[hugh3]

Are you sure? I thought the nice clean knockout was a TV myth, and that any blow to the head strong enough to knock someone out is just as likely to kill them or give them serious brain damage.

Basically, don't hit someone on the head with any baseball bat unless you're willing to kill them.

[burgerbrain]

IANAD, but I believe there are many factors that go into it. The exact nature of the hit and the elasticity of whatever is doing the hitting are likely rather important (I cannot imagine there is a difference here between a wooden bat and a metal bat though). I've seen numerous people get knocked out in boxing matches, but never seen one get killed (though it does happen). The presence of medical personnel can only help of course.

[NathanKP]

I am working from the assumption that aluminum bats would hit a person in much the same manner as they would hit a baseball. Aluminum bats are banned from major league baseball because the spring effect of the metal causes balls to go faster and farther. I imagine the same spring effect would cause more damage to a person hit with an aluminum bat.

But yes, I agree that whether the person is hit with a wooden or aluminum bat there is a chance of them dying.

[Zak]

The deformation of the aluminum bat leaves it in contact with the ball longer, and the spring action transfers more energy. A human head will deform more easily than a baseball; blunt impact injuries are a function of momentum over time, so a bat that deforms on impact would do less damage. Any baseball bat can be used to kill by hitting people in the head though.