Wood Types
Wood Types
Maple, Ash, or Birch.
What's the difference?
MAPLE
Currently, maple bats are the most popular wooden bats. For major league players, approximately 70% of players use maple. Maple is a close-grain wood making it very hard and dense. Because of the density and hardness of the wood, maple will give the player the feeling of more pop. The close-grains of the wood result in a bat that is very durable. Maple will not flake or splinter, something seen in ash bats. In 2009, research and testing showed that the strength in a maple bat was on the face grain. Because of that, we place the label on the edge grain to guide players to hit the ball on the face grain. See our blog-The Label Explained.
ASH
In the past, ash bats were the most popular wooden bats in baseball. Approximately 25% of major league players use ash. While ash has lost popularity to maple, it is still an excellent choice, especially for amateur and semi-pro players. Ash is the most flexible out of the three species of wood listed here. It makes a great option for those players that love the flex of the bat. That flexibility gives a hitter a very forgiving piece of lumber. It will not break as easily on mis-hits like it will with maple. When it does break, it will stay together and not shatter. There are no flying broken barrels with ash. Typically, ash is at a lower cost than maple or birch.
BIRCH
Birch bats are not that common but are gaining in popularity. It kind of lies between maple and ash. Birch is also a close-grain wood like maple but slightly less hard. They are more flexible than maple but not as flexible as ash. Only about 5% of major league players use birch. Birch really does offer a nice balance between maple and ash, picking up on some of the characteristics of both. Birch bats will go through a break-in period. During that time, the hardness of the surface will increase and become closer to maple.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Please remember; Wood is an organic material and no two bats will be alike. All bats will eventually break. Many things go into that. A player's skill level in making contact on the barrel will reduce the likelihood of breakage. Some players will leave their bats in the trunk of the car during summer. The excessive heat will dry out the bats and make them brittle. Take good care of your bats and they will take good care of you. The best thing you can do to ensure a long lasting bat and enjoyable experience is to.....
Buy a Z Stick!!!