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JustBats: A History of the Louisville Slugger Meta
Learn more about on of the top bats in baseball and fastpitch.
Disclaimer: This post was written by the staff of JustBats. JustBats is a baseball bat and softball bat distributing company located in Kansas City, Missouri. We offer a full array of all the most popular bats on the diamond, along with a knowledgeable staff of Bat Experts to help guide you through the bat buying process.
Since its inception back in 2018, the Meta has dominated baseball bat conversations across the country. Headlined by a large barrel and an easy-to-swing balanced weight, it is easy to see why Meta attracts many players. But have you noticed some of the changes that have occurred over the years? To give the Meta its full due, our team at JustBats re-traced the steps of the Louisville Slugger Meta and how it got to where it is today – one of the premier models in not only baseball, but fastpitch as well.
The Anticipation
“Every year, we hear all about the new baseball bats and softball bats and how they are loaded with innovation and new-age technology. Sometimes they are, and sometimes they… Well, you know. But from the first time we saw the Meta, we knew it would be a special bat.”
“We showed it to the world on our website and social media, and the buzz began to build from that point on. People were calling to buy it when we didn’t even have a product page set up on our site yet. That doesn’t happen. The Meta Mania had begun, and we knew it wasn’t going to stop for a long time.”
-Tyler Amble, Content Manager - JustBats
2019 Louisville Slugger Meta Prime BBCOR Baseball Bat
The bat that started it all. The original Meta Prime was released at the end of the 2018 summer to the delight of hitters everywhere. Featuring an eye-popping large barrel, Meta Prime had players filling out their Christmas lists early that year with hopes of scoring a brand-new bat for high school or college baseball.
That first Meta showcased a slew of never-before-seen features and technology. The new RTX end cap elongated the profile of the barrel and created a booming noise on contact. Connecting the massive barrel to the handle was an advanced 3FX Connection System built to eliminate vibrations while providing hitters with the stiffness needed to drive the baseball. The end result? A red and black monster-barreled BBCOR bat that was light-swinging and noticeably powerful. Parents and coaches were impressed, and hitters were addicted. The Louisville Slugger Meta had officially arrived on the baseball bat scene.
Here are a few Meta bat reviews we received at JustBats.
- “Hot straight from the wrapper. The hottest BBCOR bat I’ve ever swung.” (Coach)
- “I was extremely surprised how much pop this bat has right out of the wrapper. The sweet spot is huge.” (Parent)
- “It has amazing pop. Every swing feels like a home run!” (Player)
The only question that remained was how Louisville Slugger would be able to follow it up the next year…
2020 Louisville Slugger Meta BBCOR Baseball Bat
Like any great blockbuster film, the suspense leading up to Louisville Slugger’s sequel to that first Meta was highly anticipated. Hitters everywhere were trying everything they could to get one early or just steal a peek before the release date. Players knew the Meta was going to offer a similar construction to its predecessor, but little did they know that Slugger had worked feverishly to create a bat even hotter than before.
Sporting a fresh blue and charcoal colorway, the 2020 Meta built upon its previous success. As is the case with most composite bats, the early reviews were somewhat mixed. But as expectations normalized and nostalgic memories of the last Meta began to fade, hitters fell back in love with the new take on the bat. To prove it, we’ve added in a couple bat reviews left on the 2020 Meta over at JustBats.
2020 Meta BBCOR Bat Reviews
- “This bat’s pop is second to none and has a giant sweet spot. Hot right out of the wrapper and even better after break-in.” (Coach)
- “It is incredibly hot. When you hit it, it just seems as if the ball jumps off your bat.” (Player)
- “This bat has extreme pop out of wrapper! Huge sweet spot. No vibration. I highly recommend this bat!” (Player)
2021 Louisville Slugger Meta BBCOR & USSSA Baseball Bat
While the world sat on pause in 2020, Louisville Slugger made waves announcing their next big bat release. For the previous two years, only BBCOR players were able to swing the Meta. However, Slugger shocked the baseball industry when they unveiled their plans to produce USSSA-approved versions in three distinct weight drops alongside the BBCOR model. Younger brothers around the world rejoiced!
But the USSSA announcement wasn’t the only change being made with the third edition of the Meta. Louisville Slugger upgraded the RTX end cap to a new GT1 end cap to give hitters even more barrel and faster swing speeds. They also added an advanced grip to offer hitters more tack and cushion on every swing. All the changes were a hit as players of all ages spoke highly of the newly released bats.
2021 Meta Bat Reviews
- “Great bat all around. If you have enough power you can put the ball wherever you want.” (Player)
- “Awesome feel. Great pop. It’s easy for my son to swing.” (Parent)
- “The Meta USSSA blows all the other bats away!” (Coach)
2022 Louisville Slugger Meta Fastpitch Softball Bat
For years, Louisville Slugger has sat atop the fastpitch mountain as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of softball bats. But not many people saw it coming when they announced the Meta was going to make its debut in the game of fastpitch. After spending three years exclusively on the baseball diamond, Meta made its most significant leap since its inception back in 2018.
True to its roots, the Meta fastpitch bat comes loaded with features designed to test the limits of a softball bat. A new MASH composite barrel is built with a patent-pending cantilevered gapped wall design to provide high-end, consistent performance. The lightweight swing is more present than ever before due to the F2X end cap. And the final notable feature that ties the whole bat together is a VTX connection piece which allows for independent movement between the barrel and handle. Only a few players have been able to get their hands on the new fastpitch bats, but the future of the Meta FP appears to be just as bright as the baseball versions that have dominated dugout conversations for the past four years.
It's been a remarkable journey to this point for Meta. This bat has seemingly done it all, but we still can’t help but wonder what’s next for the future of Meta. Until then, if you are ever in the market for a brand-new Louisville Slugger bat, be sure to visit JustBats.
