Aluminum Over Wood Bats in Collegiate Baseball

Joel Dombkowski

Aluminum Over Wood Bats in Collegiate Baseball

Professional baseball coach Joel Dombkowski assists Pittsburgh-area youths in honing their baseball skills in hopes of attracting scouts to take them to the next level. For many of these young men, that next level could include both collegiate and minor league play for a Major League Baseball organization. One of the differences between the two, as Joel Dombkowski knows, is the material used for the bats.

Aluminum Over Wood Bats in Collegiate Baseball

NCAA regulations call for aluminum bats, while major-league rules stipulate use of the wooden bat. Originally, the cost of the wooden bats, which break frequently, were not attainable for some Division I programs, so the NCAA made the decision to use the sturdier aluminum.

Aluminum Over Wood Bats in Collegiate Baseball

Aluminum bats help a batter generate faster bat speed due to their longer length and lighter weight. This increased bat speed lends itself to a more offensively-oriented game at the collegiate level, with higher numbers of hits and runs.

Aluminum Over Wood Bats in Collegiate Baseball

Once in the minor leagues, wooden bats favor the pitcher, who can more aggressively attack the strike zone knowing the hitter has to work harder with a less-forgiving wooden bat.