How to Compare Wooden & Aluminum Baseball Bats

Deciding between a wooden and an aluminum bat will ultimately come down to personal preference. When comparing the two types of bats, you have to consider the actual batter and what he is capable of.

  1. Bat Weight

    • When comparing aluminum bats to wooden bats, the most glaring difference is the weight. Aluminum bats are lighter mostly because they are hollow. The lighter aluminum bat allows a batter to not only swing the bat faster than a wooden bat, but also make adjustments while swinging.

    Batter Strength and Skill

    • Comparing aluminum bats to wooden bats without considering the potential batter is not a good idea. According to Ask A Scientist, a batter who is skilled enough to read a ball and make only minor or no adjustments and strong enough to swing a wooden bat quickly will hit a ball further than with an aluminum bat.

    Considerations

    • Aluminum bats are very versatile but come with controversy. According to Kettering University, aluminum bats have been used largely in youth and amateur adult baseball. Some organizations have banned the use of aluminum bats, while others have sought to legally ban the bats because the higher ball speeds resulting from aluminum bat use puts pitchers and infield players in harm's way.