Excellent concept! The bat does exactly what it advertises and helps younger hitters find their power swing by encouraging good mechanics via sensory feedback. The flat part of the barrel gives air resistance but more importantly, provides instant feedback when the ball is not hit square (perpendicular). This bat can be used in several different ways with the split grip feature as one of the more valuable if your player is not already keeping a tight rotational radius (compact swing) and a good lever extension at contact. The split grip method resembles a hockey slap-stick approach: with the top hand separated from the bottom hand, it is much easier to direct the bat swing path, get on plane early and maintain it through the swing. The bottom and top hand work together to execute a pendulum-release motion that allows the top hand to drive the ball with power as the top hand pivots across the bottom hand fulcrum (lever mechanics).
The split grip can also be used as a one-hand trainer (it’s very light weight) to isolate and focus on keeping bottom hand: down and keep the top hand: up THROUGH contact off the tee.
Do not hit regulation baseballs with the wood version of this trainer!!! It WILL eventually break. I also do not recommend this trainer for any live BP. I suggest that it be used for Tee work and soft toss drills only. The Carbon version has been designed to withstand higher impact forces with regulation baseballs at game speed.
Where I see room for improvement:
The handle: a one piece design would be much more sturdy and provide a smoother swing all around. This is the biggest concern.
If it were a one piece design, then the top hand rest part of the bat could be a slight bulb thickness to be used as a reference point and could still very easily be used as a one-hand trainer.
Last thought: the trainer could definitely benefit from being more robust with a thicker handle, a little more weight (not too much but it is very, very, very light weight now) and more of a torpedo style flat barrel shape to keep a speedy whip even with some air resistance. If the bat had about 6-8more oz weight mostly just above where top hand is or in the handle itself, then it would become a common universal training tool for youth AND adult players.
Great idea, and works as it should with room for some small improvements!