Hello Justin,

Contrary to what people said, don't get carbon bat if you want to play a controlled game unless your standard is at a certain level where you can control your game.
Why?  Theoritacally a carbon bat is faster than a , say, 5-ply wooden blade/bat. Reason carbon is a solid material, don't flex as compare with wood. When a ball bounced off a carbon bat as compare with a wooden bat. the feel off effect of bounciness is different.

anyway defer buying something first till you are sure. I can lend you my 5-ply wooden handshake bat or you can try K2002 carbon bat (fitted with soft rubber). And if you can lend your friend 7-ply or 9-ply wooden bat, try all of them before you decide.

BTW, where are you located Justin?
(Note : Edit : add in last line)

Hi Justin, I can only answer for myself.
I don't play weekly, only when I have got time and I play all ovwr the place. Trying to fix every Thursday at Avenue K but depends on "kakis".