2010 Line Features Stealth Speed, Synergy Speed, SV12 and V12 Bats

VAN NUYS, Calif. (May 5, 2009) – Easton Sports, the industry leader in bat technology, today unveiled its 2010 bat line – headlined by its new Speed bat offering. Along with Easton’s two-piece Stealth Speed and one-piece Synergy Speed, new SV12 and V12 offerings round out Easton’s most innovative line to date.

The Stealth Speed features Easton’s lightest barrel design ever thanks to a new laser precision manufacturing technique that eliminates material overlap in the barrel, trimming enough excess to reduce mass in the barrel for a lighter MOI (Moment of Inertia) and a faster swing speed.

“This new technique really eliminates a chief complaint from a lot of ball players – a large number of composite bats are end-loaded,” said Matt Arndt, senior vice president of Easton’s baseball/softball division. “We’ve addressed this concern with our lightest barrel to date, while still maintaining the barrel strength and proven performance.”

By manipulating the design along the length of the barrel and segmenting the bat inch by inch, Easton’s Stealth Speed maximizes its sweet spot and provides for more flex throughout. Combining carbon and glass for the utmost design potential, the Stealth Speed counterbalances the carbon’s stiffness, strength and light weight with the glass’ toughness and flexibility to better absorb impact and reinforce the strength of the enlarged sweet spot.

“Unlike our competitors, who use a single material throughout and weaken the bat with each changing contour, the glass-carbon combination allows us to extend the sweet spot into the end cap and taper,” Arndt continued.

Easton’s patented ConneXion Design System (CXN) creates a true two-piece design by isolating the handle from the barrel to eliminate vibration with an elastomeric rubber cushion between the two. Additionally, Easton’s focused flex handle optimizes the bat’s ‘kick point’ below the CXN joint to maximize whip through the zone and maintain the efficient transfer of energy. The Stealth Speed is offered in two different handle flexes (75 and 95) to provide players with more options.

The Synergy Speed offers the same game-changing performance as the Stealth Speed, but uses a one-piece design and Easton’s Single System Technology.

The SV12 combines Easton’s V12 alloy barrel with a composite IMX flex rated handle through the use of CXN technology.  By optimizing the material levels of 12 different elements in a scandium alloy formulation, Easton has created the highest performing alloy ever known to aluminum bat technology.  The SV12 maximizes the performance along the length of the barrel with the implementation of Easton’s Optimal Hitting Zone Technology (O-Zone), which thickens the barrel design at the taper and end cap to increase trampoline off of the massive hitting area. The SV12 provides awesome bat speed, max energy transfer, and complete vibration elimination. The SV12 is offered in two different handle flexes (65 and 90) to provide players with more options.

The V12 is a pure aluminum one-piece design. Utilizing Easton’s V12 Scandium alloy and Single System Technology, this bat has been designed with a streamlined profile from handle to barrel to create the lightest swing weight in the industry. Also featuring O-Zone Technology for awesome barrel performance, the V12 provides incredible bat speed, supreme balance and control through the hitting zone, and solid feedback for players at contact.

Easton’s entire 2010 bat line, including the Stealth Speed, will be available in all major sporting goods stores beginning May 2009.

To receive more information or schedule an interview, please contact (310) 578-7050 or  e-mail at marek@formulapr.com.

About Easton Sports

Easton Sports, part of the Easton-Bell Sports family of companies, is a developer, manufacturer, marketer and distributor of baseball, softball, hockey and cycling equipment for both professionals and enthusiasts.  Easton focuses on its ability to innovate and create products of unmatched quality and performance including the #1 bat in the College World Series®, Women’s College World Series®, Little League World Series®, and Slow-Pitch Softball, as well as the #1 stick and #1 glove in the National Hockey League.  Headquartered in Van Nuys, Calif., Easton Sports employs over 1,200 people worldwide and maintains facilities in Utah, California, Mexico, Canada and Asia.  For further information, please visit the company online at www.eastonsports.com.