Baseball bats are smooth clubs made from wood or metal designed to hit a pitched baseball. While early baseball bats were made from heavy pieces of wood, technology has led to the development of lightweight, high-performance bats. As a result, the dynamics and characteristics of baseball bats are monitored closely, with rules in place to prevent the batter from gaining an unfair advantage.
Features
Every baseball bat is characterized by certain features such as the barrel, handle and grip. The barrel is measured in inches for circumference; maximum measurement typically varies by league, with 2 5/8 inches a common barrel circumference, the Hit! Run! Score! Sporting Goods website reports. From the barrel, the bat tapers down to the handle and grip. Common grips include rubber, leather or synthetic materials, used to provide comfort and absorb shock during the swing.
Materials
Traditional baseball bats were made from wood, and most professional leagues still use wooden baseball bats. Other materials used for baseball bats include a variety of metals such as aluminum, graphite or titanium. Aluminum and other metal bats are lighter in weight and increase the bat speed compared to wooden bats. Aluminum bats are also more durable as a result of the strong, dense materials.
Sweet Spot
Baseball bats feature a "sweet spot" located on the barrel that is seen as the "best" place to hit the ball. Sweet spots are generally expressed in BPF --- bat performance factor. This factor, retailer Dick's Sporting Goods explains on its website, reflects the bat's ability to increase the liveliness of the ball. Aluminum bats, with the hollow barrel and single- or double-layer construction, produce a larger sweet spot than wooden bats.
Considerations
The two most important considerations for the dynamics and characteristics of baseball bats include the bat length and weight. These two factors can affect your ability to swing the bat with the proper technique and adequate speed to make contact with the ball. Most bats are weighed in ounces and measured in inches for length. While most little league organizations don't have size and weight restrictions, most high school and college leagues say the bat must be no lighter than 3 ounces less than the length. For example, a 32-inch bat must weight 29 oz.
References
- Dick's Sporting Goods: How To Buy A Baseball Bat
- Kettering University: Why Aluminum Bats Can Perform Better than Wood Bats
- Hit! Run! Score! Sporting Goods: Baseball Bats Buyers Guide
- Harvard University: Dynamics of the Baseball-Bat Collision
- Brown University: Batting Performance of Wood and Metal Baseball Bats
- Rutgers University: "Sweet Spot" or "Sweet Zone"?
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