Fred FontzToday, we’re going to look at one of the most underrated bats on the 2022 market, the Warstic Gunner.
It’s an ordinary looking two-piece hybrid model that features an alloy barrel and composite handle. We really like the simplicity off the bat’s design.
Warstic heard the feedback of its customers are offered a solid redesign. Some players compared swinging the old model to swinging an oar. Warstic adjusted the swing weight to make it a bit easier to swing.
Our verdict on the 2022 Warstic Gunner BBCOR 4.55
Given that this bat had a reputation for being a log in the hitter’s hands, we didn’t expect much when it came out.
We were pleasantly surprised time after time. The Gunner is easily the most improved bat that you’ll find.
It provides elite exit velocity, a great feel, and a reasonable price tag.
Build 4.4
Warstic built a winner when they made the 2022 Gunner BBCOR. It’s easily the most improved bat that we’ve reviewed.
The Gunner is designed to feel like a wood bat which means it’s still slightly end-loaded and has a stiff connection point.
One downfall is that we’ve heard mixed reviews on how thin the handle is. It doesn’t seem like an issue, but there have been some players who don’t like it.
Comfort 4.3
While we’d love to see better grip tape on the Gunner, there haven’t been any complaints about it.
The collar (or connection joint as Warstic calls it) kills most vibration on bad hits. This makes it something that you can trust to consistently protect your hands.
Durability 4.75
The Gunner is consistently performing in all conditions. We’ve been able to test it against high velocity pitchers, breaking balls, and pitching machines.
The Warstic hasn’t had any issues. Some players are concerned about how thin the handle is.
Pop 4.9
Pop is where the Gunner really stands out. Multiple players were able to put up their best distance with the Gunner.
It doesn’t always make the best sound, but when you make high-quality contact the ball jumps off the bat.
We generally don’t offer superlatives but the Gunner offers the most pop out of any model that we’ve reviewed. We love it.
Pricing 4.4
The Gunner is priced at $380 which places it squarely in the middle of the hybrid market ($350-$400).
Compared to the overall market ($100-$550) it comes in a bit above the average price.
Either way, given the performance that you’ll get from this bat, we think it’s pretty reasonably priced.
Compared to other BBCOR bats
Here’re a few other bats that are comparable to the 2022 Warstic Gunner. You can also check out our recommendations for the best BBCOR baseball bats on the market this year.
Warstic Gunner vs. LS Select PWR
We love the hybrid baseball bats, so this is a difficult comparison. The Select PWR has a huge advantage comfort because of its Pro Comfort grip. The Gunner offers better value in pricing.
Both provide plenty of pop, but the Gunner wins there too. This may come down to how much of an end load your swing can handle.
If we’re being completely honest, marketing plays a role in this as much as anything. Warstic doesn’t offer much information on their materials.
It’s an outstanding bat, but when we’re splitting hairs, we need more information on your product. Warstic just doesn’t offer the information for us to fully analyze the build.
In a close competition, we’ll take the Select PWR.
Check out our 2022 Louisville Slugger Select PWR BBCOR bat review
Warstic Gunner vs. True Temper HZRDUS
This is another close competition that proves how much we love the two-piece hybrid models this year.
The HZRDUS loses points because it’s less forgiving than the Gunner. Both of these bats offer plenty of pop and there are no durability concerns. The HZRDUS gets a tiny edge over the Gunner in pricing because it’s $350 instead of $380.
These bats are so close that a $30 difference in pricing counts for something. This is the closest overall score of any comparison that we’ve made.
Because of the amount of pop that the Gunner has, we’ll have to take the Gunner over the HZRDUS.
Check out our True Temper HZRDUS BBCOR bat review
Warstic Gunner vs. Axe Avenge Pro Hybrid
The Avenge Pro Hybrid is our unicorn. Most of our favorite bats rely heavily on power. The Avenge Pro is the only bat in the top 5 with a pop rating below 4.5. That’s a testament to the quality of the bat overall.
The Avenge Pro offers a great build and outstanding comfort. It still has enough pop to push it over the age.
These are scored quite closely and may come down to your style. The Avenge Pro is definitely more of a contact bat while the Gunner is more of a power bat.
If we’re forced to pick one, we prefer Axe’s Avenge Pro Hybrid.
Check out our 2022 Axe Avenge Pro Hybrid BBCOR bat review
Who is the 2022 Warstic Gunner BBCOR best suited for?
The Warstic Gunner is an outstanding model for any player. It’s definitely designed with a power hitter in mind. So, this is ideal for someone who is already able to whip the bat through the zone and drive the ball well.
If you’ve got a large frame and you’re focused on putting the ball over the fence, this is an outstanding option for you.
- Pop.
- Durability.
- Reduced vibration.
- Not flashy.
- A bit too end-loaded for some.
Conclusion
The Warstic Gunner is one of the biggest surprises in this year’s class. There were a number of complaints about the Gunner the last few years and Warstic did a fantastic job of responding to customer feedback.
The bat’s swing weight has been modified to make it a bit lighter without losing any of its pop. If you’re looking in the $350-$400 price range, this is an outstanding option; especially for a power hitter.
