2018 EASTON ghost x -10 youth bat
SUMMARY: The 2018 Easton Ghost X youth baseball bat comes equipped with newly developed Easton technologies and a large 2 5/8 barrel that showcases abilities unlike anything USA Baseball has ever seen. As the new USA BAT Standard takes effect in 2018, Easton has developed this new line of youth baseball bats to deliver maximum performance and an ultra-natural feel. The Ghost X features a 2 piece fully composite youth design that debuts Easton’s EXACT carbon composite material with a reengineered CONNEXION Technology. This combination from Easton called the “Dynamic Feel System” provides youth hitters with optimum performance by encompassing an enlarged sweet spot, widened hitting surface, substantial durability, and an unparalleled resistance to shock vibration. The 2 5/8 barrel utilizes Easton’s new X-tended barrel design making the Ghost X the longest composite bat in USA Baseball. Lastly, the EXACT carbon handle comes pre-wrapped with Easton’s 1.4mm HYPERSKIN grip distributing supreme comfort for youth hitters of all sizes.
OUR RESULTS: As expected, the most popular Easton youth baseball bat during our evaluation day was the 2018 Ghost X with the -10 drop. Seeing as how the Ghost X is considered the Mako replacement, every single volunteer youth hitter requested a test run with the Ghost X. After approximately 250 swings, below are our official review of the 2018 Easton Ghost X -10 Drop:
POP: Do not expect the Ghost X to have the same power potential as the Mako. During the portion of our evaluation that concentrated on analyzing pop, the Ghost X didn’t provide the same measurable distance as Mako in past years however, it doesn’t mean it’s a soft youth baseball bat. The 2018 Ghost X demonstrated considerable pop allowing for consistently solid shots when connecting with the baseball. The only notable difference your child will experience is less distance. The truth is, no 2018 USA youth bat will showcase the power of older youth baseball bat models, so if you are looking to keep your child’s offensive productivity the same from last year, you will be severely disappointed no matter what bat you choose.
OFFICIAL SCORE: 9 / 10
VIBRATION CONTROL: The Ghost X -10 did a great job protecting our volunteer youth hitters from the stinging vibration that sometimes occurs when swinging a youth baseball bat. This scoring of this category is solely based 100% upon the feedback from our youth hitters. As expected, some of the 250+ swings did incur some stinging, however the vast majority of our volunteers recorded feeling nothing. Breaking in youth baseball bats will always give way to some initial vibrations no matter the brand, composition, or size.
OFFICIAL SCORE: 9 / 10
GRIP & COMFORT: Much like the previous category, the scoring of this category is solely based 100% upon the feedback from our youth hitters. Of all the volunteer youth hitters who swung the 2018 Ghost X -10, no reported any uncomfortableness when gripping the composite handle. In fact, the overwhelming feedback pertaining to the touch and grip of this youth USA baseball bat was an centered around its balance from handle to end cap. One volunteer stated, “Swinging the Ghost X felt like swinging a whiffle ball bat. I felt my bat speed was quicker than when I would swing Makos from last year plus the contact I made felt much more natural.”
OFFICIAL SCORE: 9 / 10
DURABILITY: The 2018 Easton Ghost X sustained a lot of punishment during our bat evaluation. We have officially documented 250 swings but our staff is quite certain it made over 300 collisions with the baseball. At the conclusion of the bat evaluation, all of the Ghost X -10 drop youth baseball bats used displayed handling marks and scratches but nothing that would impair performance or eligibility like dents, or cracks.
OFFICIAL SCORE: 9 / 10
OVERALL EXPERIENCE: Overall, the 2018 Easton Ghost X -10 Drop exceeded our expectations we have witnessed from teaser video clips, online descriptions, and word of mouth from Easton representatives. We didn’t have any youth volunteer hitter who had a negative experience swinging this USA youth bat. Although the power from previous Easton composite bats will not be found in the 2018 editions, the Easton Ghost X is a great bat for youth baseball players of all sizes, skill levels, and ages.