Ash is one of those woods that has an immediate recognition for its uses -- baseball bats and other sporting goods. It is fine-grained, tough, yet elastic, making it a natural choice for bats, skis, oars, and also for shovel and rake handles. It is also ideal for bending making it good for umbrella handles and furniture.

White ash is the largest and most common of the ashes in the United States, as well as the most commercially valuable. There are roughly 16 ashes native to the United States, with most growing in the eastern states. Ash is a member of the Olive family. The terms "tough" and "soft" ash stem from a marketing view of the lumber. The so-called tough ash is sold for the end uses of sporting goods and tool handles while the grades of soft ash are sold for furniture and joinery.

The wood has excellent strength and elasticity. It is tough, stiff and hard, plus is high in shock resistance with excellent bending qualities and above-average workability. The timber dries rapidly, with little degrade and small movement in service. Ash has a moderate blunting effect on tools, but is easily worked with both hand and machine tools.