one piece, but this one is by far his favorite. It has a much better sound than the "dead" sounds from other brands.
Cons: I could not accurately rate the durability of this bat because this is only the first month we have had it. Also, I wish the Solo 618 was available sooner, but we are adjusting to the bat as we play games/practices.
Favorite Bat. Heather Wezensky parent
Pros: 9 year old loves this bat. Gettung lits of great hits.
Cons: none as of yet.
great USA Baseball option baseball coach and dad coach
Pros: well balanced, lowest vibration of the bats we've tried so far, better pop than the Ghost X hyperlite for my son
Cons: still less pop than the old bats
Lemon Kyle Hosek coach
Pros: For the 6 days my son used it, it seemed to have great POP to it. My son LOVED the feel of the bat and the balance when he swang the bat.
Cons: 6 days after receiving (maybe the 4th practice, less than 100 hits) the bat gave a horrible corky, spring type noise on one area of the barrel. Tapping around the barrel of the bat gives some unorthdox noise that was not indicative of a properly functioning bat and it did not make this noise when new. Bat went bad somehow. My son is by no means a "slugger", but he makes contact very often and has good and bad hits.
Nice bat! baseball dad parent
Pros: Balanced bat. Smooth swing and decent pop.
Cons: None yet
9U player really likes it.. Drew parent
Pros: Good pop and good swing speed
Cons: A fair amount of vibration
Worth the Wait Baseball Mom parent
Pros: Waited all season to buy a bat for my 10U. Wanted to watch the dust settle on the new USA bat standards and see which bats came out on top. We tried out 6 bats during the season and this one was by far the best. Better pop than other brands with the same specs. Bat shipped the same day. Using it in All Stars now and loving the bat.
Cons: Haven't had it long enough to accurately review durability.
Great Bat Chad parent
Pros: Very balanced, bigger knob, 28' bat weighed in at 17.7 oz on my scale.
Cons: none yet.
Not worth the money! Bill Mihalko parent
Pros: None
Cons: May 10 yo son is not picky about bats and he is a power type of hitter. He hated everything about this bat. He said there is no pop and the vibration is awful even when hitting the sweet spot! We do not recommend this bat!
Multiple HRs 13UAAA Steve parent
Pros: Best USA bat available. Bat speed the name of the game. This Bat delivers. Son has hit multiple HRs with this bat. in Practice and Games. The last being a legitimate 330' HR. Best pop for USA Bat Ive seen.
Cons: vibration if not hit in sweet spot.
Fantastic Chris S parent
Pros: Out of the box this bat out performed the Easton Ghost X. It is superlightweight and great pop for a USA bat. I bought the Ghost and it cracked aftet 17 hits. A month later still waiting for my replacement bat. Louisville hit a home run with this bat. It is better than any composite for 2018. We tried them all.
Cons: Nothing so far.
My son loves it!!! would recommend this product Paul parent
Pros: Excellent pop, no vibration, increased my sons swing with USA bat. Went from a -10 to this bat and wow what a difference an once MADE - and the bat is all that!!!! wow wish we could of got this bat earlier in the year but it wasn't available....worth every penny
Cons: Excellent all around my 11 year old LOVES this bat!!!!
solo review D Skelton parent
Pros: M 11 year old loves his new bat. Feels and sounds good. We had the Easton Ghost X and thr louisville solo is a much better quality bat. It has better sound to it is a lighter weight. This bat seems like its better quality that the ghoast X and for my son seems to be similar to the his mako.
Cons: his only complaint is the bat is thicker on the bottom of the handle and tapers up.
Very good USA bat!! Frank B parent
Pros: startng the year out my son was using the Easton Beast. He was making contact but the balls never seemed to jump off the bat and had very little distance with line drives. Purchased the Solo and he's making the same contact but the balls are exploding off the bat. its been a while since I was moved to write a review on a bat but for the money spent its well worth the investment.
Cons: need to advertise this bat more!
Should have bought this first! C Roman parent
Pros: My son loves it! He is hitting very well with it. He previously owned another, more expensive bat and he never wanted to use it. I wish I would've bought this bat sooner
Cons: Nothing yet...
We got a Winner PopPop coach
Pros: Better than the cheap bats and just as good as the most expensive! AllStar team seems to like this bat in the 29/18 and 28/17 sizes. Have not seen any other bat outperform this one.
