The DeMarini CF Zen line of bats has been around for a long time. The 2017 CF Zen was one of the all time best travel ball bats ever made. With the 2019 DeMarini CF Zen big barrel bat line getting ready to hit the field, we figured you might want to know a little bit about the latest generation of travel ball bats from DeMarini.
NOTE: There is a newer version of this bat called the CF ZEN Black
A Bat For Every Player
DeMarini knows baseball players come in different sizes and strengths, so the 2019 CF Zen comes in three different options: -10 ounce (most common), -8 ounce (stronger kids), and a -5 ounce (stronger or about to enter high school using BBCOR Bats). Note, however, the barrel size is noticeably smaller on the -10 ounce compared to the others. Don’t worry, though, the barrel sizes on the USSSA CF Zen bats are much larger than their USA Bat counterparts.
Marketing Buzzwords and Massive Barrel
2019 DeMarini CF Zen gets what they are calling the Paraflex Plus composite. Previous models were simply using the “Paraflex composite”. They hit the ball with the same pop, but the barrel length is much larger on the 2019 vs the 2018 (picture above are both 30″/20oz with the 2019 on left vs 2018 on right). The Paraflex Plus composite is made using a specific temperature and time during the composite lay up process that is supposed to give the barrel even more “response” (which we think means “pop”, which means performance).
The 3-Fusion connector that holds the barrel and the handle together and dampens and vibration is another important part of the CF Zen. Along with the smooth, rounded shape DeMarini gives the knob. This really helps keep your hand and palm comfortable during batting practice.
New Paint Job
The bat looks good. Really good. DeMarini is a company that really listens to players and closely follows current trends when it comes to styling. The gun metal gray matched to the red looks stunning in person and on the field.
Performance
Initially, we couldn’t really tell a difference in pop off the barrel with our broken in 2018 vs the fresh out of the wrapper 2019 CF Zen, but what we absolutely did notice was how much larger the sweet spot and barrel profile is, and the advantages it offers the hitter. As our 2019 CF Zen got used more we were able to feel the difference and improvement over the previous CF Zen.
Next Generation
Rumors are starting to surface about a new color of this bat called the 2019 DeMarini CF Zen Black. Rumor is the DeMarini Black Zen will be only a paint job change, not a new bat.
Have you tested any 2019 USSSA baseball bats besides the CF Zen?
Not yet because most of the 2019 USSSA bats are just now coming out. We will very soon, though. We just got a few 2019 Easton USSSA bats to review last week.
Looking at bats for my 9YO who plays travel ball. I like what the CF Zen brings to the table however I am concerned about the durability issues. Will you get to reviewing any of the Marucci lines CAT 8 and the Buster Posey 28? That would be nice to see.
Great recommendation. We just received a bunch of Marucci bats last week. Absolutely there have been some paint peeling and splitting issues with the 2019 CF Zen, but the vast majority of the bats on the field are holding up just fine. My 9 year old has a 2019 DeMarini CF Zen for USSSA play that him and his team use constantly with no issues. The Marucci Cat 8 is extremely popular. At the 8 and 9 year old level Marucci is the most common bat I see, followed by the CF Zen.
I’m debating between the CF ZEN and the cat8. For a 12 year old contact hitter. He’s a little on the small side. Which bat would you recommend?
Both are excellent bats and they are the two best selling USSSA bats on the market. You can’t go wrong with either.
Is there any difference between the 2018 USA zen and the 2019 USA zen other than paint?
My 13 year old has the Zen it’s three month old and the barrel is cracking and the paint is chipping, think I may choose a different bat next time especially for the price
Part of the deal with hot bats is they are more likely to crack. Also, making sure the child is using the correct length and weight is a big deal when it comes to bat life. A bat that is too short/light for the player will crack much faster than the correct length/weight for a child’s strength.