Why does college baseball use aluminum bats? This is due to a number of factors. One advantage is that aluminum bats are more durable than wooden bats. They also feature a larger sweet spot, which means they are more likely to strike the ball hard when struck in the proper position. Furthermore, aluminum bats are lighter than wooden bats, which can benefit batters.
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What is a college baseball bat?
College baseball bats use aluminum, composites, and wood in their construction. College baseball bats come in a variety of sizes and weights, with the average length being between 33 and 34 inches. The barrel diameter of a college baseball bat is between 2.5 and 2.75 inches. The weight of a college baseball bat varies according to the material used, but most college baseball bats weigh between 28 and 32 ounces.
Why do college baseball teams use aluminum bats?
Aluminum bats used by college baseball teams for a variety of reasons. Aluminum bats are more durable than wooden bats, which is one reason. Because they do not break as easily, the team does not have to replace them as frequently. In the long run, this saves the team money.
Another reason is that aluminum bats outperform wooden bats. They have a larger sweet spot, which increases their chances of making contact with the ball. They also have a larger launch angle, which causes the ball to go further when struck. This increases the team’s chances of scoring runs.
Finally, aluminum bats cause fewer injuries than wooden bats. A broken wooden bat can fly into the stands and endanger bystanders. Aluminum bats are significantly less likely to break and, if they do, cause major injury.
However, there are certain disadvantages to utilizing aluminum bats. One disadvantage is that they may be more expensive than wooden bats. Another argument is that they provide batters an unfair advantage.
Despite these disadvantages, most collegiate baseball teams favor aluminum bats. They outlast wooden bats in terms of durability, performance, and safety.
How did the aluminum bat change baseball?
The aluminum bat initially appeared in the 1970s. It rose to popularity fairly quickly and was the standard in MLB. As such, wooden bats weren’t as popular and are exclusively in a few lower and amateur leagues. Baseball totally changed due to aluminum bats. It has made it more intriguing and has enhanced players’ attacking production.
Dangers of college baseball players using aluminum bats
According to some research, a baseball moving at 93 mph in 0.4 seconds has an Average Available Pitcher Reaction Time (ARPT) of 54 feet or 16.45 meters.
Consider that the pitchers’ mounds are exactly 60 feet and 6 inches from home plate. Pitchers will have around 0.030 seconds to react to a 100+ mph comeback. That seems utterly impossible to me!
According to the European Journal of Anesthesiology, an eye blink lasts around 0.095 seconds.
With that backdrop, you might agree that aluminum bats are pretty harmful, but I have more to convince you. Here are two incidents of injuries and deaths caused by aluminum bats.
Brandon Patch, an 18-year-old Montana high school pitcher, died in 2003 after being struck in the chest by a batted ball off an aluminum bat. Brandon’s family filed a lawsuit against the bat manufacturer “Louisville Slugger.” The Patch’s argument against “Louisville Slugger” was that their kid had insufficient time to react to the ball since it came off their metal bat too rapidly. After ruling in their favor, the judge awarded the Patch family $850,000.
In 2008, Wade Korpi, a former Notre Dame pitcher, was struck in the head with a comebacker. Korpi rose to fame after striking a baseball with an aluminum bat. The footage was so disturbing that several people wondered if he was still alive. Wade Korpi was extremely fortunate to have lived.
In 2009, 108,976 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms due to baseball accidents, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Aluminum and other metal bats are prohibited in Major League Baseball for a variety of reasons. One of the most significant is that metal bats have a larger sweet spot, making it simpler for MLB batters to hit homeruns.
According to a WhatProsWear(WPW) survey, the Demarini bat is the most commonly used bat by collegiate players in 2019. In fact, 70 of the 80 reports said they liked the two-piece Voodoo composite bat.
Most bats will begin to lose POP over time as a result of deterioration, and aluminum bats are no exception. College baseball employs more aluminum bats than any other league, and those bats get a lot of dings, reducing their efficacy. In the composite vs alloy bats debate we found that composite bats last long but are prone to dents.
There are some differences between college and professional baseball bats. Aluminum bats are more durable than wood bats, which tend to shatter more frequently. Another distinction is that aluminum bats have larger sweet spots, making homeruns easier to hit.
Conclusion
There is no clear solution to this issue, although there are a few possibilities. One possible explanation is that aluminum bats are less expensive than wooden bats. Furthermore, aluminum bats are more resilient than wooden bats, which means they may last longer and require less replacement. Finally, aluminum bats have a broader sweet spot than wooden bats, making them more forgiving to hitters.
