Q. Which is better, and aluminum bat or a wooden one? – Ashley, 12, New York

The Prof Says: You can hear the difference in bats from the bleachers: Crack (wood), ping (aluminum), thunk (composite).

Wooden bats are made from a solid piece of lumber, while non-wooden bats—aluminum and composite, which are made from a fabric of carbon fibers covered in epoxy resin—are hollow. This makes non-wooden bats not just lighter overall, but also heavier at the handle.

(full article published in Sports Illustrated Kids, April 2015)