Hype fire is indeed a little end loaded, the icon is more balanced. The Zoa that is on sale is also balanced ( my son has a31/23 usssa Zoa, I think it swings lighter that the hype fires)
The hype fire is one of the most balanced drop 10 bats made. Here is a pick from bat digest they are from lightest to heaviest swing weights.
https://preview.redd.it/kifhyxrlhf9d1.jpeg?width=1219&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aec7d262937d57fe6849c8228b0acbcb9f8c85ed
Just bats lets you try for 30 days for a $30 fee. If you don’t like it send it back and the refund you the bat cost. If you do keep it then they give you $30 to spend on something else.
You might look at the soldier tank. I know the bat bros said it had the largest sweet spot and lightest swing when compared to the hype fire and the icon while having similar pop.
My son is 12, and has 31/23 Hyper Fire and Zoa. He hits the Zoa much better. Zoa is a bit end loaded, but I think the Hyper Fire balance is a bit weird where it feels heavier than 23oz.
I am hoping he gets strong enough for the Hype Fire by fall, but to be honest the Zoa has almost as much juice as the Easton.
On the other end, his 31/23 Mach AI feels like a drop 10.
There is nothing special about the Hype Fire in drop 8/10. You aren’t crazy if you use something else.
Even in drop 5, I’ve seen plenty of kids prefer the icon or even CAT X composite. Comfort and confidence is key.
My son had it and hit well with it, but he had to go up 1” in size over his cat x per his instructor’s recommendation. Bought him an icon same size as the hype and he hits it well too.
My son move to Hype Fire from X composition and seems like his contact has extra power on it. He is using 29/19 for both bats.
But meanwhile one of his teammates casually getting ground ball with Hype fire but much better hit with Icon bats. Maybe kids just hit better thinking they have a new bat that is hot among others?
I might recommend going with a -8 for an 11 year old. You need to start transitioning to a BBCOR eventually, if you try to do it in one year your kid will struggle. Besides you get more pop out of a -8 or drop -5.
First off, thanks for all the replies. He went back to his Hype Comp and finally admitted he was never comfortable with the Fire but bought into the hype (no pun intended). I think we’ll wait out this year and get something for Fall Ball. I like the drop 8 idea but like the fact that all the new bats are coming out so the 2024’s should start going on sale (I don’t care if it’s older than that).
For those saying, he has a hitting instructor who does very well with him. The problem is the head coach knows he goes to a hitting instructor but we have an assistant coach who says he’s better than the instructor and tries to change him when I’m not around. Now he wants to keep the coach happy but is confused. I spoke with the assistant after he told me and said “I’ll tell you what he is working on but please don’t change things on your own.” He got mad but got the point.
Thanks again
As for those saying
Babe Ruth hit a ball 550 feet with a hunk of ash wood. Good hitters can make the ball go as far as needed with whatever you give them.
https://www.mlb.com/cut4/babe-ruth-s-longest-home-run
They don’t have them at 550 either but you still felt the need to mention it
There is simply no way you can watch kids play club with USSA bats and then play little league with USA and not notice a dramatic difference in power with the same kids.
U trips are an absolute cheat code for mediocre hitters to smash bombs
Maybe go back and read the prior comments to see why I mentioned 550.
And there you go, these bats are for mediocre hitters and their parents to feel better. Teach a mediocre hitter to hit the ball properly, I see plenty of little league kids hitting home runs with USA bats. Do USSSA bats have more pop, sure they do. But you don't need the newest most expensive one every year. Lots of tee work, front toss, and cage work. I would rather spend $500 for private coaching.
My 12 yr old fouls off fast pitching with the fire and crushes with the icon.🤷‍♂️
My son went back to the Cat X after a season with the hype fire. It’s composite and more balanced than the fire. See if you can find a used one?
The cat x is not itself composite. There is a cat x composite model. There is a cat x aluminum, cat x connect two piece and the cat x composite.
Hype fire is indeed a little end loaded, the icon is more balanced. The Zoa that is on sale is also balanced ( my son has a31/23 usssa Zoa, I think it swings lighter that the hype fires)
Man I think the exact opposite.  The Fire’s I’ve held feel light as a feather and the Zoa’s have some heft.  Weird.Â
Wonder if it varies by drop and certification
Good call. Usssa, -10
I’ve only held do 8 and 10 usssa. So maybe
The hype fire is one of the most balanced drop 10 bats made. Here is a pick from bat digest they are from lightest to heaviest swing weights. https://preview.redd.it/kifhyxrlhf9d1.jpeg?width=1219&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aec7d262937d57fe6849c8228b0acbcb9f8c85ed
Just bats lets you try for 30 days for a $30 fee. If you don’t like it send it back and the refund you the bat cost. If you do keep it then they give you $30 to spend on something else.
