Composite Vs Alloy Bats Which Bat Is Better?

If you are new to baseball you probably do not know the whole rivalry between composite and alloy bats. Some people swear by alloy bats while others are team composite all the way.

So which bat is better? There is no short answer so we decided to put these two types of bats up against each other to find out which one is worth it for a good game of baseball.

Composite Vs Alloy Bats

Composite Bats

Composite bats are generally made of multiple layers of carbon fiber or graphite. The use of carbon fiber in the barrel makes composite bats extremely lightweight and easy to handle.

Due to their light weight construction, these bats usually have a balanced swing weight. Why does that matter? Well for starters, the more balanced weight distribution a bat has the easier it is to swing the bat faster which means you are less likely to miss hitting that home run.

The other big advantage of composite bats is their barrel construction. Since a lightweight carbon weave is used to make the barrel it can be lengthened. This means that bat manufacturers can now increase the length of the barrel without making the bats too heavy to hold.

And a larger barrel means a bigger contact area for hitting. This is why composite bats are known for having bigger sweet spots compared to other types of baseball bats including alloy bats.

Another thing to keep in mind about composite bats is that most of them have a two-piece construction. So the barrel and handle are connected together by a small piece in the taper area. The key advantage of this type of construction is that it reduces rebound vibrations or sting vibrations. Let us break it down for you.

Normally a player will use a lot of force to swing the bat to properly hit a fast-moving ball but the problem is that a lot of rebound vibration is generated which travels through the barrel and into the handle. The handle then transfers these painful vibrations to the player’s hands. But composite bats eliminate this problem because the handle is not directly joined to the barrel.

As great as composite bats are they do have a few drawbacks. First of all, these bats are generally more expensive especially when compared to alloy bats. But the main problem with composite bats is that they tend to crack under pressure. So if the ball hits the bat too hard it can actually crack the barrel. Once that happens, the bat is useless and will need major repairs. In fact, if the damage is too bad you might need a new bat all together.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Balanced swing weight
• Faster swing speed
• Bigger sweet spot
• Reduced vibrations

Cons

• Composite wood bats are prone to cracks
• On the expensive side

Alloy Bats

Moving on to alloy bats which have a lot of advantages as well as their own share of problems. Alloy bats are usually constructed using high-quality aluminum which is reinforced with other metals.

They also tend to be cheaper that their composite counterparts so alloy bats are pretty budget-friendly. But the best thing about alloy bats is that they are highly durable due to the strong metal that is used to construct the barrel.

In fact, alloy bats are so strong they can even be used in very cold weather without fear of damage so they are quite crack resistant. But that doesn’t mean that they should be used in freezing sub-zero temperatures as they can still get dented. However, a dented bat can still be used for practice matches.

Moreover, alloy bats usually have a one-piece construction with thin and stiff barrel walls. The thinner and stiffer the walls the more responsive they are. As a result, alloy bats are perfect for making really powerful hits. However, there is a limit to which the metal can be stretched so the barrel walls cannot be thinned out to make a bigger barrel. Unfortunately, the smaller barrel size also means that the bat has a smaller sweet spot.

Remember we told you that these bats have a one-piece construction. Well, that can actually be a bit of a problem. The one-piece construction means that vibrations from the barrel will travel all the way up the handle and into the player’s hands resulting in painful sting vibrations.

Pros

• Durable
• More power generation
• Responsive barrel walls
• Crack resistant
• Budget friendly

Cons

• Small barrel
• Sting Vibration

Which Bat Is Better – Composite or Alloy?

Now that you know the pros and cons of both composite and alloy bats; it is time to answer the big question. So, which bat is worth its weight in gold? The thing is that there is no easy answer. To find out which bat is the right one for you there are other factors to consider. For example, is the bat end loaded or not?

However, there is a general rule of thumb that you can follow and that is: alloy bats for power hitters and composite ones for contact hitters. There is a simple logic behind this as alloy bats are usually one-piece which means that they have less flex and more power generation which allows players to hit the ball further afield.

On the other hand, composite bats are better for contact hitters due to their two-part construction which eliminates sting vibration and maximizes swing speed. Like always there are exceptions to this rule but it is a handy thing to remember when shopping for a bat.

Conclusion

So, which one is the bat for you? Is it the lightweight composite bats with their large sweet spots or is it the durable alloy bat? Remember to weigh the pros and cons of each bat before you decide to make a purchase.