Difference Between Composite & Non Composite Bats

For many years there were two types of baseball bats used in the United States, wooden and aluminum. However, composite bats have been commercially available since the mid-2000s and used primarily by non-professionals. They are lightweight and offer more power on the ball, increasing the distance of a hit. Additionally, they improve in quality through use. However, they also offer an unfair advantage and many leagues outlaw them.

  1. What is a Composite Bat?

    • A composite bat typically has an aluminum shell and at first glance looks very much like a regular aluminum bat. However, it has a lighter core made either from woven graphite or an aluminum core wrapped in graphite. The bat therefore is lighter making it easier to swing and can accommodate a larger barrel and thus offer a greater area for surface contact. For these reasons, many players covet them.

    What is a Non-Composite Bat?

    • Technically, a non-composite bat refers to any bat made from a single type of source material. This can be a traditional wooden bat which is usually made of a hardwood like hickory, maple, or most commonly, white ash. Aluminum alloy bats are also considered non-composite. These were introduced in the 1970s and are both stronger and lighter than wooden bats. Aluminum bats are used in both high school and college league play as well as little leagues.

    The "Break In" Factor and Rolling

    • One special feature of composite bats is that they get better with use. A composite bat begins to function best after hitting 100 to150 baseballs. To speed up the process, many players have started "rolling" the bats to simulate wear. Similar to the process of breaking in a baseball glove running a car over it, rolling a bat puts the bat under pressure between two wheels. Bats can even be rolled professionally for a fee.

    The Composite Bat Controversy

    • In 2009, the NCAA outlawed composite bats for league play for several reasons. The bats have a trampoline effect and send the ball back out into the field 20% faster. This makes the ball a more dangerous projectile for pitchers who may not have time to react. It also means offensive numbers were inflated when composite bats were in use, giving an unfair advantage to teams that could afford them.