Does A Baseball Hit By An Aluminum Or A Wooden Bat Go Farther?

Baseball bats have changed over time as the game has evolved. Originally, all bats were wooden. With the evolution of modern baseball came more modern materials, including aluminum bats. There are many factors to take into consideration before choosing your bat material. Because many hitters' goal is to hit a ball farther, know that, all other factors being equal, an aluminum bat can hit a ball farther than a wooden one.

Faster Swing

Bat speed is a major factor in calculating the distance a baseball can travel when hit by a bat. An aluminum bat, which is lighter than a wooden one, can be swung faster. According to a study published by Kettering University professor Daniel A. Russell in 2006, an aluminum bat measuring the same size as a wooden one, weighs, on average, 1.7 oz. less. This difference in weight translates into a bat speed that is 3 mph faster.

Greater Compression

Results from the Crisco-Greenwald batting cage study as cited by Russell show that the compression of a baseball hitting a wooden bat reduces its diameter by almost half. This results in a loss of energy that is not returned. But when the same conditions are applied to an aluminum bat, the bat compresses instead of the ball. This not only allows the ball to maintain much of its inertia, but the energy transferred to the bat is mostly returned. This conservation of energy allows the aluminum bat to hit a baseball farther.

Larger Prime Hitting Area

The Crisco-Greenwald study identifies the prime hitting area of a bat as the area that produces the farthest-hit ball while also providing the least amount of hand discomfort. The study shows that, while this area is about the same size on both styles of bats, the aluminum bat can produce a ball that, when hit outside the prime hitting zone, can be hit farther.

Durability

Wooden bats are prone to cracking or breaking. In both cases, the bat must be retired; a breaking bat can cause injury. Wooden bats can also be declared "dead" if they get too old and need to be replaced. Aluminum bats can last much longer. Not only is this more economical, some players may develop a superstition and be reluctant to replace a bat.