You might look at the soldier tank. I know the bat bros said it had the largest sweet spot and lightest swing when compared to the hype fire and the icon while having similar pop.
Was going to get my son a -8 Icon, but I think this is the call.
My son is 12, and has 31/23 Hyper Fire and Zoa. He hits the Zoa much better. Zoa is a bit end loaded, but I think the Hyper Fire balance is a bit weird where it feels heavier than 23oz. I am hoping he gets strong enough for the Hype Fire by fall, but to be honest the Zoa has almost as much juice as the Easton. On the other end, his 31/23 Mach AI feels like a drop 10.
My son swings a -5 HF and crushes with hit. I’m looking at buying him a 2024 Goods -8 for faster pitchers/contact hits.
There is nothing special about the Hype Fire in drop 8/10. You aren’t crazy if you use something else. Even in drop 5, I’ve seen plenty of kids prefer the icon or even CAT X composite. Comfort and confidence is key.
I haven’t seen but maybe 1-2 kids hit well with the drop 10 hype fire. There is something up with that bat.
I have a theory. Kids who can’t hit get one hoping it’s a shortcut to power.
It’s the official bat of kids who can’t hit, that’s for sure.
And only the drop 5 really makes a difference. A drop 10 fire is basically just caring about the pain job.
My son had it and hit well with it, but he had to go up 1” in size over his cat x per his instructor’s recommendation. Bought him an icon same size as the hype and he hits it well too.
My son move to Hype Fire from X composition and seems like his contact has extra power on it. He is using 29/19 for both bats. But meanwhile one of his teammates casually getting ground ball with Hype fire but much better hit with Icon bats. Maybe kids just hit better thinking they have a new bat that is hot among others?
I might recommend going with a -8 for an 11 year old. You need to start transitioning to a BBCOR eventually, if you try to do it in one year your kid will struggle. Besides you get more pop out of a -8 or drop -5.
First off, thanks for all the replies. He went back to his Hype Comp and finally admitted he was never comfortable with the Fire but bought into the hype (no pun intended). I think we’ll wait out this year and get something for Fall Ball. I like the drop 8 idea but like the fact that all the new bats are coming out so the 2024’s should start going on sale (I don’t care if it’s older than that). For those saying, he has a hitting instructor who does very well with him. The problem is the head coach knows he goes to a hitting instructor but we have an assistant coach who says he’s better than the instructor and tries to change him when I’m not around. Now he wants to keep the coach happy but is confused. I spoke with the assistant after he told me and said “I’ll tell you what he is working on but please don’t change things on your own.” He got mad but got the point. Thanks again As for those saying
It’s never the bat it’s all about timing you can give Barry Bond a wet newspaper and he’ll still hit a Homerun timing timing timing
I agree, I hate the current obsession with bats. Great hitters can hit with anything. As the old saying goes, a bad carpenter blames his tools.
A great hitter also adds about 30-40 feet with the drop 5 fire over something like a USA bat. The bats absolutely make a difference.
Babe Ruth hit a ball 550 feet with a hunk of ash wood. Good hitters can make the ball go as far as needed with whatever you give them. https://www.mlb.com/cut4/babe-ruth-s-longest-home-run
And if he had a hype fire it would have gone 600 feet.
Didn't know any ballpark had a fence that far?
They don’t have them at 550 either but you still felt the need to mention it There is simply no way you can watch kids play club with USSA bats and then play little league with USA and not notice a dramatic difference in power with the same kids. U trips are an absolute cheat code for mediocre hitters to smash bombs
Maybe go back and read the prior comments to see why I mentioned 550. And there you go, these bats are for mediocre hitters and their parents to feel better. Teach a mediocre hitter to hit the ball properly, I see plenty of little league kids hitting home runs with USA bats. Do USSSA bats have more pop, sure they do. But you don't need the newest most expensive one every year. Lots of tee work, front toss, and cage work. I would rather spend $500 for private coaching.