Bat Review: 2017 -5 DeMarini VooDoo Balanced

Not many bat models have been around as long as the DeMarini VooDoo, and for years it has filled it’s own niche in the bat market. Two piece hybrid with an endload, it was known as a bat for stronger power hitters who loved either the feel or the sound of an alloy barrel bat.

The 2017 version of this classic model, introduced a new word to the VooDoo description… ‘balanced’. Something that previously has not been thought when the words DeMarini VooDoo were mentioned, we were definitely interested in seeing how this bat swung, felt, and performed. Is it really a balanced bat.. does it still feel and perform like previous incarnations of the VooDoo.. these were all questions we were dying to get the answers to, and we finally got to try one out first hand.

Bat Review: 2017 -5 DeMarini VooDoo Balanced

First Impressions

Absolutely great looking bat. Black and grey with just a bit of neon green in the graphics and on the handle, this version of the VooDoo absolutely leaves behind some of the kid graphics seen on some older models. I hope this design trend sticks with new DeMarini’s, as I can’t tell you how many people came up to us asking what the bat was and gave a big thumbs up to it’s looks.

Aesthetically, a big win for DeMarini. Big plus, too: you can customize your order on their website.

Material/Design

2-piece alloy/composite hybrid.

Weight

Size tested was a 30/25. Actual weight… 25.1 oz.! (We’ll talk about this later.)

Swing Weight

This is where DeMarini says this bat diverges a bit from previous VooDoo models, as it boasts a ‘balanced’ designation. We felt that while this bat felt like it had a bit of EL (not as balanced as say, the Combat Maxum), it did not feel as EL as previous VooDoo models. It swung very smoothly through the hitting zone, with just enough barrel weight to give it a more traditional swing feel than some ultra balanced bats. Can be reasonably sure that one of the reasons for the more balanced swing weight is the fact that this bat came in almost exactly at it’s stamped weight, which is something that hasn’t always been the case with the VooDoo.

Huge props to DeMarini for getting this bat’s actual weight right on the money, and in our opinion, giving hitters a much easier swinging bat.

Barrel/Profile

plenty of barrel length for any hitter to barrel one up and find the sweet spot, but certainly not as exaggerated long as a bat like the Maxum or XL1. Many of our hitters liked transitioning to this bat from some of the ultra long barrel models, as it felt a bit more like the wood bats they had been working with in the cage. The profile is the traditional 2-piece VooDoo profile that’s been in service for years, and really doesn’t seem to need to be changed. As with previous model VooDoo’s the connection point is far enough down the handle that it doesn’t interfere with contacts, unless you get seriously jammed.

Simply put, if you liked the barrel and profile of previous VooDoo models, you’ll like this one.

Grip

excellent feeling thin grip, feels about the thickness of the 1.1 Lizard Skins grip. There is also a great flare added under the grip above the knob, which gives the bat more of that wood bat feel. This is an extremely comfortable bat to swing, but we do see a bit of wear around where the top hand thumb usually sits, so we can see needing to replace it in the near future. Probably replacing it with a Lizard Skins 1.1, will keep the feel very similar.

Performance

Cage work and two tournaments, this bat is performing extremely well for several of our hitters. It’s classic VooDoo performance with that classic VooDoo ‘ping’ on well struck balls, but with a bit more balance and lighter actual weight and swing weight to get the bat around quicker. No decrease in distance was noted with those hitters moving from a composite barrel to the VooDoo’s alloy barrel, and numerous hitters had a lot of fun experiencing that piercing ‘ping’ sound that had been missing from their composite barrel bats.

From seeing numerous hitters move to this bat from their high end composite barrel bats, I can honestly say that it performs as well (if not better) than the bats they had been swinging. I guess it will really come down to a matter of feel, comfort, and preference, but we found that some of our more experienced -5 hitters started to go for this bat over their ultra balanced models. A bit more of a ‘grown up bat’ feel to it, you might say.

Durability

Scratches, scuffs, and ball marks, this bat is already looking like a gamer. The VooDoo has long been known as a very durable model, and I don’t see any reason that this version will be any different. With it’s color scheme and some use, this bat starts to get a bit of a ‘nasty’ look about it and boys just love taking bats like that up to the plate with them.

Like stated before, the grip might need replacing in the near future, but a ten dollar 1.1 mm Lizard Skins will quickly take care of that.

Overall

From the look of this bat, to the accurate weighting, to the swing weight, to the performance, we think DeMarini has a very big win with the 2017 VooDoo balanced model. It’s already become the gameday choice of several of our hitters, and has gotten some attention from others who might be looking to do some work with it in the off-season. If you or your hitter think you might be outgrowing some of the ultra balanced -5’s out there that swing very different than the wood bats they might be working with, this bat is an excellent way to go. Not as overweight and EL as previous DeMarini VooDoo models, it takes what most hitters liked about the VooDoo and makes it better.