A baseball game has been around for centuries, and it is one of America’s most beloved sports. The game has undergone significant changes over the years, from players to equipment. One of the most significant changes was the introduction of metal bats, which revolutionized the game and made it even more exciting. When did this change take place?
When did baseball start using metal bats?
It was in 1974 that college baseball switched from wooden bats to metal bats, which are still used today. In addition to reducing costs, which are significantly higher than wood bats, it was also implemented in order to increase the game’s offense, which was stagnant at the time. The result of this change was almost immediately an increase in the number of runs scored in a game, which prompted the change to be implemented almost immediately.
As a coach at State University of New York at Brockport from 1972 to 1974, he remembers his players using metal bats. When it came to practical applications, the switch to metal was primarily made for practicality. Due to the fact that wooden bats were easily broken, teams would often run out of bats during games because they were simple to break.
What are most metal bats made of?
A metal bat is typically made with aluminum alloy, a combination of aluminum and other metals like copper, zinc, and magnesium. Besides being lightweight and effective at transferring energy to the ball, aluminum alloy is also a very durable material, so it will last for a long time. Recreational and professional players alike prefer aluminum alloy bats because they are more cost-effective than other materials.
In today’s bats, a wide range of materials are used to maximize performance. It has been around for a long time that wooden bats are made from ash, bamboo, birch, composite, hickory, and maple. A metal bat has distinct advantages and disadvantages compared to wood, including strength, weight, and flexibility, but it is a great alternative to wood for high-performance players. As metal bats can absorb and withstand more force than wooden bats, they make excellent power hitters, as well as being more durable and resilient than wooden bats. As metal bats become more common, they become stronger as a result of their fighting spirit. In other words, the more damage the bat takes and the more often it’s “engaged” in action, the stronger it becomes. As a result, metal bats are a very good choice for any player who wants to maximize their performance while also maximizing their game.
Wooden Bats Vs. Aluminum
Aluminum Bats
As opposed to wooden bats, aluminum bats have a lighter weight, which allows them to swing faster and hit the ball farther. Additionally, aluminum bats have larger barrels and a larger sweet spot, where you can actually hit a baseball. As a result, your hitting percentage will increase, resulting in an increase in your batting average. Aluminum bats have a trampoline effect. As the ball strikes, the thin aluminum flexes and transfers energy to it. This effect increases the speed and distance of the hits, which is why aluminum bats are banned in major league baseball. The MLB wants performance to be based on ability, not technology. A major advantage of aluminum bats is their durability.
Wooden Bats
It is much harder to hit a baseball with a wooden bat, because it is heavier and has a smaller sweet spot. To make contact, your swing must be more accurate. However, practicing with a wooden bat can help you improve your hitting performance. By practicing with a wooden bat, you will be more aware of the strike zone and more disciplined at the plate. The disadvantage of wooden bats is that they usually break. As wooden bats have a large barrel and thin handle, they tend to snap if the ball hits the wrong part.
Top 5 Metal Baseball Bats Brands
DeMarini Voodoo One Baseball Bat
- DeMarini 2023 Voodoo One Gold (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat – 29″/26oz
- X14 Alloy Barrel: A massive alloy barrel designed specifically for elite power hitters
- Tracer End Cap: Composed of lightweight composite materials to enhance bat speed while maintaining powerful barrel performance.
- One-Piece Construction: Allows for maximum stiffness, ultimate bat speed, and an ultra responsive feel
- Reinforced Knob: Formed with composite materials for improved handling and swing speeds.
Marucci CATX Baseball Bat
With a finely tuned barrel profile, you get a bigger sweet spot, more performance, and faster swings, while with a more balanced design, you get faster swings. In order to reduce and absorb vibrations like never before, the knob was designed to provide a smooth, solid feel during contact.
Louisville Slugger Meta Baseball Bat
In 2023, Louisville Slugger Meta (-8) USSSA Bat brings gapped wall barrel technology to USSSA baseball. A low compression outer barrel improves performance, regardless of swing speed, while a stiff inner wall enhances power potential for emerging travel ball stars. Three-piece design with vibration dampening VCX2 Connection System and GT1 End Cap.
DeMarini The Goods Baseball Bat
- X14 Alloy Barrel: A massive alloy barrel designed specifically for elite power hitters.
- One-Piece Construction: Allows for maximum stiffness, ultimate bat speed, and a feeling similar to wood bats
- Tremor End Cap: Redesigned with stronger materials to maintain barrel integrity and optimize power.
Louisville Slugger Select PWR
- 2023 Louisville Slugger Select PWR (-3) BBCOR Baseball Bat – 31″/28 oz
- EXD Premium Alloy Barrel: A half-inch longer than that of traditional BBCOR models, giving you a larger, yet incredibly responsive sweet spot
- SPD-Gen2 End Cap: NEW SPD-Gen2 End Cap designed to optimize barrel performance.
- 3FX-PWR Connection System: Updated 3FX-PWR Connection System provides unmatched comfort without sacrificing stiffness for better energy transfer.
- Premium LS Pro Comfort Grip: Designed to give players added tack and cushion to improve feel and bat control through the zone
