system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why do baseball players use corked bats?
gpt
It is not because the bat is lighter.  This is false.

It is because the wood will compress more when the ball hits the bat.  The ball hit off a corked bat will come off hotter (faster) than a ball hit with a normal bat.  Faster ball means more hits and hits that travel farther.  In MLB, this means more money for your next contract.

Composite bats, like the ones used in high schools, colleges, and softball leagues can be shaved to accomplish the same thing.  This is also illegal, but people still do it.  Some tournaments have a machine that tests the compression of the bat.  If your bat fails, you cannot use it.  Your team may also receive a penalty of some sort if you are caught.