But there was another way corking might work: a corked bat is a few ounces lighter than an unadulterated one, and a lighter bat means a batter can swing faster, which means he can generate more force and hit the ball farther. ... “Corking will not help you hit the ball farther,” says Smith.

Are corked bats actually better?

The distance gained by using a corked bat may be very small, if you also assume that you hit the ball at the right place and time. Lightening the bat does increase the probability that you will hit it properly, however. This helps home run sluggers and singles hitters alike.

What is wrong with corked bats?

So-called “corked” bats have been hollowed out and filled with a lighter material, such as cork, to disguise the modification. They are illegal because they allow batters to hit the ball further, or so the anecdotal evidence suggestions. ... The reason bats are modified in this way is to make them lighter.