yes
Hard wood.
Maple. I know, dumb answer. It would be a hard wood.
hard
yes
Maple is a hard wood (from a leafed tree) and pine is a soft wood (from a conifer). In this case both wood also have the described character (hard vs soft) not always the case.
Maple
because its a strong hard wood and will not break
density. sugar maple is a soft wood red maple is a hard
Maple is a versatile hardwood that can be used to make many things. Maple hard wood floors are beautiful as well as maple furniture. Consider making your closet shelves out of maple wood too. Kitchen cabinets and cabinet doors are beautiful products of maple as well.
Maple, Hickory and Oak come to mind.
You should always get a hard maple bat. If you are getting a maple bat then you want something hard that is why maple is so popular because of the density and strength of the wood. If someone is trying to sell you soft maple it is because it is being made out of their bad billets.
There is no 'best' in wood . . . ash is tough, but maple is hard. They are both great for different things.