Maybe this will be better
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I voted on this poll, and I also have another gripe......the high seam baseballs that are used in all levels of amateur baseball.
Holy splintered lumbar, Batman. I was thinking we were getting a new fixture for the Batcave...
...I vote for all levels, but HS or college would probably make more sense.
...I vote for all levels, but HS or college would probably make more sense.
Lumbar? Ouch!
someone get an environmentalist on the line, most people think we need to cut down a few more trees!
Don't worry, there's enough hard maple running from Northeast Ohio to Central New York to make billions and billions of bats. Okay, I didn't actually do the math, but I promise, we've got plenty of maples.
interesting tidbits...
The History of Baseball Bats
Baseball bats in the early days of baseball came in all shapes and sizes. In the 1850's baseball was an extremely young sport and batters made their own bats and experimented with bats of all varieties (long, short, flat, heavy). They quickly learned that bats with rounded barrels seemed to work the best. Because bats of all shapes and sizes were being used, a rule was made in 1859 that bats could be no larger than 2.5 inches in diameter, although they could be of any length. Ten years later in 1869, another rule was added that stated the baseball bat could be no longer than 42 inches in length - the same maximum length allowed today. At this time there was no rule regarding the shape of the bat. In fact, some players sometimes used bats with flat surfaces when bunting.
The Birth of the Louisville Slugger
1884 brought the beginning of the most famous name in baseball bats today - The Louisville Slugger. It all started at a baseball game in Louisville, a 17 year old John Hillerich watched Louisville player Pete Browning become frustrated after breaking his favorite bat. Hillerich, a woodworker with his father, approached Browning after the game and offered to make him a new bat. They went together to the woodworking shop, selected a piece of white ash and Browning supervised as John Hillerich made his new bat. The next day, Browning went three for three with the new bat, word spread about the new bats, and the Hillerich family was in the baseball bat business! Demand quickly grew (although baseball bats weren't the focus of their business yet), and they soon began adding their recognizable Louisville Slugger trademark to each bat.
More Developments
In the 1890's, the rules committee stated that bats could no longer be sawed off (flat) at the end, they must be round, and the maximum diameter was increased to 2.75 inches. Shortly after 1900, Honus Wagner, one of the great players of all time, became the first player to be paid to have his autograph burned into Louisville Slugger bats. Although bats have continued to develop over the years, wood baseball bats today look similar to the bats of 100 years ago. The biggest differences, however are that bats today are much lighter and have thinner handles.
The Rise of Aluminum Bats
In 1924 a patent was issued to William Shroyer for the first metal baseball bat. Despite this early patent, metal bats were not seen in the game of baseball until 1970, when Worth introduced the games first aluminum baseball bat. Soon after, Worth produced the first one-piece aluminum bat and the first little league aluminum bat. Easton arrived in the aluminum bat scene in the late 1970's with a stronger grade of aluminum that is credited with significantly increasing the popularity of aluminum baseball bats. Despite the popularity of the bats with the baseball players nationwide, Major League Baseball (for competitive and safety reasons) has never allowed anything other than wood bats to be used. In 1993 Worth and Easton both introduced Titanium bats, and in 1995 Easton and Louisville Slugger introduced the strongest, lightest grade of aluminum bats to date. Improvements to baseball bats continue today as developments such as double walled bats and scandium-aluminum bats arrive in sporting goods stores. There is no doubt that today's high-end, scientifically designed aluminum bats are a far distant relative to the heavy, hickory bats used by players nearly 150 years ago!
2001 - Barry Bonds and Maple Bats
The 2001 baseball season brought about a feat that just five years ago most would have thought not only impossible, but completely ridiculous - Barry Bonds hit a record 73 home runs in a single season! Soon into his home run tear it was learned that Bonds was using maple wood baseball bats, rather than the standard bats made of white ash. Players copy success, and soon major league ball players everywhere were searching for maple baseball bats! A quick search online will find dozens of companies selling maple bats.
The past 150 years has brought significant changes to baseball bats and the game of baseball itself. There is no doubt that the future will bring additional changes to the seemingly simple tool known as the baseball bat.
Even the wood bat has gone through an evolution. I wonder if the "old school" guys from years back had issues with the early improvements.
