trampoline effect
n.— «Wood bat advocates are concerned that balls hit off metal bats are subject to what is known as a trampoline effect: When a ball hits a wooden bat, the ball compresses at the instant of impact and loses much of its energy. With a metal bat, the barrel is compressed by the ball. The bat can act like a spring or trampoline in driving the ball, which loses less energy.» —“Dealing with a batty situation: Wood vs. metal” by Jack Carey USA Today June 3, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Imagine telling someone how to get to your home, but without using the name of your street, or any other street within ten miles. Could you do it? We take street names for granted, but these words are useful for far more, like applying for a job or...
In the 15th century, the word respair meant “to have hope again.” Although this word fell out of use, it’s among dozens collected in a new book of soothing vocabulary for troubled times. Plus, baseball slang: If a batter...