Professional baseball fans know they won't see an aluminum bat at a professional baseball game. Instead, wooden bats are used, chiefly for their abilities to absorb more energy. For this and many other reasons, wooden and aluminum bats have more differences between them than simply being made of different materials.
History
Aluminum bats are the newer of the baseball bat market. While wooden bats have been used since baseball's beginnings, aluminum bats emerged in the early 1970s, according to Kettering University. These bats were first marketed for their performance and the promise of hitting farther and faster. However, aluminum bats created some controversy, especially among the heavy hitters of Major League Baseball. Today, aluminum bats are not allowed in professional baseball and are even prohibited in some college and high school baseball leagues.
Size
Aluminum bats are lighter in weight than their wooden counterparts. In addition to general weight considerations, wooden and aluminum bats carry their weight in different areas. For example, a wooden bat carries more weight in the barrel, or end, of the bat, according to WebBall.com. An aluminum bat has more weight near the hands, which can make the bat feel easier to swing.
Effects
The NCAA tests bat performance by metal to determine a bat's safety. A bat can be used in a collegiate athletics game if the ball exit speed does not exceed 97 mph when a bat impacts a ball moving 70 mph, according to Illinois.edu. The same amount of force is not required to swing the bat. Because an aluminum bat is lighter, the bat is easier to swing, which can result in more force for the bat. Because more force can equal more exit speed and distance, an aluminum bat can be swung with more force than its wooden counterpart.
Safety
According to Kettering University, safety concerns have arisen regarding the use of aluminum bats in games. Because aluminum bats can result in faster ball speed, some argue that hitting with an aluminum bat can create a danger for the opposing team in trying to catch the ball. For this reason, wooden bats may be safer than aluminum bats, particularly for stronger, heavier hitters. One concern with wooden bats in terms of safety, however, is their ability to break. When hit near the middle of a bat, a bat can more easily break, which can endanger the hitter and other players as well, according to Kettering University.
Trampoline Effect
The principle of a trampoline effect of a bat refers to how much energy is absorbed vs. how much is released, according to Illinois.edu. When an aluminum bat makes contact with the ball, lesser amounts of kinetic energy are absorbed than when a person hits a ball with a wooden bat. With an aluminum bat, the energy is transferred back, creating a "trampoline effect" where the energy can be transferred at a higher rate than a wooden bat.
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