Bats are available in different materials, including wood, aluminum and composite. Composite bats are made of several metals, such as graphite, aluminum, carbon or glass. The major leagues in the U.S. only allow wood bats, but most other leagues allow aluminum and composite. Both types of bats have their benefits and drawbacks.
History
Aluminum bats have been around since the 1970s, but the first graphite bats didn't appear until the 1980s. These bats, although durable, didn't last long on the market because they didn't perform as well as aluminum bats. Around 2001, manufacturers again started making composite bats, mostly of a graphite fiber. These bats performed as well, if not better, than the top aluminum bats. They were first introduced into softball and have begun trickling into baseball.
Performance
In 2001, the Amateur Softball Association tested various bats. A softball was pitched from an air cannon at a speed of 110 mph at the barrel of the bat, which was held in place by a clamp. The speed of the ball after impact was measured. Single-walled aluminum bats produced ball speeds between 90 and 96 mph. Double-walled aluminum bats produced ball speeds between 96 and 100 mph. Some composite bats performed at the same level as the double-walled aluminum bats, but other composite bats produced higher ball speeds above 105 mph.
Benefits of Composite Bats
Besides the faster ball speeds produced by high-end composite bats, they also have other benefits over their all-aluminum counterparts. Composite bats are lighter than aluminum bats. This allows for a larger barrel and a bigger sweet spot. Baseballcorner.com notes that composite bats are more forgiving of an imperfect swing than aluminum bats. You can still get solid hits off a composite bat with an average swing.
Benefits of Aluminum Bats
Aluminum bats are ready to use almost immediately. However, composite bats have a long break-in period. Baseballcorner.com recommends 100 to 200 hits to break-in a composite bat.
Aluminum bats have that familiar ping sound when you hit the ball just right. Composite bats do not make this same sound, which can throw-off some batters.
Aluminum bats are more durable than composite bats, especially in cold weather. You shouldn't use a composite bat if it is colder than 70 degrees F.
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