A metal baseball bat is usually made of aluminum, but composite metal bats on the market are made of a mix of materials, including graphite and titanium. Wood bats are usually made of northern white ash or maple wood. Each type of bat has benefits and drawbacks, but metal bats vibrate more than wooden bats.
Identification
Vibration occurs when the bat makes contact with the ball at certain areas on the barrel. Players call the area of the bat that results in the least vibration the "sweet spot." Making contact with the ball in this ideal area results in the ball leaving the bat with the greatest speed and almost no vibration, which will quickly move up the barrel of the bat into the handle and into the player's hands.
Wooden Bats
Wooden bats are solid. The wood absorbs some of the vibration, which is why they don't vibrate as much as metal bats. They also have a smaller sweet spot on the barrel than a metal bat. Wooden bats are heavier than metal bats, which makes them more difficult to adjust your swing on the fly; they are also prone to cracking and breaking.
Metal Bats
Metal bats are hollow, which makes them lighter than wooden bats. Metal also doesn't crack and break as easily as wood; however, composite metal bats can break if used in cold weather. If you don't hit the ball on the sweet spot of a metal bat, you will feel the bat vibrate, which can be painful to your hands, but metal bats usually have extra padding on the handle to reduce some of the vibration.
Considerations
Depending on the league you play in, you may not have a choice as to which type of bat you use. Major League Baseball does not allow metal bats. The National Collegiate Athletic Association allows some metal bats in collegiate baseball, but the bats must not exceed certain performance standards. If your league does allow metal bats, it may limit the bat to a specific rating. Make sure to check your league rule book before purchasing a metal bat.
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