How Sweet It Is

The sweet spot (deepest purple) is technically a single point, and studies show that a ball struck by a big league—quality wood bat in that spot will go farther than one struck by an aluminum bat in the corresponding spot. But an aluminum bat has a larger area of high performance (dimensions in white circle). It also weighs less than a wood bat of the same length, so a hitter can generate more bat speed. A four-ounce reduction means a batter can eye a pitch for five more feet before swinging.