Bat Speed

[LITHTHUNDER]

What percentage do you think a players bat speed should be going from the start of their swing to contact? Should a majority of the bat speed be accomplished at contact? I would guess many youth players are obtaining their bat speed just prior to contact or after.

[pstein]

What percentage do you think a players bat speed should be going from the start of their swing to contact? Should a majority of the bat speed be accomplished at contact? I would guess many youth players are obtaining their bat speed just prior to contact or after.

The speed needs to come before the bat gets into the contact zone.

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There is really no "driving through the ball", so the production of energy should ideally be finished by contact. However, that's not what the majority of players below the MLB do.

Jack Mankin did some sort of measurement, and found the following:

The bat speed that really counts is that attained at (or by) contact. Swing mechanics of a great hitter allows him to generate higher bat speed much earlier in the swing than average hitters. Players with a lot of "pop" in their bat expend all of the body's rotational and torque energies before and at contact. After contact their limbs and torso are how in a relaxed and coast mode. The follow through portion of the swing is from the momentum of the bat pulling the arms up and through.

Average hitters are still expending energy to gain bat speed for 20 to 40 degrees (poor hitters past 60 degrees) of bat travel after the bat passes the contact point. Some coaches would contend that gaining speed after contact is beneficial because of the "driving through the ball" effect. --- The facts do not support this theory. --- The ball is in contact with a 35 oz. wood bat moving at 70 MPH for about 1/2000 of a sec. During this time the bat moves less than 1 in. (about 3/4 in.) --- Not much space for "driving through" or (I might add) "wrapping around" the ball.

[dominik]

What percentage do you think a players bat speed should be going from the start of their swing to contact? Should a majority of the bat speed be accomplished at contact? I would guess many youth players are obtaining their bat speed just prior to contact or after.

well obviously it should be maximized AT contact. in theory it doesn't really make a difference how this is distributed.

however still it is good to achieve batspeed a little earlier so that you can still hit the ball hard if you are a little late. on the other hand if you are a little early your bat is still fast so it makes sense to reach that speed just before contact.

but this is all theory. in practice just explode out of the blocks as hard as you can. don't try to accelerate slowly since this means you need a longer swing to achieve high batspeed. or as steve springer said hitting is controlled violence.

[mudvnine]

but this is all theory. in practice just explode out of the blocks as hard as you can. don't try to accelerate slowly since this means you need a longer swing to achieve high batspeed. or as steve springer said hitting is controlled violence.

Yes, this seems to be the only answer that would make any sense to the question.

With all of the other things that we could be coaching kids on, I can't imagine "when" in the swing to accelerate their bat....would, should, or need to be one of them.

[pstein]

Yes, this seems to be the only answer that would make any sense to the question.

With all of the other things that we could be coaching kids on, I can't imagine "when" in the swing to accelerate their bat....would, should, or need to be one of them.

Agreed, teach the correct mechanics and the barrel path will come.

[LITHTHUNDER]

Thanks pstein/dominik.. that Mankin measurement is kind of what I figured as most younger players are getting their front foot down too late and there hands are traveling w/them as they plant - so their bat speed is later; rather than staying in a good launch position to maximize their bat speed into the ball.. and true, it does depend on their timing on where they make the contact.. but as you mention if your late and your bat speed is early you will still drive the ball hard and if your early you should still have the bat speed to make the solid contact but might not be in the optimal hitting position.

Mudvine - I'm not looking to teach it.. just merely understand it, as hitters should understand that their bat speed should be generated into contact and what mechanics will allow you to do that..