We all know nobody claims they purchased a baseball bat because it had a great end cap. In fact, it doesn’t get much consideration at all. It is all about the material, barrel size, handle flex, one- piece or two-piece construction, and the brand name that get people excited. The end cap gets zero attention, or consideration in the purchase.
The reality is that the end cap plays a key factor in how a bat functions, helps a batter swing, and hit a baseball. Did you ever notice how manufacturers advertise upgrades in a bat year over year? In many cases the change is a redesign of the end cap. This is because the end cap matters!
So, what does an end cap do?
1: Barrel Flex
If you stop and think about it, you will realize that the end cap’s strength is directly correlated to how much the end of the barrel compresses. A bat with a stiffer end cap allows less compression and therefore less trampoline effect. The top end bats have a finely tuned end cap that allows for optimum performance at the end of the bat. In many cases, this is what differentiates them from run-of-the-mill less expensive bats.
2: Sound
Most of us can tell ourselves that the bat’s sound is not important, only how far the ball travels matter. But the reality is that bats that sound better sell better. The rational is that the sound makes people think the bat is better as we do not measure the distance of every hit. It therefore follows that hits that sound more solid are thought to have gone farther. And, the end cap is an important factor in the sound.
3: Swing Weight
It is believed that an end cap adjustment is the most important item determining the swing weight. Since the end cap is the farthest point from a bat’s pivot point during the swing, it determines swing weight more than any other feature on the bat. When a manufacturer wants to lower the bat’s swing weight the first thing they do is redesign the end cap. The end cap design contributes to localized balanced points and pinpoint accuracy on their swing weight.
The next time you are in the market to purchase a bat, I’d recommend that you pay close attention to the end cap. It just might be the most important factor in getting the bat that is best for you. The end cap is an integral part of a bat’s design, and it changes the flex response and trampoline effect of the barrel area that is impacted. The cap thickness, hardness, and weight all change the way the barrel responds to the ball’s impact. So, learn about the end cap, because it is important!