Aluminum Softball Bat Review and News!
Aluminum Softball Bats have been a player favorite for quite a few years now!
The primary reason for this is that Aluminum Bats are lighter weight which helps to increase control and bat speed. In addition, Aluminum Bats offer extended durability.
Even though these bats tend to cost much more, players can save money over the long haul because they are extremely difficult to crack or break.
Aluminum Softball Bat Reviews
Aluminum Bats come in quite a few variety of alloys or metals and each have a different weight. Basically, the lighter aluminums are thinner and much more durable. Lighter weights also increase the "sweet spot" - or the hitting zone that gives the maximum place to put metal to ball. Single layer and double layer construction in bats are usually enhanced by other alloys. The double layer increases power and durability.
Bat Technology
There are 3 basic pieces of information you need to understand bat technology
- Barrel Size - This is both the length and diameter of the top part of the bat
- Bat Taper - Diameter of the bat handle
- Grip - Covering over the bat handle
How to Buy a Softball Bat?
The type and brand of softball bat you purchase is very much a personal decision. But, there are several guidelines that should always be followed when choosing your bat. Although age is used by some to determine which bat to choose, height and weight are usually better to indicators of which will work best for you or your child.
Fast Pitch Softball Video
Advantages of Aluminum Bats Over Wood and Composite Bats
Players have been enjoying the performance and value benefits of aluminum softball bats for decades now, and with ongoing advances in alloy technology and design innovation there is more reason than ever to select aluminum over wood or composite.
Aluminum versus Wood:
Wood bats have their place in the world. Major League baseball would not be the game we love without the crack of the bat and the balanced game that wood offers. But when it comes to softball, wood bats simply do not measure up. Wood will not perform on the softball diamond because the ball is less dense and it absorbs more of the contact than in baseball. There isn’t enough pop in wood bats to overcome that fact and produce a balance between offense and defense.
Another reason the performance of wood bats suffers versus aluminum is that wood bats are heavier because they must be solid. A 33 inch wood bat, for example, will weigh anywhere from 30 to 33 ounces. The same aluminum bat might weigh as little as 22 or 23 ounces. That huge difference in weight means that bat speeds can be markedly higher with aluminum. Because high-tech aluminum alloy bats are also harder than wood the ball speed off the barrel is much higher with aluminum softball bats when coupled with the higher bat speed. And because the barrel of an aluminum bat is thin a trampoline effect is produced when the bat compresses, storing energy, and then releasing it into the ball as the contact is completed.
In terms of performance for the hitter the lighter aluminum softball bat will also be easier to control than a wood bat. More control equals better contact. This is especially true when the hitter must make adjustments in the course of their swing – they are much easier to make with a lightweight aluminum stick.
In addition, wood bats may be cheaper off the rack in many cases but their lifespan is often significantly shorter than a durable aluminum bat. They may crack, chip or break, and with time the finish will wear off, making them susceptible to the elements.
In head to head competition aluminum is a clear winner over wood.
Aluminum versus Composite:
Composite bat technology has improved quite a bit since the introduction of the first composite bats several years ago. They are now harder than early models and they feature a trampoline effect similar to aluminum bats. In addition, they are lightweight like aluminum for increased bat speeds.
However, there are still significant issues with composite bats that give aluminum the clear advantage.
First of all, composite bats need a significantly long break in period to reach optimum effectiveness. Most experts suggest it requires 150-200 solid hits before a composite bat is ready for game action. Most players simply won’t take the batting practice time to break in the bat and it will underachieve for them perhaps for an entire season or longer! If you purchase a used composite bat you have no way of knowing whether or not it has been broken in, so you’ll have to take the time to log enough BP hits to be sure.
Secondly, there are serious durability issues with composite bats. In a test done at the University of Massachusetts half of the composite bats tested broke before they were properly broken in. Those that did not break showed only slight performance advantages over aluminum, not enough difference for most players to even notice.
Thirdly, composite bats still have the reputation for underperforming in cold weather, which may also make them susceptible to breaking.
Aluminum softball bats have a distinct advantage over composite when it comes to price. Top of the line aluminum bats can be found for under $200, with the most expensive still costing less than $300. And very good aluminum bats are available for under $100. This is simply not the case with composite. Top composite bats cost more than $300 and there is no composite in the $75 to $200 range that can compare with very good aluminum softball bats in this range.
Today’s best choice for softball players at all levels continues to be an aluminum softball bat. They combine performance and value that is simply unbeatable.
