Composite vs. Aluminum Bats: Which is Better? - Top Bats
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Aluminum bats for power hitters / Composite bats for contact hitters
which bat is best for me?
Ever since youth baseball has moved on from wooden bats, there have been ongoing innovations in the bat a player chooses to use. The most common youth and BBCOR bat models are aluminum (alloy) and composite bats.
Both types offer a different variety of pros and cons, as well as a fluctuating price range. Both aluminum and composite bats can provide a rewarding experience depending on the type of hitter one is. While the performance is similar, the features differ greatly.
When you’re looking for the best baseball bat, first follow this composite vs. aluminum bat guide to pick the right model for you.
What is an Aluminum Baseball Bat?
Marucci’s Cat aluminum BBCOR bat series
Aluminum baseball bats, also referred to as alloy bats, first came around as a substitute for wooden bats. They provided higher performance and durability compared to a wood bat.
They offered a different swinging experience to wooden models, improved bat speed, and provided substantial pop. Alloy bats are used almost exclusively in little league, competitive youth baseball, high school, and collegiate leagues. Minor and major leagues still use wooden bat models made of ash, bamboo, and hickory.
Aluminum bats are still a popular metal bat choice today, despite more advanced technologies introduced by carbon fiber composites.
There are two different types: single-walled and double-walled barrels. Instead of the crack of the wooden bat, aluminum bats give off a distinct “ping” sound upon contact. Soon after their introduction into youth baseball, aluminum bats quickly overtook wood bats in popularity for their durability, more comfortable grip, and quicker bat speed. An alloy barrel
Aluminum alloy bats commonly have an end-loaded swing weight and one-piece construction. These can feel heavier and not as balanced as their composite counterparts. This makes an aluminum bat a great choice for a power hitter. A one-piece alloy barrel’s slower movement through the zone upon contact makes the ball go a long, long way.
Aluminum alloy bats are made with a variety of different metals, each with distinct traits such as the density of the alloy and length of the bat. One can assume the more expensive the bat, the higher quality it is, even if this is not always true. When buying an aluminum bat, you may notice cheaper models losing durability and value over a shorter time than a market value bat. Nonetheless, aluminum bats are often more affordable than composites with similar upside.
What is a Composite Baseball Bat?
A youth baseball composite bat from Easton, the GHOST X
A composite baseball bat is made out of reinforced carbon fiber polymer materials, providing a bat with less density and considerably bigger pop in most cases than an alloy bat. Similar to aluminum bats, composites are created using a wide variety of different carbon fiber materials, each offering a unique component to make up the durable barrel and large sweet spot.
A notable difference in this type of bat is the trampoline effect, or when the ball “jumps” off the bat after contact. When the barrel material is softer, the ball will leave the bat faster (due to the baseball retaining the energy from the pitcher). A composite bat material can be manipulated to be softer to create a higher trampoline effect than an aluminum alloy or wood bat.
Because composite models are lighter in weight than alloy, resulting in faster bat speed and a higher percentage of “squared up” balls. Further, composite bats help to reduce the sting that players experience with aluminum and wood bats. If you hit it off the end-cap or handle of the bat, it is less likely to hurt your hands.
Due to the carbon fiber makeup of composite bats, there will be no “ping” noise when contact is made with the baseball. The sound mimics more of a wood bat but performance far exceeds with its larger sweet spot and premium materials. They are made in both one and two-piece construction.
The swing weight, or how heavy the bat feels when swinging, can be changed quite easily in composite bats. Often times composite models have a balanced (rather than end-loaded) swing weight. This makes it friendly for contact hitters looking for a high batting average and on-base percentage. Due to this weight distribution, composite bats can feel lighter than wood and alloy bats.
A feature of composite baseball bats is a ‘break-in period’. After around 300-500 hits with a new composite bat, a batter will begin to see its full potential for power and trampoline effect. If the batter is not used to the weight distribution and feel of composites, the ‘breaking in’ sessions should help batter comfort levels.
Composite baseball and softball bats are also known to react to specific temperatures, sometimes resulting in decreased performance in colder climates.
Composite bats are usually more expensive than aluminum models because of their extraordinarily lightweight frame and massive pop that comes with it. The value of a composite bat may vary, though, as the buyer must take into account the “breaking in period,” as well as colder weather, which may lead to cracks or dents. It is probably more important to pay close to market value for a composite than aluminum, because of these possible drawbacks.
Aluminum vs. Composite BBCOR bats
A hybrid bat model from 2020 by DeMarini – “The Goods”
One of the most attractive characteristics for high school players in BBCOR bats is “pop,” or the raw exit velocity or power when making solid contact on the bat’s sweet spot. It is widely agreed that composite bats have a slightly better pop than their alloy counterparts. Also, because of the carbon fiber materials, the vibration control when making contact with the ball makes hitting a ball off the end or handle more forgiving.
Top bat makers like Easton, DeMarini, Marucci, and Louisville Slugger have increased their composite bat production over the years as more players reach for more composite and hybrid models. Composite bats tend to fit a balanced hitter profile (singles and extra-base hits) while aluminum BBCOR’s are trending upwards for power hitters.
Check out some of our favorite BBCOR bat reviews:
Aluminum model: Marucci Posey28 (2020)
Composite model: Rawlings Pro Metal (2020)
However, aluminum baseball bats are known to have better grip and control while also being more durable. You will not have to worry about such factors as cold weather with an aluminum bat, making storage and transportation easier. There is also no “breaking in” period with alloy models.
It is safe to say an aluminum bat would be our choice for a hitter that values consistency and durability, with more potential to last longer.
As metal bat construction has progressed, hybrid bats have risen in popularity. A hybrid baseball bat features both composite and aluminum materials, such as a composite handle and an alloy barrel. This is also referred to as a two-piece bat when it is made out of two different materials.
A hybrid bat construction can be an advantage when utilizing positive qualities of composite and aluminum material while minimizing the downsides of each.
Composite vs Aluminum Bats Conclusion
When looking to buy a baseball or softball bat, it is critical to understand the performance differences in composite bats vs. aluminum bats. While both types of bats have pros and cons, the choice will come down to what kind of hitter it is to maximize potential.
A hitter that values big pop and comfort when it comes to vibration will most likely excel with a composite. However, a hitter that values bat speed and durability, while not having to deal with the risks of weather degradation, should choose an aluminum model. Aluminum bats will generally be cheaper than their composite counterparts, making it an excellent choice for players on a budget.
from BatSmash
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