Cons: It's a USA Bat. Swing hard boys!
7 year old Loves it Coach Shawn parent
Pros: well balanced seems to have good pop great grip
Cons: nothing yet
best bat jesus torres parent
Pros: my son love it . he got 6 over the fence already in the last month
Cons: none
7 year old Loves it coach shawn coach
Pros: good pop, he doesn't complain about vibration, well balanced
Cons: nothing yet
Great Bat Bob M parent
Pros: My 11 year old was permitted to use USSSA this spring. His bat is Mako Beast and why wouldn't he? We work constantly so he is getting better each month or season. To put this into perspective his fields at 9-10 wete 205 and 185. I knew at 10 he could clear 185 which he did. He and I were stunned when he ckeared 205. Fall ball we play big fields. Past fall we played 11-12 and 70 foot bases on huge field. This spring same rules but fence 220. Again I did not think he could do it. He did once in game mid season and then a couple times at practice. Then in mid June he won a home run derby at a camp. The issue about his bat came up. I ordered the 2019 Axe Avenge which was shipping end of July. I don't take him out for tourneys yet. I am weird that way. But the 12B toutney team called. We agreed. i needed a USA bat. This bat was cheap and light and i knew with less pop speed was key. We ordered the 31 inch and it arrived just in time. We broke it in at field with 20 foot wood fence
Cons: pros continued. He was hitting them out there. We compared it to Mako. It is not the Mako. This weeks tourney though - fence probably 210, he hit 2 out. We have compared it with 718. We like this one better. Did experiment on big field with fence about 235 on Saturday night. He one hooped the fence a couple times and hit one out with this bat. He hit 3 of 20 out at same place with his Mako. It is not the Mako but it is a darn good USA bat. The Axe we ordered before we got recruited for this tourney team better be real good.
Excellent bat - 9U JD coach
Pros: We purchased this based on reveiws and looking for bat with good balance and pop. my son likes the look and feel of this one with little vibration and excellent pop. This helped him with confidence with a improved performing bat.
Cons: overall USA bats are secondary to the ussaa perfomances, however this one may be the best of the new requirements.
OK a person player
Pros: If you start swinging right sometimes you'll get a good hit.
Cons: Bad vibration and pop .
5 star bat...till Fall Matt G Coach
Pros: Totally balanced Good pop
Cons: Exteme stinging in cooler weather Makes weird ringing sound in cooler weather
5 star bat... Matt Coach
Pros: Totally balanced Close to a true -11 Good pop
Cons: Never once stung my sons hands until it got cooler out. Now every hit does, even solid perfect ones. Also makes a weird ringing sound in the cooler weather.
Great bat! Matt Parent
Pros: Good pop. Well balanced. My 7 year old son loves it and hits it well.
Cons: None
Solid Bat Richard Frank Mendez Coach
Pros: Good general feel and has a good amount of pop for a USA bat. Shipping was quick and easy.
Cons: None at this point.
Questions and Answers
Have a question about the Louisville Slugger Solo 618 -11 USA Baseball Bat: WTLUBS618B11? Ask our team of experts and they will respond within 24 hours.
