Difference Between Alloy and Composite Bat
Table of Contents
In the sport of Baseball, bats play a very vital role in determining the success of the striker. The material of which the bat is made also plays a very important role in influencing the intensity of strike a batsman makes with his bat. Alloy and Composite bats are two famous baseball bats.
Alloy vs Composite Bat
The main difference between alloy and composite bats is that the alloy bats are made and manufactured with the help of aluminum that helps in enhancing their potency and durability, whereas composite bats are manufactured with the help of materials like layers of graphite and carbon.
Alloy bats are typically made and manufactured with the help of aluminum that has various features like strength and durability. In the year 1969, aluminum bats started to be used in various softball leagues and baseball leagues. In college leagues, students and players prefer using alloy bats having good durability.
Composite bats are made and manufactured with the help of materials like graphite and carbons that are applied in layers. Carbon and graphite are lightweight materials that are extremely strong and durable. These are also known as hybrid bats, in which the weight of the materials is distributed evenly all across the bat.
Comparison Table Between Alloy and Composite Bat
| Parameters of Comparison | Alloy Bat | Composite Bat |
| Materials | Alloy bats are typically made of materials like aluminum that constitutes the major portion of the bat. | Composite bats are typically made of materials like graphite and carbon that are applied in various layers of bats. |
| Characteristic | Alloy bats are stronger and more durable than composite bats. | Composite bats have majorly soft spots and portions than alloy bats. |
| Crack-resistance | One of the major features of alloy bats is that it is more crack-resistant when compared to composite bats due to its strong and durable nature. | One of the major demerits of composite bats is that it is not as crack-resistant to alloy bats due to its less durable nature. |
| Cost | The price of alloy bats is relatively cheaper when compared to composite hybrid bats. | The price of composite bats is relatively costlier when compared to alloy bats. |
| Nature | Alloy bats are also known as individual bats that have thin and strong walls of aluminum. | Composite bats are also known as double bats as they have a coating of both carbon and graphite. |
| Weather | Alloy bats are highly adaptable to cold weather. | Composite bats are less adaptable to cold weather. |
What is Alloy Bat?
Alloy bats are also popularly known as metal bats and were introduced in the year 1970 in various leagues of baseball and softball. At the college level, alloy bats are highly used by players due to their unique features.
The various advantages of using alloy bats are:-
- Aloy bats are much cheaper when compared to composite bats.
- The manufacturers use various other elements and mix them with aluminum to make a strong and durable alloy.
- Alloy bats are highly effective in cold weather.
The various disadvantages of using alloy bats are:-
- The alloy bats are heavier when compared to composite bats that also is one of the major demerits of alloy bats since players are not comfortable holding them.
- It is not hybrid in nature and has only the content of aluminum in it.
In the 20th century, alloy bats dominated the entire market. In the sports equipment market, alloy bats always outperformed composite bats as 90% of players in the 20th century used alloy bats as they were very cheap and strong, and durable.
What is Composite Bat?
Composite bats are made of 2 elements of graphite and carbon that are applied in layers of the bat. They are costlier than the alloy bats but are lightweight when compared to them. They became popular in the 21st century when big baseball and softball leagues came in trend and players started using these bats for better efficiency.
The major disadvantages of using composite bats are:-
- The price of composite bats is much higher in comparison to alloy bats.
- The adaptability of composite to cold weather is not good.
- Composite bats are more prone to breaking than normal alloy bats.
- They are less durable and strong than alloy bats.
These materials produce the same sound as wood but tend to be more effective when compared to wooden bats. Nowadays, players and teams prefer using composite bats as they are lightweight and tend to generate more energy and efficiency while striking the ball.
The major advantages of using composite bats are:-
- The sweet spot offered by composite bats is much larger when compared to alloy bats.
- The mass and material of the bat are evenly distributed all around the bat that making it much more balanced.
Main Differences Between Alloy and Composite Bat
Conclusion
There are a large number of countries where baseball is very popular. In the western world, there is always a debate as to which bat one much use to strike well: alloy bats or composite bats? Both the bats have a large number of features and characteristics.
The strength and durability of alloy bats have always been better than that of composite bats. Composite bats are lightweight and have better-distributed mass all over the bat. The price of a composite bat is more than an alloy bat. A person, after analyzing his needs, must choose which bat they must purchase. Both the bats have pros as well as cons.
References
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