Metal bats have pluses for young players, but in the end it comes down to skill

Washington State University scientists have found both wood and metal baseball bats have performance differences, but a player’s skill is the primary factor affecting how fast the ball leaves the bat. The study revealed metal bats, which became prevalent in 1974 due to their durability, are easier to control and can be swung faster due to their lower moment of inertia. Despite this, metal bats did not always result in faster balls due to decreased collision efficiency.