The Machine That Shatters Baseball Myths - Do Corked Bats Work? - Popular Mechanics

The Machine That Shatters Baseball Myths - Do Corked Bats Work?

This is a combination of scientific theory and engineering application.

Summary:

Do corked bats work?

Not for power/distance. Corking actually reduces the distance a batted ball will travel. While the lighter bat increases bat speed, that is overcome by the reduced coefficient of restitution. HOWEVER: a corked bat may help in certain situations, because it allows the batter to react faster and catch up with a pitch he might otherwise have missed.

Are modern balls juiced?

Not at all. They tested balls from the current era against balls from the 70s. Same results.

Does Colorado's humidor theory work?

Yes. That process is scientifically valid. The procedure used by the Rockies should take about 14 feet off each fly ball, on average. That's enough to keep some balls in the park.