Compare Bats: Composite, Alloy & Wood
What are the differences between Composite, Alloy & Wood Bats?
A bat is more than just a hunk of metal or wood. It is a carefully-engineered tool that allows players to get the most out of every swing. Every component of the bat, from the knob to the end cap, is designed to maximize every ounce of performance. There are four main tech components you need to know for your bat: material, barrel diameter, construction and weight balance.
Material
One of the biggest influences on bat performance is its material. Bats are made of metal, composites, or wood. Metal and composite bats are traditionally used for youth baseball through college baseball. Wood is used throughout the professional levels, as well as for specific amateur and travel ball leagues/organizations. Traditionally in Fastpitch, bats are made from composite or alloy materials.
Composite
Composite bats are made with a layered material (often carbon fiber) that is easy to distribute, giving us the ability to make bats with a variety of swing weights, from balanced to end-loaded.
Pros of Composite:
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Minimize the sting from a mis-hit ball by reducing vibration to the hands
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Often have a larger sweet spot than alloy bats
Alloy
Alloy is a mixture of two or more metals, and has been commonly used in baseball and fastpitch bats for years.
Pros of Alloy:
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Stiffer feel through the swing zone
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More durable material and less issues with colder weather
Wood
ASH
Still widely popular among big leaguers, Ash provides the ultimate in flexibility due to its unique grain structure. More forgiving than Maple, Ash rarely sees multi-piece fractures when the bat breaks. Visible grain lines allow for noticeable quality, giving you the confidence you need when you step up to the plate.
MAPLE
The species preferred by most pro players, Maple features the ultimate surface hardness and provides an unmatched sound and feel at contact. Naturally harder, Maple offers added strength at impact. Closed grains eliminate flaking commonly seen with Ash, allowing for superior durability.
BIRCH
The fastest growing species in professional baseball, Birch features the ideal combination of surface hardness and flexibility for increased durability. Its hardness (similar to Maple) provides great sound and feel at contact. Flexibility similar to Ash allows for forgiveness on non-barrel contact, decreasing the chance of multi-piece fractured breakage. Birch is less dense than maple, giving it a lighter feel on comparable turning models.
*Wood bats are more likely to break or crack on mishits than Alloy and Composite bats.
Construction
One-piece bats are one complete piece of composite or alloy and are often used by power hitters, since they provide less flex on contact.
Multi-piece bats are comprised of two separate parts: the barrel and the handle. The handle is connected to the barrel through a transition piece in the taper area of the bat. Multi-piece construction helps minimize vibration on mis-hit balls. Those bats are preferred by contact hitters, since the two-part construction helps generate maximum swing speed without the fear of major sting on contact.
KNOB STYLE - ROUND KNOB VS. FLARE KNOB
Not all knobs are the same. Some bats have a more rounded knob while others feature a more gradual flare. The choice between the two simply comes down to personal preference.
Wood: CUPPED VS. NON-CUPPED
Cupping a bat is the process in which the end of the barrel is hollowed out to remove weight while maintaining length. This process creates a slightly more balanced feel to your swing and is especially effective on larger-barrel bats for increased swing speed.
Wood: TURNING MODEL
The turning model refers to the specific shape of the bat. Different turning models have different specifications. Here are the areas where turning models differ:
- Barrel Measurement: is the diameter in the largest part of the barrel.
- Barrel taper: indicates whether the bat has a short dramatic transition through the taper, or long transition through the taper.
- Handle thickness: measures the diameter of the handle.
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Knob taper: identifies what kind of taper exists for that turning model. Here are the three types.
- No taper: handle comes straight into the knob with no flare.
- Traditional taper: a gradual flare to the handle as it reaches the knob.
- Max taper: an aggressive flare to the handle as it joins the knob for a wider feel in your bottom hand.
Some Turning Model Examples Include:
Swing Weight
A factor you may not see, but will definitely feel is the swing weight* of your bat. Bats are often segmented by their given length and weight. The Swing weight is a determination of how a bat’s particular weight is distributed along the bat’s length. For example, you can have two bats that are 30 ounces, but that have different swing weights because the 30 ounces are distributed differently in the bat. Bats can fall along the swing weight spectrum, from light to balanced to end-loaded.
End-loaded bats shift extra weight toward the end of the barrel, creating more whip-like action on a player’s swing and generating more power.
Balanced bats have a more even weight distribution, allowing for potentially greater swing speed for many hitters. This is preferred by contact hitters who want more control of their swing.
*Note - there are a variety of swing weights offered to meet player needs.
Barrel Diameter
The barrel is the thickest and widest part of the bat used to hit the ball. The barrel is where you want to hit the ball in order to achieve maximum performance. Barrels come in different sizes, and are measured by diameter. Barrel diameter is measured in inches and, like weight drop, certain leagues limit the size of a bat’s barrel. Please check with your league on their requirements.
Fastpitch bats are 2 1⁄4 inches.
Baseball bats come in multiple sizes including:
- 2 3⁄4 inches
- 2 5⁄8 inches
- 2 1⁄2 inches
- 2 1⁄4 inches