Variable wall bat

A barrel for a ball bat, the barrel comprising:

• a barrel portion and a transition section, the barrel portion having a constant outer diameter and the transition section having an outer diameter that tapers from the barrel portion toward an attachment end of the transition section;
• a ball impact area extending from an end-cap end of the barrel portion along the barrel portion and at least a portion of the transition section, wherein the ball impact area has a first thickness measured between an outer surface and a first inner surface section;
• at least one thick section positioned along the ball impact area, said at least one thick section having a second thickness measured between the outer surface and a second inner surface section, said at least one thick section having an axial length of between about 1 and 2 inches;
• at least one thin section positioned along the ball impact area, said at least one thin section having a third thickness measured between the outer surface and a third inner surface section;
• and
• at least one shoulder transitioning between adjacent portions of the barrel having different thicknesses, said at least one shoulder having an axial length of about 0.5 inches or less;
• wherein a ratio between the second and third thicknesses is above about 1.6.