A DISCUSSION ON MAPLE BATS.

Since 1990 and Barry Bonds, everybody wants a maple bat.....right?  Provided you are making consistent ball contact in the sweet spot, maple is a wood that will definetly hold up longer than a bat made from white ash.  However, that durability comes with a price.  The wood is so much heavier that many compromises have to be made in order for a maple bat to be suitable for game use. 

Primarily, the weight of a maple bat must be reduced.  The specific gravity of maple is significantly higher than that of white ash, 12% higher.  Maple bats receive a different treatment during manufacturing.  Moisture levels are brought down to 8% as compared to 10-12% levels in an ash bat.  To further compensate for the heavier wood, handles are generally 7/8" or less (often players shave further down to reduce the weight).

Maple is not as flexible as ash.  We feel that the springboard effect of a white ash bat is desirable and equates to the harder less flexible maple bat resulting in equal ball speed off the bat.  Scientific studies seem to agree.  Listen to H&B's General Manager by clicking on link below.

Grain structure is much harder to determine with a maple bat and therefore ball contact may impact the weak grain direction of the bat.  The grains on a ash bat are very clear allowing for accurate logo positioning.  By placing the label either up or down ball contact will be made to the strength of the bat, perpendicular to grain direction.

Ultimately, a maple bat is brittle and susceptible to breaking.  Ball contact in towards the handle or on the end of  the barrel will more than likely shatter the bat.  The saftety hazard of a maple bat breaking is important to us.  Maple just does not crack, it splinters into peices.  Projectiles of maple shards often fly into the field of play causing potential injuries.

The link below concluded our decision to not provide maple bats.  Click and listen to the GM of Hillerich & Bradsby, the maker of Louisville Slugger Bats.  We think you'll be very surprised with what he has to say.

We are very interested in your comments, please contact us with your feedback.   info@mthbats.com

-MTH BATS