Baseball / Softball: The Aluminum Bat Vs. the Wooden Bat

One of the many challenges that an Athletic Director has is looking out for the safety of the athletes in his High School programs. Along with that responsibility, comes the responsibility for maintaining a sound fiscal budget.

In the early 1970's, the aluminum bat was introduced to the sports of softball and baseball. Many Coaches and School Administrators fell in love with the idea. At that time, it seemed like every time you turned around, you had to buy new wooden ball bats. Aluminum bats were so durable that they could last for years. It seemed like a no brainier in making the switch.

As the years went by, many athletes even bought their own aluminum bat to use. Like their ball gloves, it would go wherever the athlete went. They even made special bags to carry the bat with their cleats and gloves.

The first Aluminum bats that I purchased for our programs cost about $29 a piece. That was in the 70's. The price on bats have shot up like everything else. I have seen bats going as high as $300. I must say though that the quality of the product has greatly improved as well.

The only sport that didn't go with the Aluminum bat was major league baseball. If they would have done so, it would have changed the game more than steroids and HGH has. Hitting records would have went wild. Along with that would have been injuries.

Over the past 30 years, I have watched countless softball and baseball games. I have seen some pretty bad injuries by young athletes. The sport of softball in particular has been a major concern. With the pitching mound being so close, compared to baseball, many young pitchers have been hit by batted balls. I have even seen fielders wearing protective braces on their ankles and knees to guard against getting hit. Smaller children, in some leagues, wear helmets all the time.

Lately though the use of wooden bats is starting to make a comeback. The major concern of sever injuries is outweighing that of hitting records. In the state of Illinois, lawmakers are wanting to put a ban on aluminum bats. North Dakota and the city of New York has already banned them from High School use. There are just too many head and eye injuries.

The aluminum bat is so much quicker to swing than a wooden bat. It can generate so much more speed in the swing. The wooden bat absorbs the shock of the ball a lot more. This creates a brief slowing down process on a batted ball. Players are given that extra tenth of a second to adjust to a hit ball.

Aluminum bats were first introduced as being safer because they wouldn't splinter like a wooden bat. They were also more durable. Many individuals still think the aluminum bat is the best way to go.

As a former Athletic Director, I can see both sides of the issue. No matter which bat that you use, there is always going to be injuries. It is a given part of the game. However, if going back to wooden bats means more safer play, then I am for it.

I don't want people to think that I am being sexist when I say this. I think that the aluminum bat can still be used in baseball as long as the pitching mound and bases stay at their current distances. I question Girls softball. The bases and mounds are so much closer than baseball. I believe that is where the problem lies. Once a Softball pitcher makes her delivery, she is so much closer to the plate , that she has to really move fast to get out of the way of hard hit ball. I have just seen too many pitchers hit hard by batted balls. Some have suggested moving the mound back. I disagree. I think it would be easier to just go back to the wooden back to protect the players.

There are those that say nobody under age 13 should use an aluminum bat. Again I disagree because bigger athletes generate more power.

The issue is becoming a larger issue because there is no strong governing body. It might take Congress to step in and finalize would will be allowed.