Why can metal bats outperform wood bats?
1. Aluminum bats can be swung faster.
2. Aluminum bats have the trampoline effect. Translation: The ball loses less energy during impact with a metal bat than with a wood bat.
3. Aluminum bats have wider sweet spots.
Which metal bats are legal in college and high school?
Requirements include:
1. The minus-3 standard, which means the length of the bat (in inches) can’t exceed the weight of the bat (in ounces) by more than three. A 31-inch, 28-ounce bat is legal; a 34-inch, 30-ounce bat is not.
2. The barrel can be no bigger than 2-5/8 inches.
3. The bat must have an approved ball-exit-speed ratio, which varies for bats of different lengths.
For more information visit ncaa.org or nfhs.org.
Who uses the various kinds of bats?
Wood: Professionals (example: Everett AquaSox, Seattle Mariners), Washington community colleges (example: Everett CC), some summer youth select teams, some summer semi-pro teams
Metal: Most high schools, four-year colleges, adult city leagues
Composite: Some high schools, some four-year colleges
What is a composite bat?
More common in adult slow-pitch softball leagues than in baseball, composite bats are made from a variety of materials, including carbon fiber, and like aluminum bats are generally much more durable than wood. High-performance composite bats can cost around $400. Some of them are made with composite handles and aluminum barrels. Some generate a faster batted-ball speed than is allowed by groups like the Amateur Softball Association of America, but certain types of composite bats are legal in high school and college play.
Sources: “Physics and Acoustics of Baseball &Softball Bats” by Daniel A. Russell and the Amateur Softball Association of America.
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