| t used to be simple; a bat was one piece of | | | | * However, in a hollow bat such as an aluminum |
| wood, aluminum or composite. How things have | | | | or composite bat, the bat barrel compresses |
| changed! Two piece bats are now extremely | | | | somewhat like a spring. This means that the ball is |
| popular and seem to be the trend for the | | | | not compressed as much and loses less energy |
| foreseeable future. | | | | to internal friction forces. |
| Easton, Demarini and Nike have long championed | | | | * Furthermore, most of the energy temporarily |
| the two-piece design. Demarini and Nike have held | | | | stored in the bat is returned to the ball in an |
| fast to this philosophy while Easton has branched | | | | aluminum or composite bat. The energy which is |
| out to make bats in almost all designs in an effort | | | | lost in the bat compression is much smaller than |
| to appeal to everyone. They say the major | | | | that lost without compression. |
| benefit of a two piece bat is that it gives more | | | | So there is absolutely no doubt that the barrel |
| flex to the barrel at the point of contact and, | | | | flexes during contact and does create a |
| therefore, increases the trampoline effect (see | | | | trampoline effect. The real question is does a |
| photo of bat after the point of contact). This | | | | two-piece bat create more, less or the same |
| should not be confused with handle flex (or whip | | | | barrel flex/trampoline effect than a one-piece bat |
| action). Handle flex or whip action is supposed to | | | | made from the same material? And if so, does |
| take place before the point of contact with the | | | | this increase batted-ball speed? This is where the |
| ball, and the trampoline effect at the point of | | | | science gets murky because there doesn’t |
| contact. | | | | seem to be any scientific data supporting or |
| The one-piece bat argument long championed by | | | | debunking claims that a two-piece bat produces |
| Louisville and recently COMbat. Louisville claims | | | | more trampoline effect than a one-piece bat (or |
| their Triton and H2 are “bonded” together | | | | vice versa). Will someone please call Mythbusters! |
| to act more like a true one-piece bat. They say | | | | So what I’ve done is try to look at this |
| the two-piece design results in weakness at the | | | | logically. My conclusion is that a two-piece bat |
| joint of the handle and barrel thereby reducing the | | | | probably increases the trampoline effect due to |
| trampoline effect or spring back. They’re | | | | its hinge at the connection point. But, the increase |
| essentially saying that it provides very little | | | | is probably negligible and therefore won’t |
| resistance and therefore will not spring back as | | | | make much of a difference. I’ve also look at |
| quick and hard as a one-piece design. | | | | what the top players are using to see if there is a |
| Before we go any farther, let’s understand | | | | preference. Most players on college baseball |
| what trample effect actual means in the scientific | | | | teams swinging Easton bats overwhelmingly |
| world. The trampoline effect refers to pronounced | | | | choose the two-piece bats to their one-piece |
| elasticity in the impacting object (baseball bat, | | | | siblings. They’ll usually choose the Stealth |
| tennis racquet, golf club, etc.) such that it acts like | | | | Speed over the Synergy Speed and the SV12 |
| a trampoline. It is also referred to as the | | | | over the V12. They also tend to choose the stiff |
| spring-like effect because of the degree to which | | | | handle design of those bats. |
| the object depresses, then springs back into | | | | In the end, you’re fine with either a one or |
| shape when striking a ball. Here are the scientific | | | | two-piece bat as I believe they are extremely |
| specifics for a baseball bat: | | | | close in performance. First decide what you want |
| * The trampoline effect in baseball refers to the | | | | to spend, the material that’s best for you, |
| elasticity of a bat upon impact with a baseball. | | | | whether you prefer an end-loaded or balanced |
| * When a ball hits a wood bat, it compresses to | | | | bat, a one or two-piece model and then the |
| nearly half its original diameter, losing up to 75% | | | | handle design. |
| of its initial energy to internal friction forces. | | | | |