Trampoline effect The trampoline effect, which is common terminology for baseball & softball players, is the phenomenon when the baseball jumps off the bat at contact. The bat-ball collision can be demonstrated from the physics of elastic collisions. The stiffer the barrel of the bat, the slower the baseball comes off the bat because it loses energy in the collision. The softer the barrel of the bat, the faster the baseball or softball comes off the bat because it retains its energy applied by the pitcher. The trampoline effect has been experimentally tested, and results show that rolled bats out perform all un rolled bats. The reason why rolled bats out perform all un rolled bats is that the trampoline effect can essentially be tuned. Composite materials have properties that are different in all directions, or anisotropy,which allows the bat manufacturer to design the bat stiff longitudinally (along the handle) and softer circumferentially (around the barrel). This softer barrel allows the ball to come off with small losses in energy while maintaining the stiffness of the bat in the handle. Rolling a bat can stretch the fibers and send a ball back 5 to 10 mph faster than a unrolled bat
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 15:41:03 +0000