Aluminum or wooden bats ?

edmundfitzgerald

Do colleges still use aluminum bats ?

I remember watching a few years ago and wondering why colleges could use aluminum bats and
pros couldn't. Does anyone know why ?

I used aluminum in little league. Loved the sound of the ting when the ball hit it. In high school I switched to wooden, and those cold March practices would make the hands shake on an inside fastball. Legion ball was wooden too. I wonder why I never saw an aluminum bat in high school. Maybe they were outlawed for safety reasons. Maybe not. But I surely remember college kids using them for many years. Just doesn't make sense to me. Anyone know why ?

perkdog

I think they modified the aluminum bats awhile ago, I didnt know they completely stopped using them. The ball comes off metal bats so fast even the best position players have nearly enough time to react at times.

PROMETHIUS88

Although it was 20 years ago, we used aluminum bats in high scool. As far as I know, aluminum is still used in college ball as well. I was watching USC vs Southern tonight and they were using aluminum. As to why they don't use them in the pros, I really think it all comes down to tradition. The pros have always used wood...since metal/alloy bats of course weren't available way back when. The fences would have to be moved back another 100 feet if they did and that would just cost owners way to much money. It actually had been discussed at one point in time, and I really do believe that the safety issue is the main reason why they are not used. Just imagine Barry all juiced up using a titanium bat.... no need for the boats in the Cove, the balls would be landing in Oakland!

Goot

Aluminum is used at every level untill the pros and obviously wood bat leagues. One of the key reasons behind it that I've heard, is the fact that you can buy an aluminum bat and it'll last for a season and maybe more before needing replaced (literally lose their "pop") but wood breaks easier and the costs of a NICE wood bat and an aluminum bat are not all that different. This makes it more affordable to play little league, etc. That's just one of the reason's that I've heard but I may be wrong.

I have personally seen an aluminum bat explode (they don't just break) at a camp before, and it could get nasty with those things.

perkdog

Another type of material used for bats ( mainly Softball ) is called "Composite" This stuff has just as much if not more pop than aluminum bats ever did.

Carew29

Juan preferred wood...........

Beck6

I played a little college ball several years ago and at that time they made a change in the aluminum bat rules. They modified the size allowed for the barrel and the length to weight ratios allowed. There was even talk of switching to wood bats, but my understanding is that Easton threw a fit and the NCAA backed down. The new aluminum alloy bats we used didn't make it through a full season. We cracked most and even ripped a hole in one. At $300/bat that wasn't any cheaper than wood.

Dockwalliper

Aluminum bats started out as a cost saver but have been blamed for several deaths. (The coach in Tulsa last July comes to mind)
They are still OK for little league but become a danger as players get older and bigger. The local cathloic HS league went to all wood several years ago.

Goot

<< <i> The new aluminum alloy bats we used didn't make it through a full season. We cracked most and even ripped a hole in one. At $300/bat that wasn't any cheaper than wood. >>



You played college baseball. I was talking about little league. Of course an aluminum bat is going to break down with 90 mph fastballs coming at it.

F1ferrari

I was an oddball, but I played high school ball with a wood bat. I could hit with either, and probably hit for more power with a aluminum bat, but to me it didn't have the 'feel' that I could get with a wood bat. I can't remember how many bats I went through in HS, but it wasn't too many in 4 years, but we weren't playing 30+ games, more like a dozen or so.

A few years back the UT Vols baseball team played the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs AA) agreed to play an exhibition game in the springfor 3 or 4 years. The Vols used aluminum bats and the Smokies used wood bats. The Smokies clobbered them every year they played, the best my memory serves me.

bigfische

I have always thought every level should use the same bats. Using metal bats in high school would be like using nerf balls in football to me.

sagard

College went to a 2 5/8 barrel and a "-3" differential in ounces and inches. It did restore a lot of balance to the game which was being dominated by hitters. I retired just as the bats were getting really scary. I don't like seeing some of the stuff they let kids use. Minnesota Baseball (town ball) converted entirely to wood in the last five years. It's a pretty divided issue at the high school level around here.

BobaFett72

i've had one composite bat explode on me. a GENESIS model, really knocks the heck out of the ball. I use a 34" 30 oz. Slows down my swing a bit... the Genesis is made from a composite graphite/ Kevlar mixture.

If you use it under 55 degrees it will crack. Also if you use it in batting cages it weakens the barrel (against the plastic/rubber balls)

I learned the hard way not to take it to the cages...the next day using it in a game I ripped the ball down the line (hit the outfield fence) but the barrel splintered and exploded. oops!