Baseball bats have undergone several changes over the years. According to AthleticScholarship.net, the first bats weren't all round--some were flat-sided, and there were no rules or regulations controlling the bats' shape and size, although it was quickly determined that rounded bats were the most effective at hitting a baseball. In the last 100 years, hardly anything regarding bat rules at the professional levels has changed. While wood bats are the choice bat of the major leagues, there are several different types of bats used in the college ranks and below, and scientists are still working to develop the perfect non-wood bat.
Wood
Most wood bats are made from either white ash or maple. These are the only bats allowed in Major League Baseball, and they are much heavier and harder to hit a baseball with than other types of bats allowed at other levels of play. These bats are no larger than 2.75 inches in diameter and 42 inches in length. They are solid wood all the way through--any type of filler material, such as cork, alters the way a baseball is hit and is not allowed in game play.
Aluminum
College baseball is known for the famous "ping" of an aluminum bat hitting a baseball. These bats were developed in the 1970s, and are lighter and cheaper to manufacture than wood bats. They also don't break, and result in the ball being hit harder and farther. For these reasons, aluminum bats are the preferred choice among youth leagues.
Composite
These bats are made from several different materials, usually fiberglass and graphite. They are the product of sports science, designed to be lighter than aluminum bats while providing just as much hitting power. These bats are much more expensive than aluminum bats because of the expensive materials and investment in science required to produce them. They don't provide quite as much force when hitting the baseball, but manufacturers claim that the force lost in the bat's composition are made up for by the ability to swing the bat faster.
Hybrids
These are rarely seen, and cost about the same as composite bats. They usually consist of a composite handle with an aluminum barrel, to help cut down on the weight of the bat while retaining the punch that aluminum barrels provide. Some hybrid bats also feature a carbon fiber interior reinforcing a thin aluminum shell. Some of these bats also use sealed-in air pressure to help propel the ball--the high air pressure reduces the give allowed by the metal. However, these bats can easily run more than $200.
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