The wood vs. metal bat controversy has been ongoing ever since metal bats became an option for kids' baseball games. A high school player suffered an injury in March 2011 that is again raising safety questions, and schools, Little League organizations, competition regulators and state legislatures are taking a closer look at the issue.
History
The metal baseball bat was invented in 1924 but was not used in baseball games until 1970, when an aluminum bat made by Worth was introduced. Single-piece aluminum bats grew in popularity throughout the 1970s. They were especially popular with Little League players because the aluminum bats were lighter and easier to swing than traditional wood bats.
Purpose
Metal bats give young players an edge. The lighter weight is scientifically balanced to spread the weight along the bat for optimum swing power, and are easier for young players to handle, helping to avoid muscle strains and injuries. Young players can hone their skills and achieve better batting statistics with metal bats than with wood; good batting statistics are imperative for players who want to move up in competition play.
Little League
Little League specifies that metal bats used in games must have a bat performance factor, or BPF, of 1.15. The BPF is a measurement of the speed at which the ball leaves the bat after it is hit. A standard wood bat has a BPF of 1.00, and a very good wood bat has a BPF of 1.15. All Little League bats are required to be stamped with their BPF.
In late December 2010, Little League International announced a moratorium on bats with barrels made of composite materials. Aluminum and alloy bats are not part of the moratorium.
Improvements
In a report on the MLB Fanhouse website, the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association says that metal bats made after 2003 are made to higher safety specifications than earlier metal bats. Metal bats made prior to 2003 are no longer allowed in competitive play. While many people believe that newer bats are more powerful, the new standards for metal bats manufactured in 2011 actually will require a slower ball exit speed ratio. New metal bats are engineered and manufactured so that their performance is comparable to wood bats.
References
- Sports Illustrated: California Proposes Ban on Metal Bats After Kid Suffers Head Injury
- MLB FanHouse: Teenage Pitcher's Injury Sparks Wood vs. Metal Debate in California
- USA Today: Dealing With A Batty Situation: Wood Vs. Metal
- Little League: USA's Youth Committee Issues Statement on Non-Wood Bats
- Baseball-Bats.net: The History of Baseball Bats
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