Baseball has long been America’s favorite pastime and while everyone can find ways of setting aside differences in order to sit down and watch a game, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to have some spirited debate on the topic.
One of the most significant disagreements people have when it comes to baseball is whether or not alloy bats or composite bats are the better choices. If you’re not well-versed on the subject, here’s all you need to know.
What Kinds of Materials Are Bats Made From?
Baseball bats can be made from a variety of materials, ranging from cheap plastic to incredibly sturdy metal, with the material largely corresponding to function and consumer preference.
Generally speaking though, bats have to be made from substances that are pliable, lightweight, and strong enough to withstand the physical force of hitting a hard, fast-moving ball. Ideally, bats would also be relatively inexpensive and not dent easily.
While historically bats have been made out of various hardwoods, like ash or maple, modern industrial techniques allow for the creation of different kinds of bats, with their own unique advantages.
In the aluminum vs composite bats debate, much of the disagreement comes down to whether the advantages of a certain material are collectively better than the advantages of a different material, rather than one being inherently superior.
Why Are Composite Bats A Good Option?
Composite bats can be made from a variety of materials that exist in different amounts, depending on the decisions the manufacturer makes. Usually, composite bats consist primarily of carbon fiber with fiberglass and graphite mixed in. This results in an incredibly sturdy bat that also happens to be incredibly lightweight.
Composite bats tend to be the recommended choice of bat for people who are just starting out playing baseball. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that composite tends to have limited vibration ability, meaning there’s less sting in a batter’s hand when they hit, or lightly graze, a ball.
Secondly, the extremely lightweight nature of composite also means that bats can be longer without making them too heavy to maintain effectiveness. The longer a bat is, the greater the surface area, meaning there’s a lesser chance that you will miss a ball. Composite bats also have the advantage of being more durable than other bat varieties.
Why Are The Advantages of Alloy Bats?
Similar to composite bats, alloy bats tend to be a combination of various materials; in the case of alloy, aluminum is the primary element used, with a couple of other metals mixed in to improve strength or a similar attribute.
Overall, aluminum bats are much more durable than wooden bats but are still pretty affordable. They also tend to be largely weather-proof; they don’t rust easily, making them a good choice in wet weather, and they also don’t experience damage in cold weather.
Which One Is Better?
Which type of bat is better is heavily dependent on what kind of person is doing the batting and what kind of role they want the bat to play. Composite bats are much more of a specialty item in that they can greatly assist in people who are inexperienced in the game, but, like a lot of specialty items, they tend to be quite costly and have some fragility issues.
In the case of composite, the extreme cold tends to cause breakage, so its use has to be limited to certain environments. Aluminum bats have a general purpose, by contrast. You can use them in pretty much any weather, they’re pretty standard as far as bats go and tend to be on the more affordable side.
Which One Should You Go With?
Baseball is a great game that can bring people together and create unforgettable memories. However, it’s not necessarily something you can just get involved in without a little preparation.
What kind of bat you have at your disposal is going to have a significant impact on the quality of your game. Which one is best is going to depend heavily on your play style and level of experience.
