White Ash

White Ash

Good wood for great sport Anyone who has ever dug a hole with a spade, gathered leaves with a rake, or chopped weeds with a hoe has touched white ash. The tough, resilient wood leads hickory for handles on nonstriking tools. Although white ash indeed classifies as utilitarian, it bests all woods in a sporting role. Wooden baseball bats (still the mainstay in pro leagues) have always been made of white ash. Before man-made fibers, it was also the wood of choice for tennis rackets and skis. You'll also find white ash as hockey sticks, polo mallets, oars and paddles, and playground equipment. Chairmakers also prefer white ash due to its bending ease. And its workability, plus good looks, make white ash one of the top commercial woods in the furniture and cabinet industries.