Does it have a USA stamp? I have been looking for a Louisville Slugger USA bat. catcher
Are the aluminum bats warrantied for dents? I've always bought composite but thinking about getting this aluminum bat instead. Anthony
Does this bat or the Rawlings Velo have a more balance swing weight? steven
Please compare the Solo 618 -11 to the Easton Ghost X Hyperlite -11. Which would be best for an 8 year old contact hitter as opposed to a power hitter? LT
I've noticed a significant variance in the listed weight vs actual on several of the USA bats. I am considering the VELO -11 or the Solo 618. How close are either to listed weight? Donnie Batman
My son tried out the Easton Ghost X Hyperlight -11, 29" and did not like it at all. Right now he is swinging an Easton Aluminum bat and I am looking for feedback around this bat. Does it have pop, do you have to hit the sweet spot for response (on the Ghost) this was the case. Lori
Will this bat be available in 27 in? Mike
My son is 11 and weighs 85-90 pounds and is 4'9". Is this a good bat for him? Lo
What are the differences between the Louisville Slugger Solo 618 -11 and the Easton Ghost X -10. Which one is more balanced? Which one is better? Anonymous
Looking for a USA Baseball bat for a coach pitch league (preferably alloy and a drop of -11 or -12). How would you compare the Solo 618 to the Easton Beast X Hyperlite (-12) and Rawlings 5150 (-11)? JP
Is there a real noticeable performance difference between the Louisville Solo -11 and the Easton Beast X hybrid -10? mac co
Does the Louisville Solo 618 (-11) come in other colors beside the blue/grey? mac co
What's the real difference between Solo and 5150? Can we try the bats first? Terence
Do you have this in a drop 10 or lower? Any other good USA Louisville bats? bsbsbs
Besides price, what's the difference between the LS Solo and the Omaha? jack
Do you prefer the Solo 618 or the DeMarini Voodoo One? mike
Are the barrels all the same length on the Solo line? If you look at the Easton Ghost line, they all have the same barrel length, so a 29 inch has the same one as the 31 inch (added length is in the handle). On some bats, the length is taken out of the barrel, so a 29 inch has a smaller barrel than a 30 inch and so on. I am trying to find out what the case is with this Solo 618. The Hillbilly Hammer
Which bat do you recommend for 10U Baseball, the Louisville Slugger Solo 618 or the Easton Beast X Hyperlite? Why? Ken
Is this a better bat than the Easton Ghost X Hyperlite -11? chris
Normally the barrel is the same width where as the solo's barrel gradually gets bigger. The last 2-3 inches of the bat are the same width. Why is that? Does this make it even tougher to hit the sweet spot? Tom
My son is 4'6" and only 55 pounds. What size and type of new USA Bat would you recommend? Eric
Does this bat have a thick or thin grip? Dustin
My son has always liked LS bats, and I intend to get the Solo 618 -11. He is 4'7" and 76 lbs. What bat length is should I buy? I also like a lighter bat for bat speed. Is this the best bat for bat speed? Coco
I would like to buy my 10 year old a LS bat as he has always had LS bats. What is the basic difference between the Omaha 518, the Solo 618, and the new 718, besides the fact that the 718 is a hybrid? Coco
Is this truly a Drop -11? I"ve heard that the USA bats are heavier than the listed weight. Is that the case with this bat? Thanks! JackAsh
Is it USA tested and approved for use in the Pony league? If so, why doesn't it have the USA logo? Dan Firestone
My son will be 13 years old, he's 4'7" and only 90 lbs. Which bat would be better for him; the Solo 618 or the Omaha? nascarjimbob
My son is almost 9 years old. On the smaller side - 4'2" and 60 lbs. He used a 28/15 last year. Debating between 28/17 or 29/18 with a choke ring (or 2). Any thoughts? WilliamVanLandingham
My son is 12 years old and is 4'4" and 72 lbs. He plays AAU travel and this spring is playing AAU 13U. Would the Solo 618 -11 be good for him? What size, 28/17 or 29/18? Drop -10 is too heavy for him. Louis A
My son is 12, 4'10" and weighs 75 lbs. Thinking the 31", but is 31" too much? Pops
My son is almost 9. He's 4'7" and just over 70lbs. What size should he get? Thinking 30 inch, but he was using a 28 inch drop 11 last year. Jp
My son is 10 years old. He is 5'3'' and 93 lbs. He likes a quicker swinging bat. What size would you recommend? Nicole
How does the LS 618 -11 match up to the 2018 Rawlings Prodigy -11? Sweet spot length, balance, and pop. Swamp Donkey
My grandson just turned 12 and is 5 ft and between 85 to 90 lbs. Can we use the Slugger Solo size 31 drop 11? Or what size do you recommend? Ed
