| It 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. So there is |
| benefit of a two piece bat is that it gives more | | | | absolutely no doubt that the barrel flexes during |
| flex to the barrel at the point of contact and, | | | | contact and does create a trampoline effect. The |
| therefore, increases the trampoline effect. This | | | | real question is does a two-piece bat create |
| should not be confused with handle flex (or whip | | | | more, less or the same barrel flex/trampoline |
| action). Handle flex or whip action is supposed to | | | | effect than a one-piece bat made from the same |
| take place before the point of contact with the | | | | material? And if so, does this increase batted-ball |
| ball, and the trampoline effect at the point of | | | | speed? |
| contact. | | | | This is where the science gets murky because |
| The one-piece bat argument long championed by | | | | there doesn't seem to be any scientific data |
| Louisville and recently COMbat. Louisville claims | | | | supporting or debunking claims that a two-piece |
| their Triton and H2 are "bonded" together to act | | | | bat produces more trampoline effect than a |
| more like a true one-piece bat. They say the | | | | one-piece bat (or vice versa). Will someone please |
| two-piece design results in weakness at the joint | | | | call Mythbusters! |
| of the handle and barrel thereby reducing the | | | | So what I've done is try to look at this logically. |
| trampoline effect or spring back. They're | | | | My conclusion is that a two-piece bat probably |
| essentially saying that it provides very little | | | | increases the trampoline effect due to its hinge at |
| resistance and therefore will not spring back as | | | | the connection point. But, the increase is probably |
| quick and hard as a one-piece design. | | | | negligible and therefore won't make much of a |
| Before we go any farther, let's understand what | | | | difference. I've also look at what the top players |
| trample effect actual means in the scientific world. | | | | are using to see if there is a preference. Most |
| The trampoline effect refers to pronounced | | | | players on college baseball teams swinging Easton |
| elasticity in the impacting object (baseball bat, | | | | bats overwhelmingly choose the two-piece bats |
| tennis racquet, golf club, etc.) such that it acts like | | | | to their one-piece siblings. They'll usually choose |
| a trampoline. It is also referred to as the | | | | the Stealth Speed over the Synergy Speed and |
| spring-like effect because of the degree to which | | | | the SV12 over the V12. They also tend to |
| the object depresses, then springs back into | | | | choose the stiff handle design of those bats. In |
| shape when striking a ball. Here are the scientific | | | | the end, you're fine with either a one or |
| specifics for a baseball bat: | | | | two-piece bat as I believe they are extremely |
| - The trampoline effect in baseball refers to the | | | | close in performance. |
| elasticity of a bat upon impact with a baseball. | | | | First decide what you want to spend, the material |
| - When a ball hits a wood bat, it compresses to | | | | that's best for you, whether you prefer an |
| nearly half its original diameter, losing up to 75% | | | | end-loaded or balanced bat, a one or two-piece |
| of its initial energy to internal friction forces. | | | | model and then the handle design. |