The History of Baseball Bats
Baseball bats in the early days of baseball came in all shapes and sizes. In the 1850's baseball was an extremely young sport and batters made their own bats and experimented with bats of all varieties (long, short, flat, heavy). They quickly learned that bats with rounded barrels seemed to work the best. Because bats of all shapes and sizes were being used, a rule was made in 1859 that bats could be no larger than 2.5 inches in diameter, although they could be of any length. Ten years later in 1869, another rule was added that stated the baseball bat could be no longer than 42 inches in length - the same maximum length allowed today. At this time there was no rule regarding the shape of the bat. In fact, some players sometimes used bats with flat surfaces when bunting.
The Birth of the Louisville Slugger
1884 brought the beginning of the most famous name in baseball bats today - The Louisville Slugger. It all started at a baseball game in Louisville, a 17 year old John Hillerich watched Louisville player Pete Browning become frustrated after breaking his favorite bat. Hillerich, a woodworker with his father, approached Browning after the game and offered to make him a new bat. They went together to the woodworking shop, selected a piece of white ash and Browning supervised as John Hillerich made his new bat. The next day, Browning went three for three with the new bat, word spread about the new bats, and the Hillerich family was in the baseball bat business! Demand quickly grew (although baseball bats weren't the focus of their business yet), and they soon began adding their recognizable Louisville Slugger trademark to each bat.
More Developments
In the 1890's, the rules committee stated that bats could no longer be sawed off (flat) at the end, they must be round, and the maximum diameter was increased to 2.75 inches. Shortly after 1900, Honus Wagner, one of the great players of all time, became the first player to be paid to have his autograph burned into Louisville Slugger bats. Although bats have continued to develop over the years, wood baseball bats today look similar to the bats of 100 years ago. The biggest differences, however are that bats today are much lighter and have thinner handles.
The Rise of Aluminum Bats
In 1924 a patent was issued to William Shroyer for the first metal baseball bat. Despite this early patent, metal bats were not seen in the game of baseball until 1970, when Worth introduced the games first aluminum baseball bat. Soon after, Worth produced the first one-piece aluminum bat and the first little league aluminum bat. Easton arrived in the aluminum bat scene in the late 1970's with a stronger grade of aluminum that is credited with significantly increasing the popularity of aluminum baseball bats. Despite the popularity of the bats with the baseball players nationwide, Major League Baseball (for competitive and safety reasons) has never allowed anything other than wood bats to be used. In 1993 Worth and Easton both introduced Titanium bats, and in 1995 Easton and Louisville Slugger introduced the strongest, lightest grade of aluminum bats to date. Improvements to baseball bats continue today as developments such as double walled bats and scandium-aluminum bats arrive in sporting goods stores. There is no doubt that today's high-end, scientifically designed aluminum bats are a far distant relative to the heavy, hickory bats used by players nearly 150 years ago!
2001 - Barry Bonds and Maple Bats
The 2001 baseball season brought about a feat that just five years ago most would have thought not only impossible, but completely ridiculous - Barry Bonds hit a record 73 home runs in a single season! Soon into his home run tear it was learned that Bonds was using maple wood baseball bats, rather than the standard bats made of white ash. Players copy success, and soon major league ball players everywhere were searching for maple baseball bats! A quick search online will find dozens of companies selling maple bats.
The past 150 years has brought significant changes to baseball bats and the game of baseball itself. There is no doubt that the future will bring additional changes to the seemingly simple tool known as the baseball bat.
Even the wood bat has gone through an evolution. I wonder if the "old school" guys from years back had issues with the early improvements.
That's for the bat history lesson, that was very interesting!!
Thanks rz1, that was interesting.
What if a bat barrel looked like a Cam.
You hit with the round part out front.
It would be oblong instead of round.
More meat at the sweet spot.
Aero dynamic?
You could actually get lift off with your swing?
Evolution of the wood bat.
I'm just thinking outside the box here. LOL
EH
What if a bat barrel looked like a Cam.
You hit with the round part out front.
It would be oblong instead of round.
More meat at the sweet spot.
Aero dynamic?
You could actually get lift off with your swing?
Evolution of the wood bat.
