It is generally difficult to categorize exactly what is the composite bat. Composite bat refers specifically to a type of baseball bat which constructed from composite material. Composite bats may use composite material either in barrel alone or in the construction of the entire bat.
A notable feature of composite bats is that they come with a great trampoline effect. So when the ball bends the wall of the composite bat’s barrel upon impact, the wall rebounds and pushed the ball farther. This effects in composite bats increases over time so that older composite bats which have been well used offer better performance than brand new bats.
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What’s good about composite bats?
Composite bats are generally considered top-performing baseball bats. They outperform both wooden and alloy bats in terms of performance. They may be slightly on the pricier side but as a standard rule, players who top the charts in scoring usually wield a composite bats. Some prominent advantages of using a composite bats are as follows:
- Better Trampoline Effect: Composite bats may not have a great trampoline effect at the time of unwrapping. In fact, aluminum bats carry a better trampoline effect at the moment of unwrapping. But composite bats need some period to break in the barrel. Once this is done, the performance of the bat’s barrel reaches its peak. At this time, the barrel of a composite bat offers more trampoline effect than the barrel of any other kind of bat. Since composite material is synthetically manufactured, the companies creating composite bats can choose to use such material which will offer greater trampoline effect. This flexibility has enabled the composite bats to lead the industry in terms of barrel brilliance.
- Less Sting: Baseball players feel ‘sting’ on their hands when the ball hits the bat outside the barrel’s sweet spot. Sting typically are rapid vibrations which travel down the length of the barrel and enter the handle to the hands of the player. Composite bats are usually manufactured from such material which minimizes any vibrations traveling down the barrel. As a result, the power of these vibrations are generally redirected back into the barrel. The result is that players using composite bats do not have to face any sting and the power of vibrations is simply added to their impact. The advantage of this is that even when a player is unable to hit the bat with the sweet part of the barrel, he doesn’t have to face any sting or unpleasant vibrations on the handle.
- Bat balance: Most often, baseball players prefer bats which are balanced. This means that their weight is evenly distributed along the length of the weight. A balanced bat helps the player swing it with ease and precision. Bats made from other materials such as wood and alloy can also be balanced, but composite bats are most perfectly balanced. This is because they are manufactured from materials which can be easily manipulated. The result is that the composite bats, in comparison to other types of bats, are very well balanced and light enough for speedy swinging.
Composite bats vs Aluminum bats
One of the closest contenders of composite bats are aluminum bats. Aluminum bats are generally light-weight and constructed with single-walled barrels. This gives them great speed and their barrels offers greater flex bend. On the other hand, composite bats are both light-weight and more solid.
Many composite bats are equipped with multi-walled barrels. This gives them greater flex bend capabilities than aluminum bats. Moreover, the weight of the composite bats is comparatively better balanced. This allows the playersto wield them with greater control and ease. Another major advantage that composite bats have over aluminum bats is that they are more durable.
While aluminum bats may get damaged and bend before soon, composite bats continue to perform great without sustaining any damage over multiple seasons. So while composite bats may be quite pricey in comparison, they are worth their price in terms of the sheer number of seasons they last.
Breaking in the composite bat
Unlike alloy and wooden bats, composite bats are not ready for their full potential right out of the wraps. They need to be broken in before they start giving their 100%. To accomplish this, a player needs to swing an estimated 150 to 200 shots before the composite bats is broken in. To break in the bat, a simple baseball should be used at a below-average pitch speed.
At the same time, the bat should be rotated 1/4 after each of these practice shots so that the barrel all around is tuned and broken in. Once the bat is broken in, you will see that the barrel will send a ball away at higher speeds upon impact. The overall performance of the bat may increase manifold after this break in period. A player can generally achieve the break-in point of a composite barrel within an hour or two of swinging.
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