aluminum bats vs composite

[johnnyc]

Hi everyone, I've learned quite a bit here in the past few months and this is my first thread. Thanks, this is a great forum.

My son is 13, and he is using a LS Dynasty 32/27 for CYO right now, and we have been doing BP every other day breaking in a LS Dynasty 32/29 so he will be ready for -3 in his summer league for June (I've been following some of the -5 and -3 discussions here too).

I posted my experience about this in another thread, but briefly, when my son was 10 we picked out a LS bottom line aluminum bat, 30/23 that was $25 tops. For his birthday a few months later I figured I would get him a 'good' bat, so I got him a TPX 31/20 composite for 5X the price. SURPRISE - He liked his old bat better.

In fact, he NEVER liked the feel of any teammate's composite bat - always preferred aluminum. He is a good hitter, so I get him what he likes, never gave it a second thought. Anyway, he played on a traveling team on Long Island, NY- part of the Williamsport league last year. It was a very high caliber of baseball. One of my son's teammates (who ended up getting the trophy for most HRs hit that summer) goes up to the plate with a composite bat he borrowed from another teammate. His father gave him the business - 'I don't want you using a composite bat'.

So I'm wondering - does anyone have an opinion or a strong preference one way or the other? For those who now use wood - do you think that either aluminum or composite felt closer to wood? Do you have friends or teammates that swear by one or the other?

John's Dad

[PhilliesPhan22]

The Baum bat is suposed to feel close to wood. I haven't hit a baseball with an aluminum bat in quite a few years. I couldn't tell you what the new ones feel like.

[LAball]

Find a metal pole and holds up the back stops and hit it with the metal and composite bats. Not hard of course, tell me how it feels different...

I feel the composite bounces back for me, the metal does not so much.

[johnnyc]

Thanks for some interesting responses.

I'm just a dad, with no preference one way or the other. I've seen some posts here where people swear by a certain bat. I try to keep my ears open and I'm curious. My son will be moving to wood next year, and I did check out the Baum website (thanks to PhilliesPhan22 for his observations). A wood-like bat, that will take a lot of punishment - looks good to me.

The baumbat.com website talks a bit about how the BESR rating is not accurate, and that the AAAPro baum-bat meets all NCAA and NFHS standards. It shows computer testing results that indicate that it hits exactly like wood, and therefore meets the BESR standard. Does it carry the BESR rating on the bat (I think the new LL rules require this in HS)?

Also, as to some differences between comp and aluminum (thanks to LAball for his observations) I found this link :

http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/bats-new/compalum.html

Any other observations are welcome!

John's Dad

[LAball]

http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/bats-new/compalum.html

John's Dad

The article states a very strong fact and most of you baseball lovers dont seem to care about.

"One bat is aluminum and the other is composite, but bats are 34-inches long and both weight exactly 30-oz. However, picking them up and swinging them clearly differentiates between the two. The aluminum bat has a balance point 22.5-inches from the end of the handle and has a very large moment-of-inertia. The balance point for the composite bat is more than 3 inches closer to the handle, at 19.4-in, and as a result it has a much lower MOI"
Swing weight is so important to a bat, I dont understand why first of all, the consumers dont ask / demand for it. Or the manufacturer dont give it out. ( Well I know why the bat makes wont say, because it give the consumers too much knowledge )

If you truely love baseball... bats, I'd like you to think how much we would benifit with this info.

[baseball229]

So, is there a place that you can find the swing weights? I'm looking for a good bat for my soon to be 12 year old. He's under 5' & around 90 lbs. He currently has a -9 Stealth, but does not like the end loaded feel.

[LAball]

So, is there a place that you can find the swing weights? I'm looking for a good bat for my soon to be 12 year old. He's under 5' & around 90 lbs. He currently has a -9 Stealth, but does not like the end loaded feel.

Exactly , there is no place to find swing weights.

[BMH]

Any decent golf shop will have a swing weight scale.

[LAball]

Any decent golf shop will have a swing weight scale.

True, but dont you think this info should be on the bat? Besides there is a wrapper on some bats that dont cant be removed.

[BMH]

What exactly will having the SW on a bat prove? I'm still trying to figure out the big secret we're hiding...Who knows, you might know more than I do, I work in our wood bat division and the Aluminum/Composites are made in California. So please enlighten me. Also, what does the wrapper have to do with anything?

[LAball]

What exactly will having the SW on a bat prove? I'm still trying to figure out the big secret we're hiding...Who knows, you might know more than I do, I work in our wood bat division and the Aluminum/Composites are made in California. So please enlighten me. Also, what does the wrapper have to do with anything?

Try this for swing weight. Swing a bat, but hold it by the bathead and swing (basicaly hitting the ball with the handle) see how much easier it is to swing. but it weighs the same. The balance on the bat or distribution of mass on the bat is different. Now the distribution of mass on wood bats cannot be altereted to much. except for corking the bat, or cupping the end. But in composite / and aluminum the weight of the bat can be in the handle, but still have a long fat head. I beleive swing weight is realy important.

[merdon133]

Ok so which helps

The one with more weight in the handle or barrel? balanced or end loaded?

Because we have a so-called end loaded bat that doesn't compare to the balanced Combat we have

[LAball]

The one with more weight in the handle or barrel? balanced or end loaded?

Because we have a so-called end loaded bat that doesn't compare to the balanced Combat we have

If more of the weight is in the handle, it would be called a balanced bat and will be much easier to swing.

If the weight is in the barrel aka end load, it will be heavier to swing, but theoretically hits the ball further. But if you have difficulty controlling the swing, you might not even hit the ball.

[merdon133]

does this offset

the loss of bat speed. Lets say Kid A swings a 29/19 balanced bat at 60mph, that same kid swings a end loaded bat (same size and weight) at 50mph, does the end loaded go longer or does the balanced and bat speed go longer?

I understand if Kid A swings the bat at 60 mph with either end loaded or balanced then the end loaded goes farther.

[LAball]

the loss of bat speed. Lets say Kid A swings a 29/19 balanced bat at 60mph, that same kid swings a end loaded bat (same size and weight) at 50mph, does the end loaded go longer or does the balanced and bat speed go longer?

I understand if Kid A swings the bat at 60 mph with either end loaded or balanced then the end loaded goes farther.

Thats a hard one to answer.:noidea.

But for little league ( not adults) I think its more important to have an easy swing, especially if you dont have the "MLB swing" because the kids probably swings with his upperbody and not his lower. An easier swing means you can swing the bat later and get a better look on the balls. Easier to fight off the fast balls. Easier to swing at the curve ball the last second. Easier to adjust for the sweetspot on a high inside pitch.

You would only use a heavy swing weight bat if your already have an exceedingly focused swing. Otherwise your just chopping wood.

I would prefer a light swing weigh bat. Rule for HS and even some middle school to is -3 bats, so you dont destroy the ball. All the wood bats in the MLB are much lighter then the ones in the old days.