I'm just thinking outside the box here. LOL
EH
Isn't it true that the metal bat was originally created to keep costs down for coaches? They figured they didn't have to spend all that money on new bats once the wood ones break. Let's see:
Stealth bats- $400
*solid* wood bat- $50-60
That means that one would have to break 8 wood bats to get the same price differential as the Stealth bat. Now please inform me, how many Little Leaguers, and even the average HS player, is going to break 8 bats in a season? Most I know barely have the strength to break one. And those that do, the more elite players (the ones PGStaff would see at a showcase, for example), probably wouldn't break 8 because they are solid enough hitters to hit the ball on the sweet spot.
Metal bats are more expensive, more powerful, more of a nuisance and more dangerous. It has been proven that the ball travels faster off metal bats. Plus, isn't "pure" baseball played with wood? I'm a 16 year old pitcher and yet the sound that I love the most in the world is the sound the wood bat makes when it connects just right with the ball.
I vote wood. Every where.
Stealth bats- $400
*solid* wood bat- $50-60
That means that one would have to break 8 wood bats to get the same price differential as the Stealth bat. Now please inform me, how many Little Leaguers, and even the average HS player, is going to break 8 bats in a season? Most I know barely have the strength to break one. And those that do, the more elite players (the ones PGStaff would see at a showcase, for example), probably wouldn't break 8 because they are solid enough hitters to hit the ball on the sweet spot.
Metal bats are more expensive, more powerful, more of a nuisance and more dangerous. It has been proven that the ball travels faster off metal bats. Plus, isn't "pure" baseball played with wood? I'm a 16 year old pitcher and yet the sound that I love the most in the world is the sound the wood bat makes when it connects just right with the ball.
I vote wood. Every where.
My Son broke two maple bats already and the season hasn't even started! Thank goodness I don't need to replace them until summer. The HS team practices with wood, but plays with metal. I couldn't believe it, they were nice bats! Just suitable for the fireplace now.
quote:My Son broke two maple bats already and the season hasn't even started!
I've noticed the kid's don't pay enough attention to hitting with the grain instead of against it.
Label up are down?
Sometime's as the batter swing's there's a slight twist that causes the bat to turn and now your hitting against the grain and snap there goes another wood bat.
Take video and see if this is happening, and adjust how you hold your bat.
EH
JH, Down here in Texas the schools nor the coaches buy the bats or the gloves. 
"Great Tread"
During our annual trip to Australia our three American teams played 40 total games. With 27 players, ages 14-18 had 4,320 at bats.
The result were 6 "broken" bats. At our cost of $45.00 per bat. This is $270.00, the cost of one metal bat.
During my 17 years of the Area Code games, we used wood every year, since 1987 and the ratio of "broken" wood bats to players AB's.
It is very important that we all make a stand today for wood bats in youth baseball, before there is serious injury to our American players.
Bob Williams
During our annual trip to Australia our three American teams played 40 total games. With 27 players, ages 14-18 had 4,320 at bats.
The result were 6 "broken" bats. At our cost of $45.00 per bat. This is $270.00, the cost of one metal bat.
During my 17 years of the Area Code games, we used wood every year, since 1987 and the ratio of "broken" wood bats to players AB's.
It is very important that we all make a stand today for wood bats in youth baseball, before there is serious injury to our American players.
Bob Williams
Beast- same up here. Parent's costs are down...
Recently I found a bunch of letters tied together with a thread dated 1910 and written between my great-great grandpa rz1900 and a friend from south of the Mason Dixie Line........
" I remember when the bats were hickory, they were heavy, handles were big, and the barrels were small. Those were the good ol days, and that was real baseball. Now they are even talkin about putting a cork center in the ball. I can't believe what they'll do to change the game and make the ball go further, and it will probably be more dangerous.
The point. Everything evolves but the difference is today we have media that allows discussion and opinions about the change. The above fictional conversation is an example of what may have been said back in the 1900's if the web and HSBBW was there. Then again, they might have thought that those changes were good for the game. Who knows, but that's not the issue. In this case rz1900 was no longer playing the game and was reflecting on the changes, the same is being done today. While I tend to side with wood, baseball is still the best game out there and in order for me to enjoy the game game I have to be able to accept changes made to it, not hold a grudge, and try to make a difference on a smaller stage.
The direction is to promote "babystep" changes to those who have the most passion for the game and those are the elite travel teams/organizations. The push should be at that level and then naturally the domino factor will happen because future young players look up and try to emulate those who play the game at a higher level in relativily the same age group, the older brother syndrom. To make a statement "THE WORLD SHOULD USE WOOD" is an "off the cuff" comment and approach that will not catch on. The key is to find the link that connects the chain, and I feel that link is at the younger select organizations. One, because that is where the true passion resides, Two, because there are potential saftey issues at that level, Three, because those organizations love to be in the limelight and with their support comes woodbat validity, and Four because that age allows a ~6 year window for players to spread the word, and prove the facts.
