The proliferation of metal bats at all levels in baseball other than professional came about in large part due to the cost savings aspect of the innovation. Prior to the mid-1970s, baseball teams used bats that were made of wood. However, bats cracked and wood broke down over time. Dozens of bats had to be purchased at the start of every season. Metal bats--particularly those made of aluminum--rarely break, and that saves quite a bit of money for those purchasing them.
Lighter Weight
Aluminum bats are lighter than wooden bats and other alloy bats. A 28-inch aluminum bat weighs 17 to 18 oz. A similar-sized wooden bat weighs 24 to 26 oz. This allows younger and smaller players to swing aluminum bats more effectively and produce hits at an earlier age.
Durability
The aluminum bat is very durable. According to manufacturers, they often last several seasons and show no hint of cracking or breaking down. This is an important factor when purchasing bats for a league, team, high school or university. Wooden bats can cost anywhere from $40 to $90 each, but they will break or crack with regularity. Aluminum bats can cost $100 to $200 each, but they will not break.
Sweet Spot
The sweet spot is the part of the bat that the batter wants to hit the ball with. With a wooden bat, the sweet spot is the fat part of the barrel of the bat, and is about 2 to 2 1/2 inches wide. The sweet spot on an aluminum bat may be as much as 4 1/2 inches wide.
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