When will the 29"/18 oz version of this bat be available? Chez
Just purchased the solo 618 in a 29/18. My son stats are 4'7 95 lbs. Would this be a perfect fit for his size, or should I have gone with a 30/19? Sauce
My son is 9 years old, 4"7' and about 70 pounds. I"m going back and forth on the 29'/18 oz and the 30'/19 oz. Which one would you recommend? Lando Baseball
My son is 5', 110 lbs and is 10 years old. Hit with a 31" -10 VELO very well. Will the Solo 618 be similar or will the -11 be too light? Tj
I'm a torn between the Louisville Slugger Solo 618, the Easton Beast X Hyperlite and the Louisville Slugger Omaha 518. What would you recommend? He's 4 foot 2 inches tall and weighs about 50 to 55 pounds give or take, and is a contact hitter. just trying to figure out which bat to order
How does this compare to the 2018 DeMarini Voodoo One -10 USA Baseball Bat: WTDXUO? I have a 10 Y/O who is under 5 ft, what do suggest? Popsof5
Does this bat come in a 27"? Michael
When will these be back in stock? Gordon Payne
I am curious if the taper at the handle is actual bat or extra grip wrap? GR
My son is 13 yrs old and is 5'9" and 129 lbs. What bat length should I buy? He also likes a lighter bat for bat speed. Is this the best bat for bat speed? Rudedog
I hear USA bats weigh heavy. Can you give me the actual weight for a 28"/17 oz before I buy? Pop Pop
Which USA bat would you recommend for a power hitting 9U player with an already fast swing? This 618? Dwight
My son is 10 years old and is 4'8" tall and weighs 78 pounds. What size would you recommend for this bat? Also, what is the true weight of this bat? For example, is the 18 oz bat really an 18.5 oz bat or 19 oz bat or even heavier? chad
My son is 11yrs old, 5'2" tall and 155lbs. Do you recommend the 32"/21oz bat? Jamie
Is this bat approved for 13-15 year old Babe Ruth? Thomas Lee
When will the 29"/18 oz be in stock? jj
My grandson is 8 years old, he weighs 90 lbs and is 4"2". Which length bat would you recommend? I bought the Solo 618 in a 30' but I"m afraid it will be too big. Will it be too big? Luke"s Nanny
Do you know when more of these will be available. Specifically the 29 inch model. Parks99
When will you be getting the 31" back in? Justin
When will the 28"17 ounce be available? Nate
Does this bat come in a 27" -11? RIQ
Will this bat be available in a 28"/17 oz anytime soon? nick
Do you have any idea when more 28 inch bats will be in? jeff
I see the 28 inch is out of stock- do you know when more will be available? Or can you recommend a bat that is similar? I am looking for a 28"/17 oz for my son- he's 8 and 58 lbs. DSZ
Hi, my son is 11, weighs 80 lbs & is about 4"9". We are deciding between the Omaha -10 & the Solo 618 -11. I"ve read the previous responses & it seems the Solo has been recommended more for younger players 10 & under because the Solo will be too light of a bat to make the transition up to -3. I know based on his height/weight a 30" is probably what he should swing but if he likes the feel of the Solo in a 31" vs the Omaha in a 30", would that be suitable since they"d actually weigh the same? KT
Does this bat come in a 29in 18 oz? I don't see it listed as an option. RWZ
What is the difference in the alloy between the 618 solo and the 518 Omaha and what alloy is better? JoeVinnie
Hello. My son is 8yrs old 4 foot 7 and 70lbs. Would the solo 618 Drop 11 30 inch be good for him? I'm patiently waiting for the bat to be in and making sure its worth the wait. Thank you! Eric's mom
My nephew is 11 years old, and about 70 lbs. Will the 32" 21 oz. Solo be too heavy for him, or just right? JAIME
How is this bat different from the Omaha? Other than one is a drop 10 and this one a drop 11. Rusty
I just purchased a DeMarini Voodoo ONE 28-18 and weighed it after my son said it was heavy. It weighed 21 oz. So my question is has anyone weighed the LS Solo 618 bats and is there a difference? Rick D
The max barrel diameter is 2 5/8". I know there is a significant difference in how many inches of maximum diameter you get between the 28" and 29" version of this bat. Can you tell me how much of a difference there is between the 29" and 30"? Do you get an extra inch of max barrel diameter? TonyMarkoo
Do you have an estimate of when these will become available? boy mom
I received email stating bats were in but still shows no inventory on website. How can I order? Jason
My son is 12 and 5'6" tall and 130 lbs. He has good bat speed. He currently uses a 31". We are looking to get a new bat. Is this a good option or would the 7 series be better for him? Wes
