Ah, the age-old debate of metal vs wood bats. It seems everyone has a preference and very strong opinions on the matter. However, what are the facts? What makes a bat better? There are pros and cons to each type. So, let’s explore whether wood or metal bats work better.
The first thing we need to address is that some leagues require certain bats. So, it won’t matter if you prefer one type of bat over the other. Wooden bats have been around forever and they tend to be used more at higher levels of competition. For example, the MLB uses only wooden bats. Metals bats are used at lower levels of competition. In case you do have your choice of a bat, let’s look at the pros and cons of each bat type.
A majority of people would say that metal baseball bats are the best. After all, they have a lot more pros than cons.
The biggest pro of a metal bat is that it hits the ball farther. This is a huge advantage while playing baseball. It can do this because it’s lighter weight than a wooden bat and is therefore much easier for the player to swing. Just because the bat is light doesn’t mean that it's not strong, though. Metal bats are incredibly durable and don’t really break. They’re also known for having a bigger sweet spot than a wooden bat. That means it’s easier for players to successfully use metal bats than wooden bats.
Twenty-five years ago, some metal bats were almost too dangerous. At one point, these bats' exit velocities were scary. Flying objects, like baseballs you can’t control with a ton of energy behind them, just aren’t safe for players or spectators. So, safety is a big risk factor when it comes to using metal bats. Since they are easier to hit with (they have a bigger sweet spot), using a metal bat will not help players improve as much as a wood bat would. This can mean players are using bad swing mechanics and they can form bad muscle memory. Metal bats are also super hard to grip without some kind of grips installed. Lastly, purists would say they don’t like the sound a metal bat makes when hitting a ball. It makes a metallic pinging sound that doesn’t sound as pretty as when the wooden bat makes contact with the ball.
This is a classic bat that has been around forever. As noted, it’s the only kind of bat the MLB allows. There are other wood-bat-only leagues out there as well, but they are much fewer than metal-bat leagues.
The biggest pro to using a wooden bat is that higher-level baseball players use wooden bats. So, if you want to play at a higher level, you must learn how to play with one. Playing ball with a wooden bat helps you develop the right swing mechanics and muscle memory to swing appropriately and with power. So, if you learn to play with a wooden bat, you’ll be a way better player with a metal bat.
Aside from that, wooden bats are much easier to grip, have a gorgeous classic look and are typically cheaper. Many people also enjoy the sound a wooden bat makes when it hits a baseball. It’s a noise most people can quickly bring to memory, and it’s a very satisfying sound!
Wooden bats do have a smaller sweet spot which makes them harder to hit with for everyone. So, if you have a young and developing player, they are going to have an easier time hitting with a metal bat. If you don’t think they’ll ever go professional, they probably won’t have much need for using a wooden bat. Wooden bats can also break much more easily, and the shards really sting when they hit your hands. So, they can be a safety issue too.
No matter which type of bat you choose to use, adding bat grip tape can be a huge benefit. They go on either type of bat, and they’re pretty much required if you’re using a metal bat since they are so slick. Typically, metal bats come with a wrap, but it often isn’t great so it should be replaced immediately with a good-quality bat grip. Some players use pine tar, instead of bat grips, but it’s messy and has to be reapplied every time they bat. Also, it’s important to note that even the pros use bat grips. In fact, Lizard Skins is the official bat grip of the MLB. So, make sure no matter what kind of bat you get, you add Lizard Skin bat grips. They come in three different thicknesses, a wide variety of colors, and most importantly, they’ll improve your grip on the bat.
So, which kind of bat is better? Technology-wise, a metal bat will get you more hits that go farther–so most people would say the metal bat. However, it is important to note that since professional-level baseball players typically play with wood bats, if you want to play at a higher level, you need to know how to use wood bats. As we talked about, wooden bats are great for teaching proper hitting and skills you can’t learn as easily with a metal bat. It’s a lot like learning to drive a car.
An automatic car, like a metal bat, is easier to drive. Most modern cars are automatic and you’ll probably come across more automatic cars in your lifetime. A manual is harder to drive, like hitting with a wooden bat, but some people feel more connected to what they’re doing when they drive this way. Both drive the car–but knowing how to drive a manual means you can drive any kind of car put in front of you. Bats are similar. Just because you can hit with a metal bat that has a much bigger sweet spot doesn’t mean you’ll have the skill set to hit as well with a wooden bat that has a smaller sweet spot. You might even have trouble.
No matter which type of bat you choose, just make sure you throw on some bat grips. After all, it doesn’t matter if it’s wood or metal if it slips out of your hands when you go to bat.
