The choice of materials used to construct baseball bats has evolved, starting with solid wood, then moving to aluminum and now to composites. Major League Baseball only plays with wood bats, but just about every other league from youth softball to college baseball uses a combination of aluminum and composite bats.
History
Aluminum bats were introduced in the 1970s, and performed similarly to wood bats at the time. It wasn't until manufacturers began using aluminum alloys and more advanced designs that the aluminum bats began to outperform wood bats.
Composite bats came onto the scene in the mid-1980s, but quickly disappeared because they didn't perform as well as aluminum or produce that popular "ping" sound. It wasn't until the early 2000s that composite bats -- usually constructed of a graphite-fiber material and coated with an epoxy resin -- became the go-to bat in softball. Since then, they've become immensely popular, challenging aluminum bats in durability and performance.
Types
Aluminum bats can be made of pure aluminum or aluminum alloys. They're also made with single wall or double wall barrels. According to bat manufacturer Demarini, the ball comes off a single wall bat faster, but double wall bats have a much larger sweet spot for hitting.
Composite bats are made from a wide variety of materials. Some are 100 percent composite, while others have composite handles and barrels made from steel alloys, carbon or other materials. Some composite bats combine wood and composite materials. The best combination of materials is based on personal preference.
Performance
Bat design and higher-strength materials have allowed for aluminum bats to become lighter, enabling players to get greater swing speeds. Thinner barrel walls began to create a trampoline effect, giving batted balls greater distance as well. As batted ball speeds (BBS) increase, this led some to question the safety of aluminum bats. New York City has banned aluminum bats from youth leagues.
Composite bats are even lighter than aluminum bats. They've also been credited with making hitters better, because they have a flexible handle, a larger barrel and a larger "sweet spot." When fully broken in, the composite fibers begin to loosen and the bats reach top performance by outperforming aluminum bats. Composite bats were banned by the NCAA in 2009 due to "performance improvements" that go "above the standards set by the NCAA."
Drawbacks
Aluminum bats are quite durable, but they also are known to dent over time, making them less effective.
Composite bats have a reputation for performing poorly and breaking in weather that is cooler than 65 degrees. Aluminum bats are ready to use immediately, whereas composite bats need considerable breaking in -- 150 to 200 solid hits -- before they reach optimal performance.
Composite bats can also be cost prohibitive for some players, starting at around $200 and costing as much as $400 in 2010. A high-end aluminum bat can also cost upwards of $400, but you can purchase a very good aluminum bat for around $100. Lower-end aluminum bats can be had for as little as $25.
Expert Insight
A study was performed by the University of Massachusetts at Lowell Baseball Research Center to see if, and by how much, the performance of aluminum and composite bats improved with use. Researchers tested six "high performance" composite bats against one aluminum bat. Three of the composite bats broke before the bats reached 100 hits, suggesting that there are durability issues with some composites. But the study concluded that there was no significant increase in performance after a minimum of 500 hits with either the aluminum or the composite bats.
Daniel Russell, professor of applied physics at Michigan's Kettering University, used scientific methodology to show that batted balls come off high-end composite bats at faster speeds than other types of bats.
Considerations
Just as every hitter is different, every bat is different, too. Some bats are heavier at the top, some at the handle. There are single walled and double walled bats, alloy bats, one piece and two-piece bats. The possibilities are numerous, so players should know what type of bat fits them the best before buying.
References
- University of Massachusetts at Lowell: An Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Use on the Performance of Composite Baseball Bats
- Kettering University: Are Composite Bats Better Than Aluminum Bats
- Baseball Corner: Baseball Bat Guide
- Top Baseball Bats: Baseball Bats
- Baseball Bat Reviews: What Are Composite Baseball Bats?
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