3M, an innovation company, has launched a novel Gripping Material Technology, which allows considerable enhancement in bat speed in the field of softball and baseball. The company has designed batting gloves and a bat wrap using 3M gripping material to improve player performance.
3M gripping material features the company’s proprietary micro-replication technology and it includes thousands of micro fingers that minimizes slippage and increases grip.
The gripping material can be used separately, as in the case of batting gloves designed with the material, or used as segment of a two-part mated system by utilizing the gloves and covering the bat handle with 3M gripping material tape. Both these applications provide a safe, strong grip, an easy release and a firm hold. Thus, the Gripping Material Technology contributes to a significant improvement in bat speed for softball and baseball players. In addition, the technology delivers superior bat control, which can enhance safety in the play field.
The material decreases slippage in wet conditions and offers significant increase in holding power while requiring less force. Another key feature of the 3M gripping material technology is that it eliminates use of chaotic adhesives and pine tar, which are frequently employed for gripping assistance.
A research has been conducted by 3M in the NCAA Division II and varsity baseball players are involved in the testing. The results revealed that players utilizing a 3M gripping material tape wrap and batting gloves deigned with 3M gripping material had a 4.4% increase in bat speed when compared to leather bat wraps and leather gloves.
Source: http://www.3m.com/