Can someone explain the difference between a Cork bat and a regular bat?

[Lyfer]

I'm baseball'ly challenged. So Sammy Sosa used a cork bat from practice to hit, what advantage does this bat give him?


Thanx.

 

[MacBaine]

Faster swing

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: Lyfer
I'm baseball'ly challenged. So Sammy Sosa used a cork bat from practice to hit, what advantage does this bat give him?


Thanx.

It is lighter and when swung has faster head speed.

 

[Looney]

Read the other thread.

 

[Lyfer]

Thanx!

 

[minendo]

1. It provides more "pop" or spring when it meets the ball. Essentially, this transfers more energy from the bat to the ball making it go farther.

This has not been proven to my knowledge. The main reason is to lighten the bat.

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: fatpeoplegomoo
Well, the cork in a bat is supposed to do two things.

1. It provides more "pop" or spring when it meets the ball. Essentially, this transfers more energy from the bat to the ball making it go farther.

2. It decreases the weight of the bat, allowing the batter to swing faster.

And yeah, he used a corked bat for "home run exhibitions". And I only use my radar detector to alert me of roadway hazards.

Don't be an a$$. It STILL take skill to hit a ball coming at 90+mph at you.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: Moralpanic
Read the other thread.

No sh!t. There's more than enough discussion there about corking a bat.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: MacBaine
Faster swing

Be able to get around on a smoking fastball...

Ausm

 

[Moonbeam]

According to physics, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The more momentum imparted to a ball, the farther it will travel. We need to know the formula for momentum in terms of mass and velocity. I don't know it, but unless there is some doubling effect of velocity, light fast should still equal slow heavy if it's a direct ratio. That leads to the possibility that elastic deformation might play a part. Maybe the cork shares in compression and there's less loss to the ball in energy wasted to deform it. The punch returned to the ball as the bat resumes its shape may be a factor.

edit: Sorry if I repeated something. I got interrupted mid post and started this a half hour ago or more.

 

[Jhill]

A lighter (corked) bat helps you get the bat around on a fastball pitch were a heavier bat you wouldn't have time to react and you will end up popping the ball up or just hit a ground out. And you have more control of the bat. The ball doesn't really go further (it might) but the main purpose is to lighten the bat so he can swing it faster and have better control of it.