The 2027 Easton Dub Darkside: Everything We Know So Far

The Dub Goes to the Dark Side

Every travel ball season has that one bat the dugout won't stop talking about, and for 2027, it looks like Easton's got the early lead! The 2027 Easton Dub Darkside USSSA baseball bat is set to drop on October 1, 2026, and it's already backordered at many retailers before a single one has hit a game field. That's the kind of buzz you usually only see around a Ghost or a Hype Fire!

So what's the fuss about? Easton took The Dub, the double barrel USSSA bat that turned heads last year, kept the guts exactly where hitters wanted them, and wrapped it in something nobody else on the market has: a chrome finish that literally wears away as you hit, revealing a hidden red design underneath. Easton calls it DUBLVZN. Your kid's teammates will call it the coolest thing in the bat bag.

We've been selling bats since 2016, and we've watched plenty of "limited edition" colorways come and go. This one's different because the story's on the barrel. The more you hit, the more Darkside shows through. A brand new one and a bat with 500 swings on it look like two different bats, and both of them are yours!

Below, we'll break down all three models, what changed from the 2026 Dub, what the USSSA stamp means for your league, which drop weight fits which hitter, and why LongballBats.com should be where you pick yours up. Let's dig in.

The 2027 Dub Darkside Lineup: Three Drops, One Barrel

The Darkside is a USSSA-only release, and that's on purpose. Easton's Double Barrel tech is built to live right at the USSSA performance limit, so you won't see a BBCOR or USA Baseball version of this bat. What you get instead is the full travel ball spread: a -10, a -8, and a -5, all with the 2-3/4 inch barrel and all at $399.99.

Dub Darkside -10 (EUT7DBDS10): 27"/17oz, 28"/18 oz, 29"/19 oz, 30"/20 oz, and 31"/21 oz. This is the bat for most 8U to 11U travel hitters.

Dub Darkside -8 (EUT7DBDS8): 29"/21 oz, 30"/22 oz, 31"/23 oz, and 32"/24 oz. Built for 11U and 12U hitters who are ready for more mass in the barrel.

Dub Darkside -5 (EUT7DBDS5): 30"/25 oz, 31"/26 oz, and 32"/27 oz. The power drop for 13U and 14U hitters getting ready for BBCOR.

Easton has all of youth baseball covered with these sizes - read on for our size recommendations for your ballplayer.

Every model shares the same build sheet:

• 2X Double Barrel Construction. A thin, low compression outer barrel that flexes across its entire length, wrapped around an inner barrel that holds performance right at the USSSA limit. Easton says it's the lowest barrel compression of any USSSA bat they make.
• DUBLVZN graphics. The chrome silver Dub and Darkside decals on the front of the barrel gradually wear away with ball contact, revealing red graphics underneath.
• ConneXion Max. Easton's elastomer connection piece that interlocks the handle to the barrel and kills vibration on mishits.
• Opti-Flex Handle. Handle flex is tuned to each individual length and drop, based on feedback from elite travel ball players.
• Gen2 In2uitiv Feel Soft Knob. A newly designed soft knob with an asymmetric contour, paired with Easton's Flow-Tack grip.
• Balanced swing weight, two-piece composite construction, USSSA 1.15 BPF stamp, and a one-year manufacturer warranty.

The lineup mirrors the 2026 Dub almost size for size, which tells you Easton found the sweet spot last year and didn't want to mess with it.

What Changed From the 2026 Dub

Here's the honest answer: the barrel didn't. And that's a good thing! The 2026 Dub launched in May 2025 as the first USSSA certified double wall baseball bat on the market, and it went straight to the top of the travel ball conversation next to the Hype Fire. When a bat is already running at the certification limit, there's not much room to "add pop." So Easton left the Double Barrel core, the ConneXion Max joint, the Opti-Flex handle, and the size and drop lineup alone.

What's actually new for 2027:

• The look. The 2026 Dub was a loud yellow, pink, and white bat, and the Spring Break editions got even louder. The Darkside flips it: ultra chrome silver up top with red hiding underneath.
• DUBLVZN reveal graphics. This is the headline change. The chrome layer on the Dub and Darkside decals is designed to wear away with each hit, so the bat transforms as the season goes on. It's purely cosmetic and has zero effect on performance, durability, or certification.
• New knob. The 2026 Dub used Easton's Power Boost Soft Knob. The 2027 Darkside moves to the Gen2 In2uitiv Feel Soft Knob, an asymmetric contoured knob that sits more naturally in the bottom hand. Small change, but it's the part of the bat you feel on every swing.
• Naming. Easton now calls the construction "2X Double Barrel," a nod to it being the second generation of the design.
• Price. The 2026 Dub carried a $499.99 tag at launch. The 2027 Darkside lists at $399.99, so you're paying a hundred bucks less for the newer bat.

If you already own a 2026 Dub and it's still going strong, you're not missing out on performance. If you're shopping new, the Darkside is the better buy at a lower price with the upgraded knob and the graphics everyone's going to be asking about.

Certification: What the USSSA 1.15 BPF Stamp Means

All three Dub Darkside models carry the USSSA 1.15 BPF certification stamp, which makes them legal in USSSA sanctioned travel ball and tournament play, plus any league that follows the USSSA standard. That's the majority of travel ball in the country.