What I liked most about the "Bat History" is the story about a Pete Browning watching a 17 year old make him a new re-tooled bat in his woodworking shop by selecting a piece of white ash, then him going 3-4 the next day, and the rest is history. That is true grassroot support for change.
As rz1 trips off his soapbox.
" I remember when the bats were hickory, they were heavy, handles were big, and the barrels were small. Those were the good ol days, and that was real baseball. Now they are even talkin about putting a cork center in the ball. I can't believe what they'll do to change the game and make the ball go further, and it will probably be more dangerous.
The point. Everything evolves but the difference is today we have media that allows discussion and opinions about the change. The above fictional conversation is an example of what may have been said back in the 1900's if the web and HSBBW was there. Then again, they might have thought that those changes were good for the game. Who knows, but that's not the issue. In this case rz1900 was no longer playing the game and was reflecting on the changes, the same is being done today. While I tend to side with wood, baseball is still the best game out there and in order for me to enjoy the game game I have to be able to accept changes made to it, not hold a grudge, and try to make a difference on a smaller stage.
The direction is to promote "babystep" changes to those who have the most passion for the game and those are the elite travel teams/organizations. The push should be at that level and then naturally the domino factor will happen because future young players look up and try to emulate those who play the game at a higher level in relativily the same age group, the older brother syndrom. To make a statement "THE WORLD SHOULD USE WOOD" is an "off the cuff" comment and approach that will not catch on. The key is to find the link that connects the chain, and I feel that link is at the younger select organizations. One, because that is where the true passion resides, Two, because there are potential saftey issues at that level, Three, because those organizations love to be in the limelight and with their support comes woodbat validity, and Four because that age allows a ~6 year window for players to spread the word, and prove the facts.
What I liked most about the "Bat History" is the story about a Pete Browning watching a 17 year old make him a new re-tooled bat in his woodworking shop by selecting a piece of white ash, then him going 3-4 the next day, and the rest is history. That is true grassroot support for change.
As rz1 trips off his soapbox.
My son has used the same maple/composit bat in bp and summer league for the last 13 months, it cost $95 including delivery. The bat has a composit handle and maple wood barrel and seems to have the same life as an alumimum bat for 1/3 the cost. He has hit alot of baseballs with it.
As an aside, I tried for two years to get our local Babe Ruth League to have a "wood bat" weekend but none of the other managers were interested, even though I promised the games would go much quicker
which was too bad becuase I know the kids really enjoy trying out wood bats/composits in games.
My point being that its not always the kids demanding metal bats that is the problam, rather the most of the adults coaching them insisting on metal bats.
As an aside, I tried for two years to get our local Babe Ruth League to have a "wood bat" weekend but none of the other managers were interested, even though I promised the games would go much quicker
which was too bad becuase I know the kids really enjoy trying out wood bats/composits in games. My point being that its not always the kids demanding metal bats that is the problam, rather the most of the adults coaching them insisting on metal bats.
WOOD!!! Better preparation/scouting for pro-ball for those that dream, money issues as described above, and safety. Especially reaction time to a ball lined up the middle back to the pitcher at the college level. 
BTW. I saw a HS batter foul a ball off his metal bat into his own face, while wearing a batting helmet. He busted his jaw and knocked his teeth out. Mouth wired shut, years of braces and artificial front teeth. I can't help but wonder if the ball would jump off a wood bat and done damage like that?
BTW. I saw a HS batter foul a ball off his metal bat into his own face, while wearing a batting helmet. He busted his jaw and knocked his teeth out. Mouth wired shut, years of braces and artificial front teeth. I can't help but wonder if the ball would jump off a wood bat and done damage like that?
QUESTION:
Would you agree that the injuries to young pitchers arms are the result of metal bats?
Because of the metal bat young pitchers;
ages 13-18 throw more breaking pitches to
"fool" hitters, since the fast ball is hit with a metal bat barrel that is twice the size of a wood bat's barrel. Inside pitching is an "art" not taught, because of metal bats.
