Mantle corking bats? Article on Yahoo Sports

[ctownboy]

I don't know if they knew it back then but they have found in the last 10 or 15 years that corking a bat does NOT help with added distance. In fact, it REDUCES the distance a baseball flies. So, the ONLY way I can think a cork bat would help is if there are runners on base, the outfield is playing deep and a hitter connects and the ball goes further than the infield but in front of the outfielder.

David

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by ctownboy

I don't know if they knew it back then but they have found in the last 10 or 15 years that corking a bat does NOT help with added distance. In fact, it REDUCES the distance a baseball flies. So, the ONLY way I can think a cork bat would help is if there are runners on base, the outfield is playing deep and a hitter connects and the ball goes further than the infield but in front of the outfielder.

David

100%, corking bats does no help one bit, I know from experience

And I believe Sports Science did testing on it too

[tiger8mush]

i thought the idea on corking bats wasn't that it'd make the ball go a longer distance, but that it'd make the bat lighter while not losing distance. So you'd be able to get the bat around quicker, allowing the hitter extra time to "read" the pitch?

[Donscards]

Norm Cash stated before he died---he used a corked bat the entire 1961 season---needless to say, he led the league in hitting .361---so I would say it certainly does help the batter. I never heard the Mantle did it. Don

[timber63401]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

i thought the idea on corking bats wasn't that it'd make the ball go a longer distance, but that it'd make the bat lighter while not losing distance. So you'd be able to get the bat around quicker, allowing the hitter extra time to "read" the pitch?

Thats the biggest benefit, not any extra distance.

[EvilKing00]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

i thought the idea on corking bats wasn't that it'd make the ball go a longer distance, but that it'd make the bat lighter while not losing distance. So you'd be able to get the bat around quicker, allowing the hitter extra time to "read" the pitch?

correct, also if you remember some guys used batteries in their bats, but leaving room inside. So when waiting for the pitch the battries were lower in the handle and when he swings they slide to the top. #1 bat is lighter as its hollowed out and #2 the batteries sliting to the top give the bat more weight when contact is made.

I wouldnt doubt Mick did that, why not. Most guys did everything they could to be better, He also did speed as most guys as well.

Players will always do what they can to get an advantage, in any sport, always have always will.

[Tanman7baseball]

I see the science being thrown around on this thread but has anyone played baseball in the last 10 years? The mechanics of the swing has changed tremendously since the 60s. Most hitters then were rotational hitters. Today the swing has changed to using your hands more than anything. The lower body obviously generates power but "staying though the ball" with your hands is what the key is. Using your lower half to extend your hands is what the lower body is used for mainly. The result is "back spin". Rotational hitters generally hit the balls with "front spin", which results in less carry. Perfect example of a recent rotational hitter was Jim Edmonds. These type of hitters rotate off the ball when swinging which disallows them to stay through the zone longer when hitting. Now Pujols is one of the greatest hitters of all time. Does he have incredible bat speed? Absolutely not, it is very average actually. But he stays in the zone with his swing better than anyone else.

Back to the topic about corked bats. The density of the bat is what determines weight. When the bat companies make their bats they take out moisture to decrease the weight. If you have a 34in/35oz bat it is denser than a 34in/32oz bat. If you have a 34in/34oz bat and cork the center to make it 32oz then you have the advantage of using a denser but lighter bat. Therefore, ADVANTAGE.

Sammy Sosa broke one of his bats back in the day and it happened to be corked. He said he used it in batting practice and it must of got mixed into his game bats. The reason he used it though was because he said it made him feel good during BP because he would smash the ball better...

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by Tanman7baseball

I see the science being thrown around on this thread but has anyone played baseball in the last 10 years? The mechanics of the swing has changed tremendously since the 60s. Most hitters then were rotational hitters. Today the swing has changed to using your hands more than anything. The lower body obviously generates power but "staying though the ball" with your hands is what the key is. Using your lower half to extend your hands is what the lower body is used for mainly. The result is "back spin". Rotational hitters generally hit the balls with "front spin", which results in less carry. Perfect example of a recent rotational hitter was Jim Edmonds. These type of hitters rotate off the ball when swinging which disallows them to stay through the zone longer when hitting. Now Pujols is one of the greatest hitters of all time. Does he have incredible bat speed? Absolutely not, it is very average actually. But he stays in the zone with his swing better than ...

I see your point, but I think the mechanics/physics of the swing has not changed that much in the last 50 years... Maybe the last 75-80, when the ball was mush and bats were 15-20 oz heavier, but not in the last 50.

Hips have always been key to triggering and generating upper body torque both swinging and in a pitching motion. I think the focus on hands, "staying inside the ball", "keeping hands back" etc are things that are talked about and taught more now, but are aspects that have always been present in great players' swings. Conversely, many/most of the beefcake power hitters of today have great hip action in their swings... More are able to "muscle" the ball out via upper body stregth, but the base mechanics are similar.

Btw- played ball my whole life.. Graduated HS 17 yrs ago, but played adult semi pro until about 6-7 yrs ago.