The Different Types of Baseball Bats

It used to be that baseball bats were constructed of a single material: wood. However, as time has gone on, baseball and softball bats have been made of different materials. With this article, we will take a look at the different types of baseball bats.

The earliest baseball bats were made from wood. Wooden bats remain common today, because they're the rule in professional baseball and even some amateur leagues. Louisville Slugger is probably the most popular wood bat creators on the planet.

There are actually a couple of core types of wood that are used for these bats; ash and maple. Ash is regarded as the most used. Northern White Ash has its own unique texture and look and has been used for many years. But, a bug, the emerald ash borer, has produced a lot of issues for ash bat producers in the last few years, destroying tens of millions of ash trees in the state of Michigan by itself, and many millions more in Canada and the Northern/Midwestern states.

Maple bats have gained popularity in the majors in recent years. The maple bats are stiffer than their ash bat brothers. But, splintering has been a problem, as the bat handles are usually made with a smaller diameter. More and more major and minor leaguers are swinging maple bats today.

Bamboo has entered upon the scene lately as well. Recognized for being lighter and a more resilient bat, batters are beginning to grab this "green" wood as a viable option. The same can be stated for birch bats also. Birch bats are said to be tougher than ash, and more bendable than maple.

Because of Easton’s launch of the aluminum bat in 1969, the amateur game went down an unfamiliar path. Metal bats are lighter and increase the distance more than wooden bats. Rockets sailed out of the ballyards at a dizzying pace. Runs were scored in bunches, also. The majority of youth associations have used the metal bats for a number of years.

However, composite baseball bats have entered upon the landscape in the 21st century. They are made out of the same aluminum outer shell, but possess a graphite layer within the hull. This gives the composite bat a lighter weight and increased trampoline effect on the batted ball.

On account of this greater trampoline effect, associations, including Little League Baseball, have put a freeze on composite bats. Furthermore, it also created a brand new rule in the NCAA. Composite bats now have to meet the BBCOR standard. The National Federation of High Schools is also establishing the BBCOR standard with the 2012 season. Thus, it will be essential that baseball bats adhere to the BBCOR standard of .50 or less and be stamped with the BBCOR logo to be legal.

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