Abstract: A method for making a metal bat of the kind used for playing baseball or softball and having a hollow metallic shell including a wide barrel at one end, a narrow handle at the opposite end, and a tapered portion laying therebetween. The bat shell is initially thinned such that the original thickness and the corresponding weight thereof are reduced. A reactive hitting surface is then applied over the thinned bat shell around at least the barrel. The reactive hitting surface is preferably a metallic sleeve or a metallic coating that is applied directly to the barrel. Accordingly, the reactive hitting surface and the barrel will flex in unison with one another as a single integral surface in response to a ball striking the bat, wherein to increase the performance of the bat. A weight is added inside the handle of the hollow shell to balance the bat after thinning the shell and applying the reactive hitting surface over the barrel.