Although designed to mimic wood bats, regulation USA Baseball metal bats offer a more forgiving experience for younger players who may miss the bat’s ideal “sweet spot” when hitting.
After conducting tests with youth players using wood bats and two types of metal bats, researchers from Washington State University discovered that metal bats can produce exit speeds for hit balls that are up to 5% faster compared to wood bats. Their analysis indicated that the performance at the sweet spot for USA Baseball metal bats was similar to that of wood bats. However, the discrepancies became more pronounced when players hit the ball in less optimal areas.
“With wood bats, not hitting the sweet spot results in a more significant penalty compared to the metal bats,” explained Lloyd Smith, director of WSU’s Sport Science Laboratory and the principal author of the study published in The Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology.
The research team collaborated with USA Baseball to create a new standard for metal bats that mimics the characteristics of wood bats. This study further assessed the performance of these bats through laboratory and field studies, comparing them with both traditional wood bats and the older BPF 1.15 metal bats used in youth baseball.
In this research, 52 players with an average age of 12 took multiple swings with various bats inside a batting cage, totaling over 1,500 swings. Motion sensors were attached to the players, bats, and balls to record the speed of their swings and the exit speeds of the balls.
As anticipated, baseballs struck with BPF 1.15 metal bats achieved higher exit speeds than wood bats since these metal bats were phased out in youth leagues due to their superior performance. For the approved USA Baseball standard bats, the exit speeds were closer to that of wood, though they still averaged higher. The data revealed that the differences were primarily in hits made outside the optimal performance area of the bat.
Metal bats began to be used in amateur leagues during the 1970s, in part because they don’t break like wood bats, which can be expensive over time. Players soon realized that the hollow design of metal bats allowed for a “trampoline effect,” giving them an edge that intensified as manufacturers battled to produce better models. Hence, to mitigate potential risks and address how these bats changed the game, league officials started imposing restrictions in the 1990s, eventually limiting metal bats to those that mirrored the performance of wood.
This study indicates that a slight performance advantage still exists with the USA Baseball bats, but it’s within acceptable limits for officials. Moreover, Smith pointed out that there are compelling reasons for leagues and coaches to opt for metal bats instead of wood bats, particularly the combination of performance benefits and lighter weight which can lead to improved batting averages for young players, helping to keep them engaged with the sport.
“Wood bats are inherently heavier. While one aspect of baseball is about hitting the ball far, another crucial aspect is simply making contact,” he stated. “Using a heavier bat can hinder a player’s ability to hit effectively since controlling it becomes more difficult.”
Importantly, despite the performance variations observed in this research, the skill level of the hitters was still the most significant factor influencing how quickly the ball traveled off the bat. Smith emphasized that aspiring players looking to enhance their batting averages should focus on personal development over simply upgrading their equipment.
“For those aiming to hit the ball further, the greatest benefit will come from strength training and conditioning, especially for growing children. Such physical improvements will have a far greater impact on their hitting power than simply purchasing a fancier bat,” he noted.