Bob Williams
Would you agree that the injuries to young pitchers arms are the result of metal bats?
Because of the metal bat young pitchers;
ages 13-18 throw more breaking pitches to
"fool" hitters, since the fast ball is hit with a metal bat barrel that is twice the size of a wood bat's barrel. Inside pitching is an "art" not taught, because of metal bats.
Bob Williams
I would blame it on the dads and coaches of those players who pushed the junk years before that age. In general, most of the dads and coaches don't understand the wood-metal issues to begin with and push the curveballs because thats what they see on tv. If johnnie can throw it, Johnnie will use it. Just watch (I know you do) the LLWS and the amount of junk thrown there. What ever happened to location, change of speed, and a change-up? And people wonder why the strike zone is so big in that event.
Don't blame the bat, blame the messenger.
Don't blame the bat, blame the messenger.
rz1, You are so right. Just last night watching my son take BP indoors. There was a 11yr old team doing some bullpens and they were all throwing curve balls. My son who is a freshman just strated throwing CB's 8 weeks ago. Fastball and change-up got him this far. 
quote:Originally posted by 2008 Beebe:
Don't worry, there's enough hard maple running from Northeast Ohio to Central New York to make billions and billions of bats. Okay, I didn't actually do the math, but I promise, we've got plenty of maples.
I'm with you Beebe!
A new bat poll,
What happened to Batman's old Bat pole.
I'm sorry I couldn't help myself. LOL
EH
What happened to Batman's old Bat pole.
I'm sorry I couldn't help myself. LOL
EH
Granted he probably did not know how to hit with it, but my son broke 3 maple bats in one day at a PG showcase.
All were off the end of the bat against those crafty lefties whose fasballs probably reached 70 MPH.
All were off the end of the bat against those crafty lefties whose fasballs probably reached 70 MPH.
quote:I would blame it on the dads and coaches of those players who pushed the junk years before that age. .... If johnnie can throw it, Johnnie will use it. Just watch (I know you do) the LLWS and the amount of junk thrown there. What ever happened to location, change of speed, and a change-up?
ABSOLUTELY. I had two really good 14 year old pitchers last fall. Yes, they threw curves (their dad's taught them), but I only let them use the curve sparingly in games. Their bread and butter was fastballs, changeups, inside, outside, up, down... with their ability to locate pitches they kept batters off balance very well.
quote:Originally posted by bbscout:
I voted on this poll, and I also have another gripe......the high seam baseballs that are used in all levels of amateur baseball.
bbscout,
Great minds think alike!
Theoretically, the reason the seams are higher is, the ML ball is simply made better, and with better materials.
Several years ago, I contacted a couple of different folks at Williamsport about that, and was told that as long as the balls met LLI specs, they could be used. A few years back, I contacted the rules committee chairman at NFHS, and he said the same thing. The local NCAA guy I contacted also said the same thing.
Now here’s the problem. Since ML balls are by far the most meticulously made of all the balls, and since the rules governing them are the same, or higher, as in the case of NCAA where the ball can be 1/8” larger in diameter, technically, a ML ball can be used in every one of the levels. Unfortunately, the cost of a ML ball compared to the others is ridiculous!
If you can talk HS teams into buying ML stamped balls, there’s no reason they couldn’t be used.
At $145 per dozen, I don't think any High School programs are going to buy Major League baseballs. 
$145 a dozen! coaches get made when players come back to dugout wothout foul balls now, cant imagine how coaches would be at that price.
quote:Originally posted by bbscout:
At $145 per dozen, I don't think any High School programs are going to buy Major League baseballs.
Not likely if the schools are like the ones in our district that get, I think, $2,500 per season from the budget.
When my son was about 15, I started grabbing ML balls from friends who had access to ML clubhouses. What I tried to do was keep a couple dozen pretty nice ones at the house here for the boy. He always kept a half dozen or so in his bag, so when he’d throw in practices, that’s what he’d use.
The result was, it often looked like he was throwing a wiffle ball in games, and no one could figger out why. To him, the seams on a regular HS ball were like having barbed wire wrapped around it for gripping.
I just left a meeting with the main guy from Rawlings. (They make the professional ball, including the MLB ball)
We are trying to work out a ball deal... We might buy more baseballs than most any organization in baseball.
You can get a flat seam ball at a lower price. It's just no one seems to want them (except us) in amateur baseball.
