The breathless press release aside ("A fraction of a second hesitation can mean certain failure as they pursue previously unheard of records"), this is an interesting new equipment development.

Hitters testing the Sting-Free bat grip documented it reduces as much as 80% of the harmful vibration and sting when the bat hit the baseball. Baseball players can use the high-tech bat grip to limit sting, hesitation and flinching.

Useful as a sports psychology tool, this high-tech composite bat grip provides greater damping of vibrations and is endorsed by sports medicine experts. The hitter has now regained the psychological edge.

These bat grips offer a distinct advantage over the traditional foam, synthetic and tire rubber grips with cushioned backing that most baseball players use to absorb the vibration and sting. The traditional grips with cushioned backing stop only 10% to 20% of the impact. Most of the harmful vibration and shock can now be limited with Sting-Free grips.

Putting aside for the moment how anyone could know what percent of the 'harmful vibration' was diminished (the story claims 80%), I can attest that vibrating bats can feel like the physical equivalent of nails on a chalkboard to a young hitter. So if this stuff works, it could be a cool new development. Interestingly, pro tennis allows for anti-vibration attachments to rackets. But MLB would never allow anything like this. The question is whether or not pine tar could be tweaked or developed in a way so that it had anti-vibration properties as well.