Wooden Bats versus Metal Bats in Baseball - Essay Example

Wooden Bats versus Metal Bats in Baseball Introduction Using a wooden bat or a metal bat has always been a conflict-ridden issue for baseball players. Wooden versus metal bat debate is not new for the hitters and baseball fans, who love to discuss what kind of bat is more suitable for a bigger hit. Though major league players do not have to worry about this debate as they essentially have to play with a wooden bat, the controversy holds great importance for minor league baseball players or high school players, who love to play with metal bats. Both types of bats have their unique worth. Thus, keeping in mind the properties of both bats, there are some differences that make one type of bats preferable in one situation over another. Weight Wooden bats Wooden bats are heavier than metal bats because they are solid, and that is why they require more effort to sway than aluminum bats. They also have a smaller sweet spot due to which the hit remains within range, i.e., the hit zone is small. In other words, the weight in wooden bats is concentrated far from hands, or in other words, the center of gravity lies in the barrel. Thus, the swing weight is higher, which keeps the ball within range and means that the ball will not go much farther. Metal Bats Metal bats are hollow from within. A metal bat is lighter because of a larger sweet spot (Zumerchik 52), and the weight is concentrated very close to the hands, which will make the hit swing much higher as the swing weight is lower. A ball thrown at a higher or faster pace will also go farther. Safety Wooden Bats Wooden bats are safer than metal bats because the exit speed of the ball is much slower in case of wooden bats. Thus, the ball comes off with slow speed, which is good as it reduces the danger of injury if the ball hits another player or pitcher. Also, there is no chance that the bat will get tossed away from the hands of the player. This is why major league baseball authorities endorse the use of wooden bats, considering the hit power of the professional players. Metal Bats Metal bats, as they are lighter, can easily get tossed away to injure another player. Also, the larger sweet spot in case of metal bats causes larger exit speed of the ball, i.e., the ball will jump off faster, which could injure anybody within the hit zone very seriously. There have been many unfortunate events in the past, in which players or spectators got injured due to this issue, as the Associated Press states, “A New Jersey teenager left brain-damaged after being struck by a line drive while playing in a youth baseball game will receive $14.5 million to settle his lawsuit against the bat manufacturer, a sporting goods chain and Little League Baseball” (par. 1). Minor leagues have also banned the use of metal bats for very young children, and for older children, it has set size limit of the bat. Compression Wooden Bats A wooden bat, due to its solid mass and non-flexibility as compared to a metal bat, does not compress when the ball hits it. Hence, there is no issue of compression of the bat; however, compression of the ball occurs. Metal Bats Contrarily, in the case of a metal bat, when the ball hits the bat, it causes the bat to compress, which has a negative effect on the exit speed of the ball, though the exit speed is enhanced by the center of gravity being placed near the handle. This is also called the trampoline effect. Cost Wooden Bats Wooden bats are normally cheaper as compared to aluminum bats. A wooden bat can be as cheap as $50, while the cheapest metal bat will be above $150. However, wooden bats tend to be expensive because they need repeated replacements as they break very often. Therefore, wooden bats, despite their advantages and low price, are heavier on the pocket because of frequent replacements, which makes these bats not a favorite among minor league players who are concerned with their budget and financial savings more than major league players. Metal Bats Metal bats become dented at the most, which is reparable. They are expensive once they are bought, but,one does not have to keep replacing them because they do not break off. That is why metal bats are recommended in high schools and minor leagues as they require low maintenance and thus, are lighter on the budget. Conclusion Major league baseball makes the players use wooden bats due to their certain advantages over metal bats. High school baseball involving minor leagues go for metal bats due to their unique properties. Wooden bats are heavier in weight, are safer for the pitchers, and are affordable in price. These properties make wooden bats a favorite with major league players, whereas metal bats are a favorite with high school and minor league players because they provide a larger hit zone, are lighter, and are easier to handle. Both kinds of bats have their advantages, but wooden bats win because these offer a much safer baseball game, which is very important when it comes to major league games. Works Cited The Associated Press. “Lawsuit Over Use of Metal Bats in Youth Baseball Is Settled.” N.Y./Region. The New York Times, 2012. Web. 26 Feb 2013. . Zumerchik, John. “Aluminum versus Wooden Bats.” Encyclopedia of Sports Science, Volume 1. USA: Macmillan Library Reference USA, 1997. Print. Read More