Yep, they use to call it a “wooden shampoo” and would be the first thing a cop would pull if someone was trouble. Just showing it was enough to get thugs to back down. My dad was a cop in New York city in the 1960s and 70s, he use tell me this stuff all the time.
I had a roommate back in the early 80s that was a cop. They carried PR-24 batons. Heavy plastic with a handle on for more control.
On night he and several other officers had to subdue a guy that was high on PCP. During the fight the guy actually bent the PR-24 to where it was permanently warped.