I have a 7.5 year old finishing up spring ball and I want to go ahead and get him a bat for spring of next year. He is 50" tall and roughly 60lbs. Would you recommend the 29"? Richard
What size is the handle? josh
Will this bat be available in a 26 or 27 inch eventually? KRL515
My son is 9 years old, 4'11" and 85 pounds. Last year he swung a 30/19 Easton. I have not bought a bat yet and he is currently swing his teammates Solo 29/18. Should I get him that or the 30''? SS99
I am looking for a bat for my 10 year old. He is about 4"8" and 70 lbs. What size bat do you think would be best for him? Ballin"
I have a 10 year old that is at 75-80 lbs. He is moving from Pony to Midgets. We were using a 28" HyperLite. He hates the sting and performance. Should I choose a 29", Solo 618. I saw you said we should go to a -10 bat. I love the Omaha, but it isn't available in the size we want. Thoughts? tanner
My son is 6 and about 45 lbs. Right now, we are using a Rawlings 5150 in a 27/16, but I've heard great reviews on the 618. Would a 28/17 be too big for him? Currently he is 24/19 in his machine pitch 8U league. urbanaman
My son is 6 years old and beginning his first year in coach pitch. He is 52 inches tall and 57 pounds. He's tall and thin. Do you feel the 28 inch 17 oz is too heavy for a child his age and size? Baseball Mom
My son has the Axe Elite and I am looking for a little lighter drop for a 31 inch bat with good pop that he can use against faster pitchers. I was also looking at the Beast X -8. Frank
I play in Pony League and I was wondering if USA bats are required for the 2019 season? alex
Does this bat have a break in period? prez
My 10 year old son is 5'1" and 92 lbs. Would you recommend a 30" or 31"? nell
Is this bat approved for little league? Nick sapio
My son just turned 6. Just starting coach pitch. He"s 51' 63 lbs. Is this a good bat or would you prefer something else? And what size would be for him? keith
I got this bat and didn't like it. Can I send it back for a refund? charles
My son is 56lb and is 4'3". Based on everything I read he should use 29" inch bat. However, based on responses here, it seems that people would say 28"? Can you help? arturchik
My son is 10, 63 inches tall and weighs 123 pounds. Would you recommend this bat for him in a 32" or do you have any other recommendations? Jaimie Brush
What is the grip thickness to re-wrap a 619 Solo? Greg
About the Brand
In 1842, J. Frederick Hillerich emigrated with his family from Baden-Baden, Germany to the United States. Eight years before, the 1834 Book of Sports had made its debut as the nation's first publication covering baseball. But when he arrived in Baltimore, J. Frederick Hillerich would never have dreamed of the future impact his family would have on America's favorite pastime.
After a short while, the Hillerichs moved to Louisville, where J. Fred started a woodworking shop in 1856. Two of his sons, Adam and John Andrew "Bud" were born in the United States and would later join their father in his business. By 1864 "J.F. Hillerich, Job Turning" was in operation and filled orders for businesses by custom-turning everything from balusters to bedposts.
The firm thrived, and by 1875 the little woodworking shop employed about 20 people. In 1880 Bud Hillerich, who was an amateur baseball player, became an apprentice in his father's shop. Young Bud made his own baseball bats along with bats for several of his teammates.
The debate over the origins of the first bat continues to generate controversy among baseball enthusiasts, but the younger Hillerich was most certainly involved in getting his father's business involved with what would become the company's signature item. According to company legend, the first bat was turned by Bud for Pete "The Old Gladiator" Browning in 1884. Browning was a star on Louisville's professional American Association team - the Eclipse. On a spring afternoon Bud, then seventeen, witnessed Browning break his favorite bat. Bud offered to make a bat for his hero, and Browning accepted. After the young wood shop apprentice lathed a quality stick from white ash, according to the story, Browning got three hits with it in the next game.
Louisville Slugger gloves are worn by more pitchers in Major League Baseball than any other glove.
Bat Properties
Approved For | USA Bat |
---|---|
Barrel Diameter | 2 5/8 |
Baseball Bats | Youth |
Bat Construction | One-Piece |
Bat Type | Baseball |
Color | Blue Grey |
Deals | Personalization Eligible Closeout Bats Bundle and Save |
Length to Weight Ratio | -11 |
Material | Aluminum |
Series | Solo |
Swing Weight | Balanced |
Vendor | Louisville Slugger |
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