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The first major difference between an alumnium baseball bat and a wooden one is how they are manufactured. An aluminum baseball bat is made with a metal material, usually an aluminum alloy or aluminum mixed with composite materials. A wooden bat is made from a hardwood, typically ash or maple.
An aluminum bat is made by fitting a cut sheet of metal onto a forming tube. The bat's handle is then usually made of of composite materials with a rubberize grip.
A wooden bat is made by shaping a solid piece of wood into the shape of a bat, and there is typically no grip applied on the handle. -
An aluminum bat weighs significantly less than a wooden bat. Aluminum bats, which are used in college and high school baseball, will have a drop of -3, meaning the bat's weight is three ounces less than the bat's length. For example a 34-inch bat will weigh 31 ounces. In youth baseball, the bat's drop can be as high as -12 or -13. In such cases, a 30-inch bat will weigh 17 or 18 ounces.
Wooden bats, which are used exclusively in professional baseball, typically have an equal length-to-weight ratio or the weight is heavier than the length. For example a 35-inch wooden bat will usually weight anywhere from 35 to 37 ounces depending on the batter's preference.
The cores of the two types of bats are also different. A wooden bat has a solid core while an aluminum bat usually has a hollow core. The handles also vary with a wooden bat having a ticker handle and an aluminum bat having a thinner handle. -
A baseball hit with a wooden bat will travel anywhere from 25 to 50 feet less than a ball hit with an aluminum bat. This is because a batter can generate more bat speed with the lighter aluminum bat than with the heavier wooden bat. The ball travels faster off the aluminum bat and thus travels further.
An aluminum bat will last longer than a wooden bat, which is prone to breaking and splintering especially when a ball is hit off the handle. While aluminum bats typically will not break or shatter, they can develop cracks or dents over time.
