When talking about which type is better, there are scores of details to discuss when comparing aluminum baseball bats and wood baseball bats. One type can be better in one respect but the other is superior in another area. Players looking to purchase baseball bats should be diligent and factor in many details when they decide which type to purchase.
Cost
Wood baseball bats cost far less than aluminum bats regardless of material. Wood bats can be made of hickory, ash or maple but cost less than aluminum bats. Less technology and manufacturing is required to make wood bats and the costs of the finished product will reflect that fact.
Durability
Aluminum bats will last far longer than any type of wood bat. An aluminum bat usually comes with a warranty and many players can use an aluminum bat for multiple seasons. Regardless of where the ball strikes an aluminum bat, the bat is strong enough to absorb the blow. Wood bats are prone to breaking and ash bats have been known to flake. According to Superior Bat Company, hitting balls off the handle or the end of a wood baseball bat will not make the bat last long.
Performance
There is no debate about which type of bat hits the ball harder, faster and farther. Aluminum outperforms every type of wood bat when it comes to on-the-field performance. According to the buyer's guide for Dickssportinggoods.com, aluminum bats hit balls significantly farther because of weight distribution being more toward the barrel and also because of the trampoline effect elicited by the design of aluminum bats.
Availability
Finding either type of bat is not a difficult task, though aluminum is the easiest to find at sporting goods stores. Aluminum bats are most common at sporting goods stores because Little League and high school players use aluminum almost exclusively. Both types can be purchased through online retailers. Players need to find bats that are the perfect size, so it is very common to have to go to more than one source to find the right bat, wood or aluminum.
Legality
Depending on the level of play you play at, certain types of bats may be illegal. In professional baseball, players are required to use wood bats. College games in the NCAA allow players to use aluminum bats. Some American Legion tournaments have banned the use of aluminum bats, requiring players to use wood. The Post 312 Memorial Day Wood Bat Tournament in Saint Charles, Missouri, is an example.
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