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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 139 anonymousDiscussion: What Bat Weight is right for you?
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| Feb. 9, 2007 santo Men's 55 41 posts | What Bat Weight is right for you? OK, I spent most of my career weening myself down from 32oz to 30oz to 28oz to finally 27oz. bats thinking a lighter bat would increase my bat speed. Now, after much debate, I am going back the other way thinking there is a point of no return. A heavier bat with enough bat speed will send the ball farther than a lighter bat at the same speed. I am 220lbs and have seen smaller guys using 30ozs and still killing the ball. I know of many studies, are there any proven facts? |
| Feb. 9, 2007 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | I believe the only accurate way to determine what weight is right for you is to measure the speed of the ball leaving the bat and compare the batted ball speed of several weights. This is done by using a radar gun. Last week I saw that Sports Authority had a radar gun for $130, thats too expensive for me to use only once. Maybe some of us could split the cost? |
| Feb. 9, 2007 Fred Scerra Men's 80 542 posts | I use one general simple rule. What am I comfortable with. It turns out the best weight for me is around 28.5 oz with an end load. Try different bats and the one you feel comfortable with that is the one. |
| Feb. 9, 2007 STONEMAN Men's 50 535 posts | SANTO: HEAVYER BATS vs. LIGHTER BATS: The follow’ infor’ comes from “ THE PHYSICS of BASEBALL”, by Robert K. Adair. Roger Maris, used a 33 oz ash bat to hit 61 H.R. Babe Ruth, used a 47 oz hickory bat to hit 60 H.R. Micky Mantle, used a 38 oz ash bat. Hank Aaron, used a 31 to 32 oz ash bat. Mark McGwire, used a 35 oz bat to hit 70 H.R. Barry Bonds, used a 32 oz bat to hit 73 H.R. A 46 oz bat will propel a ball only 8’ farther, than a 32 oz bat. If, a ball is moving more slowly, the optium bat weight declines. If, one swings a 38 oz bat compaired to a 32 oz bat, the difference is only 13 milliseconds. Some facts from articles from L. Noble @ KSU; B & N SOFT-BALL; & others. 1) One can have a swing speed of 100 MPH, but if one can't convert that speed into batted-ball speed & distance, it will not mean very much. In one test the bat speed was 80 MPH & the BBS was 84 MPH; the balls distance was 330'. Another test, the bat speed was 92 MPH & the BBS was 83 MPH; this balls distance was343 MPH. etc. 5) Depending on the batters swing mechanics & the bats location of it's sweet spot, the speed of the sweet spot will be 85-90% of the end-of-bat speed. Simple? If a 6'-6", 280 lb. person swings a bat @ 100 MPH & another person, 6'-0" & 180 lb. swings the same bat @ 100 MPH, the one with more power & skill (TIMING) will hit the ball harder. Once a ball has been batted, how much does the bat slow down to? 90 MPH to 76 MPH or 90 MPH down to 69 MPH. Other articles by: Daniel A. Russell, “ Physics & Acoustics of Baseball & Softball Bats”. Please, read Dr. Russell article on Bat Weight, Swing Speed & Ball Velocity. FRED & BRUCE: U both stated good points. One can also, try hit' balls off of a tee. I like a 30 oz End Load bat. End Loaded bats, are suppose to increase ones bat speed by 5 -10 %. GOOD LUCK........ The STONEMAN... |
| Feb. 9, 2007 Fred Scerra Men's 80 542 posts | I think people make things to complicated today. It is a simple game why make it complicated with all kind of charts, tech facts etc. Find a bat, glove and shoes that are comfortable and just go out and play the game. Of course when I was working I was often accused of thinking in too simplistic terms. My philospy always was if a problem was completed to solve it was because you made it complicated by taking a complicated approach instead of just attacking a problem in a simple way. |
| Feb. 9, 2007 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | Fred, I know what you are trying to say, but, if you use any bat long enough, It's going to feel "comfortable". I just noticed, the webpage has greeted me as Fre Scerra. Bruceinga |
| Feb. 9, 2007 Fred Scerra Men's 80 542 posts | I agree to a certain point. I have over a 1,000 hits on my Rip-It Senior ASA and I still can't get comfortbale with the light balance feel. I get the same results everytime I try to go to a lighter or balanced bat. In contrast my 29 oz Wrath II 120 fell in love with it within 10 hits. Basically I guess what I am saying is if it feels right at the start that is the bat. If it dosen't feel right than all the hitting in the world isn't going to make it better. If you go by logic and technical facts and my age the Rip-It is probably the bat I should use over my heavier endloaded PST's. Good bat speed, good balance and good feel but it just doesn't work for me. |
