BENEFITS OF WOOD
YOU’LL GET STRONGER:
Swinging a heavier wood bat repeatedly will quickly develop muscles in the hands, wrists, and forearms that wouldn’t otherwise be developed swinging lighter metal. The hitter will become stronger, and so will his (or her) swing.
TEACHES FUNDAMENTALS:
With a metal bat, players can hit the ball effectively using just their arms, but this isn’t sound technique. Wood bats force you to learn how to use your entire body, including your legs and hips, to develop a proper and fundamentally sound swing.
BETTER FEEL AND OVERALL APPROACH:
Wood bats sharpen your skills and give you a better feel for hitting – literally. The smaller sweet spot forces hitters to feel the barrel’s sweet spot more and helps them focus on better mechanics, pitch selection, and overall approach. They don’t reward mis-hits (trust us, that’s a good thing!) or leave you guessing between what’s a good hit and a bad hit. They’re brutally honest in terms of where you are as a hitter, and that kind of tough love is exactly what you need to be the best.
HELPS YOU IN THE LONG RUN:
If you swing metal for too long, you can develop bad habits that will be difficult to break. That’s problematic once you run into better pitchers, which is inevitable as you get older. So if you’re planning on playing beyond youth leagues, to high school, college, and maybe even the professional ranks, then start swinging a wood bat as soon as you can. It will positively affect your performance at the plate in both the short- and long-term.
TYPES OF WOOD
ASH:
Ash is the lightest wood and has a looser grain structure (i.e. more space between grains). This makes the wood less hard. It’s also important because grain structure significantly impacts performance. In the case of ash, the space between the grains allows more compression upon contact, creating a trampoline effect. The looser grains allow the wood to flex on contact, then expand with the force on the ball, sending it into flight. The looser grains make ash the most forgiving wood with the largest sweet spot, but also make them more susceptible to flaking or chipping with heavy use.
MAPLE:
Maple is a naturally heavier wood. It’s also harder and more dense than ash due to its tight grain structure (i.e. not much space between grains). Because of this, it does not flex, but the tighter grains cause a higher energy transfer on contact, resulting in greater power, velocity, and distance. However, because the grains are so tight, the sweet spot on the barrel is not as large. The result is more mis-hits, making maple a little less forgiving. Still, it remains the preferred wood for most professional players.
BAMBOO:
Bamboo actually derives from the grass family, but don’t let that fool you. It’s incredibly strong, and when strips of it are pressed together, like they are during the manufacturing of bamboo bats, it has a greater tensile strength than steel. This enables them to take a lot of mis-hits without breaking, making them very durable and a popular choice for batting practice. Bamboo bats are also typically lighter weight and less expensive than maple or ash. Plus, they last longer, so win-win!
COMPOSITE WOOD:
Composite wood bats perform similarly to standard wood bats but generally last longer, making them another good candidate for batting practice/cage use. Instead of a single-piece of wood, they offer some combination: a bamboo bat wrapped in a composite shell, a bamboo core with maple veneer, a composite handle with a maple or ash barrel. But they still feel like wood. They’re also great for players transitioning or are new to wood bats.