What the Darkside is not: a USA Baseball bat or a BBCOR bat. If your player is in Little League, Cal Ripken, or another USA Bat league, this isn't the bat for them. High school and college require BBCOR at -3 drop, and the Darkside tops out at -5. Always check your league's current approved bat list before game day.

One certification question that's already showing up online: is a bat with changing graphics legal? Yes. Easton worked with USSSA on the DUBLVZN reveal, and USSSA has instructed umpires not to pull the bat from play just because its graphics are changing color. The 1.15 BPF mark, model name, and serial number aren't part of the reveal and stay fully legible. If loose paint flakes are hanging on, brush them off before the game. Normal umpire discretion on bat condition still applies, same as any other bat.

Which Dub Darkside Should You Swing?

This is where we earn our keep. The right drop is about the hitter's age, strength, and where they're headed next, not just what's cool. Here's how we'd match them up, using these general guidelines as the baseline.

The -10 (EUT7DBDS10): ages 6 to 10. This is where most travel hitters should live. The -10 has the most whip on the double barrel and the quickest feel through the zone, which matters more than anything at this age. In our experience, the most popular size for an 8-year-old is 28"/18 oz, and for 9 and 10-year-olds it's 29"/19 oz. Both land squarely in the Darkside -10 lineup. Focus on bat control over power here. A lighter bat that can be swung properly beats a heavier one that can't.

The -8 (EUT7DBDS8): ages 11 and 12. We recommend 11 and 12-year-olds move to a drop 8 to prepare for the heavier bats coming down the road. Most popular sizes are 30"/22 oz at 11 and 31"/23 oz at 12, which are exactly the two middle sizes of the Darkside -8. If your 12U hitter has been squaring balls up with a -10 all season and pitching's getting slower relative to their bat speed, the extra mass in the -8 helps them stay back and drive the ball.

The -5 (EUT7DBDS5): age 13 in USSSA. We strongly recommend a drop 5 at age 13 to build the strength needed for BBCOR's drop 3, and the most popular USSSA size at that age is 31"/26 oz. The Darkside -5 is that bat. It's the power drop with BBCOR prep built in, for the 13U or 14U hitter who's a year away from high school ball and wants to keep swinging a USSSA barrel while they can.

Two sizing rules we always live by: don't buy a bat for a player to "grow into," because oversized bats hurt performance and build bad habits, and remember that bat speed generates power, so a lighter bat swung faster usually outperforms a heavier bat swung slowly. If you're torn between two lengths, take the shorter one.

Still not sure? Send us the player's age, height, weight, and current bat, and we'll tell you exactly which Darkside to put in the bag.

Why Buy Your Dub Darkside From LongballBats.com

You can find this bat at a dozen sites. Here's why ours should be the one you check out from.

• We're bat performance experts, not a warehouse. LongballBats.com has been doing this since 2016, and our staff brings more than 100 years of combined baseball and softball experience to every order. We've swung, tested, and talked about more bats than most people will ever see.
• Real recommendations from real people. Not sure the -8 is right for your 11-year-old? Email or call us. We'll ask the questions a good coach would ask and give you a straight answer, even if that answer is "stick with the -10 for one more season."
• One of the deepest bat selections - anywhere. Easton, Marucci, Victus, Rawlings, DeMarini, Louisville Slugger, Warstic, Axe, and more, across baseball, fastpitch, and slowpitch. If the Darkside isn't the right fit, we'll point you to the bat that is.
• We know this bat's family. We sold thousands of the 2026 Dub and we've fielded every question a parent can ask about the double barrel design. That experience goes into every Darkside recommendation we make.
• Every order is handled by people who play. Your bat gets packed and shipped by someone who'd be excited to open the box themselves.

Grab yours early. This one's going to be tough to find in the popular sizes once the spring tournament schedule fills up.

Easton Dub Darkside FAQ

QUESTION: When does the 2027 Easton Dub Darkside come out?
ANSWER: October 1, 2026 is the official launch date and we expect them to sell out quickly.

QUESTION: How much does the Easton Dub Darkside cost?
ANSWER: All three models, the -10, -8, and -5, list at $399.99.

QUESTION: Is the Dub Darkside USSSA legal?
ANSWER: Yes. Every Dub Darkside carries the USSSA 1.15 BPF stamp and is approved for USSSA travel ball and tournament play. It's not legal in USA Baseball or BBCOR leagues.

QUESTION: Is the color-changing graphic legal, and will an umpire pull the bat?
ANSWER: It's legal. Easton worked with USSSA on the DUBLVZN reveal, and USSSA has told umpires not to remove the bat solely because its graphics are changing. The certification stamp, model name, and serial number stay legible the whole time.

QUESTION: Does the DUBLVZN graphic affect performance?
ANSWER: No. Only the chrome Dub and Darkside decals on the front of the barrel wear away with hits to reveal the red underneath. It's entirely cosmetic and has no effect on performance, structural integrity, or certification.

QUESTION: Can I scratch the chrome off myself with a coin or keys?
ANSWER: Don't. Only normal ball contact is supposed to reveal the design, and wear patterns vary from bat to bat. Using sharp objects to speed it up may void the warranty.

QUESTION: What's the difference between the Dub Darkside and the Hype Fire?
ANSWER: Both sit at the top of Easton's USSSA lineup, but they get there differently. The Darkside uses Double Barrel construction with an inner and outer barrel; the Hype Fire is a single barrel composite. Feel is the difference, and it comes down to personal preference. We're happy to walk you through both.