In past years, we have used a low seam ball that we've had manufactured specifically for us.
It doesn't surprise me to hear BBScout likes the flat seam ball. If someone can throw a good breaking ball with flat seam... he can throw a good breaking ball!
I do believe that if the seams were flat, it would automatically stop a lot of young pitchers from throwing curve balls. Because those curve balls would not be as effective for most young pitchers!
Anyway, Rawlings will be making a ball specifically for us this year. It will be a flat seam ball and I hope it becomes very popular with others.
Wood bats, flat seam balls... That is what is used in professional baseball. IMO - It might change the game some, but I don't see why it would hurt amateur baseball in the least.
We are trying to work out a ball deal... We might buy more baseballs than most any organization in baseball.
You can get a flat seam ball at a lower price. It's just no one seems to want them (except us) in amateur baseball.
In past years, we have used a low seam ball that we've had manufactured specifically for us.
It doesn't surprise me to hear BBScout likes the flat seam ball. If someone can throw a good breaking ball with flat seam... he can throw a good breaking ball!
I do believe that if the seams were flat, it would automatically stop a lot of young pitchers from throwing curve balls. Because those curve balls would not be as effective for most young pitchers!
Anyway, Rawlings will be making a ball specifically for us this year. It will be a flat seam ball and I hope it becomes very popular with others.
Wood bats, flat seam balls... That is what is used in professional baseball. IMO - It might change the game some, but I don't see why it would hurt amateur baseball in the least.
Jerry;
Maybe you can purchase 1,000 dozen or more and offer the baseballs for sale to USA High Schools and youth teams.
We have always used "Wood bats and "flat seam" baseballs in our International events and the AC games.
Bob Williams
Maybe you can purchase 1,000 dozen or more and offer the baseballs for sale to USA High Schools and youth teams.
We have always used "Wood bats and "flat seam" baseballs in our International events and the AC games.
Bob Williams
quote:Originally posted by PGStaff:
You can get a flat seam ball at a lower price. It's just no one seems to want them (except us) in amateur baseball.
Not everyone can get as good a price as you.
But even so, aren’t they still at least a bit more expensive? A lot of coaches don’t want them for the same reason they like to get the home field mounds lookin’ like Pike’s Peak. They want that edge!
quote:Originally posted by PGStaff:
I do believe that if the seams were flat, it would automatically stop a lot of young pitchers from throwing curve balls. Because those curve balls would not be as effective for most young pitchers!
It would definitely stop some, but the cynic in me says that what is more likely to happen is, more kids will try to twist, pull, jerk, or whatever to try to make the stupid thing spin, even more than they do now. That would mean overall, things would be even worse.
Sadly, the whole youth pitcher thing is fraught with some very big problems!
PG,
I can see the Rawlings ball at many events with the pg logo and url stamped on it. Ad writeoff and the pg name in many bat bags around the world. Not a bad delivery angle
I can see the Rawlings ball at many events with the pg logo and url stamped on it. Ad writeoff and the pg name in many bat bags around the world. Not a bad delivery angle
When I was 16 every player on our championship team chose to use the aluminum bat. Except me. I had an aversion to the "ping" sound.. it seemed unnatural. I only used wood, and I had the highest batting average on the team. I couldn't quite get the ball over the fence but it seemed the wood bat generated more line drives than the aluminum. And when you hit that sweet spot the sound was a harmonious "CRRRROOOOOOOK".
And besides. 16-11 games are the antithesis of real baseball.
As for flat-seamed balls, I'm for it, but would it result in more beaned batters if a pitcher loses his grip?
And besides. 16-11 games are the antithesis of real baseball.
As for flat-seamed balls, I'm for it, but would it result in more beaned batters if a pitcher loses his grip?
Allan Simpson, who writes for PG Cross-Checker, just wrote an interesting article in the subscription service about the continued debate of Wood vs. Aluminum. Very interesting indeed as well as the most recent move by Derek Olvey ...peace
...peace
Good link Shepster! My son toured the Louisvulle Slugger plant years ago and watched as they made his bat with his named burned on it. Its still hanging on the rack and has not been touched by a ball. But he's a pitcher what did you expect.
I did not realize that a metal barrell was twice the size of a wood barrell. What are the relative dimensions?
Go bamboo, similar in price, same performance as maple, very difficult to break.