I believe that most brands (certainly the big names) cover the entire range of equipment (soft, hard, etc) and chosing the the type that fits your game can be a decisive factor. But I am a firm believer that no brand is better than the next. Sure enough there are differences in weight and size, but that is not a matter of better or worse.It is all about personal preference which can be a very important factor (see what sVeNd ( I hope I got the capitales right
said about psychology).
That said, I still cannot decide on a certain bat (see my post on 'your paddle').