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Real name:
Bill Fennell
Location:
, RI
Division:
Men's 60
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| Nov. 29, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: A Question 4 U Bat/Math Geeks http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/bats/bbs-asa.html Another good article by da Russell describing experimental process to regulate potential peak exit speeds of ASA bats. Both articles use assumption of conservation linear and angular momentum along with conservation of energy to develop a relatively simple equation that predicts batted ball speed (BBS) The unknowns are the relative collision efficiency of bat and ball. COR stamped on a softball is related to the contribution of the ball to the efficiency term. The combined efficiency term is measured experimentally by firing a softball at a stationary . Recording in/out speed of both ball and bat provides combined collision efficiency (BBCOR). ........... Regardless of the above , a couple of things that most smart folks have already figured out. 1) if you swing two bats at the same speed, the bat with the highest moment of inertia (MOI ) will provide the most momentum to the collision and yield best BBS and distance potential. 2) in general, your ability to generate max bat speed is a direct function of MOI the greater the inertia of the bat the slower your peak speed. However, the specifics vary from person to person. 3) I would assume that two " identical " bats that differ only by their total weight also have different MOI with associated impact on swing speed and batted ball speed. However, it's possible to have a heavier bat with lower MOI, even if you think they are the same flavor. Manufacturers seldom tell you, but it's a relatively easy number to measure. Regards, Bill |
| Nov. 28, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: A Question 4 U Bat/Math Geeks About 10 mph of BBS or 20 ft xtra distance. No reason for you to believe ..... But, by the time you are ready to disprove it, you will need to supply or assume values to all of the variables you are willing to say don't change from one bat to the next. http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/bats/bat-regulate.html Check out this link above used by the grownups that certify bats for senior play. Let me know what you think. We can start filling in some of the blanks or revise the question to better fit what you may want to know. Regards, Bill |
| Oct. 16, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: What bat shouuld I use? I'm not really sure which bat property is best for going to the opposite field. But it's likely that you will be the best judge of that. One question you may already have an opinion on ....... In which situations do you prefer your 27 balanced over the 26 balanced? IMO, the biggest differences between balanced and endloaded bats from any particular manufacturer is that the endloaded bat with behaved like a balanced bat that is approx 1 ounce heavier. Even though they may be the same weight, the weight distribution in the endloaded version will increase the moment of inertia relative to the balanced version. The endloaded bat will likely have more "pop" than the balanced if you can swing them the same speed. However, most folks will suffer some loss in bat speed when they swing a bat with increased MOI. Individual mileage will vary. Your ability to maintain batspeed will probably be the deciding factor when choosing an endloaded flavor that is same weight as your current balanced bat or just a balanced bat that is a bit heavier. Regards, Bill |
| Sept. 22, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: A Question For You BAT GEEKS? http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/bats/bbs-asa.html Only because you asked.: This is what ASA ( and SSUSA ) thinks will happen to your swing speed as you choose bats with different MOI The manufacturers sell bats by different weights. But the testing to have them approved for play in ASA evaluates them according to their MOI |
| Sept. 22, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: A Question For You BAT GEEKS? http://forums.softballfans.com/threads/checking-endloads.1423283/#post-18679568 The above link has a chart with numbers comparing swing weight and moi for a small assortment of bats. It will not tell you which MOI is best for you . But it will help you sort one from the other once you decide. Very geeky, but I can help you with the numbers if interested. |
| Sept. 22, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: A Question For You BAT GEEKS? By now, lots of seniors that I play with have tried the new Melee in balanced and end load. Most are either 27 or 28 oz. The consensus is similar to what others have posted here. This is/ will be a very popular bat for seniors. My personal feeling is that I don't have enough bat speed due to lack of talent or technique to take full advantage of such a light bat. I believe that the 26 oz end loaded Melee would have a MOI slightly higher than the 27 oz balanced with similar behavior. If you currently have good experience with any 25 oz bat flavor, the Melee would be a good choice.. If you have doubts about which "size" bat suits you, I would do my best to make a guest appearance at one of the senior league batting practice sessions and try a few flavors. IMO, 25 oz is very light unless excessively endloaded like the rocket launcher.. My guess is that the 25 oz Melee is good for small players that routinely hit the infield gaps for singles. Or big guys with very fast hands. I suppose You could still buy 3 or 4 rocket launchers in different weights. Take advantage of the money back guarantee once you decide which suits you best. Otherwise it's probably time for Alan (AT1) to step in and help talk you off the ledge. -Bill |
| Sept. 22, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: A Question For You BAT GEEKS? to add some specifics related to me. I have a 27 oz balanced bat that I can swing at 75mph ( sometimes 80) . Off the T, the ball will travel approx 275. A 27 oz endload ( same brand ) will limit my bat speed approx 3-7 mph But off the T , I will get another 15-20 ft and sometimes hit 300 ft If you are looking for an additional 15 ft. ... There will be a huge difference when comparing 25 to 28 oz anything. If you want more ( or less) it may not really matter. When the big kids swing at 100 mph, everything they swing goes over a 300 ft fence. No worries It's still fun Bill |
| Sept. 22, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: A Question For You BAT GEEKS? Your last questions ,in order : .." So when 2 bats are exactly the same except for different weights the balance point is the only difference. Is it better to have the balance point closer to the barrel? " I believe that it's the product of weight and balance point that contribute most to the MOI of a bat. Manufacturers have the flexibility to mix-and-match both for any particular shell design ..." Why I am asking is because I've been looking at the 25 ounce Adidas Melee end load and trying to find out what is gained or lost when compared to a 28 ounce Adidas Melee end load. Does the weight difference really make much difference when bat meets ball?" Most likely, you will be able to swing the 25EL faster than the 28EL. The difference is significant and you will easily notice the effect. The resulting gain or loss in pop will depend on how much bat speed is sacrificed when increasing weight (MOI) When you become old and feeble like me, A lot of variables prevent you from swinging as fast as physically possible . No fast twitch muscles and the onset of senility keeps swinging at the same speed regardless of bat weight. So bigger MOI always gives me more pop. However, lower MOI gives more control for more consistent contact. Devil is always in the details . -bill |
| Sept. 22, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: A Question For You BAT GEEKS? From the geek perspective. The amount of endload will significantly affect the moment of inertia (MOI)of a bat. The more inertia and resulting momentum you can bring to impact of ball/bat collision the greater the exit speed/ distance of the ball. The MOI is the resistance you feel when you try to swing the bat as fast as possible. So, with increasing MOI, bat speed tends to decrease. We would all like to maximize both, so it's a bit of a balancing act depending on the individual. As B94 suggested the location of balance point is a good indicator of the amount of endload. Multiplying bat weight x balance point distance is a good method to find bats with similar swing behavior and similar MOI (something that only a few vendors like tri18 and Tatooball are willing to offer ) Lots of differences in bats and what goes into a good one. I will leave you to the opinions of good hitters with better experience as to which is the best bat. But once you start shopping for a particular "size" that suits your style, MOI is the best way to keep "apples to apples" comparisons. IMO, but mostly obtained from grownups cited in open literature, paid to do the analysis you are referring to. Regards, Bill |
| July 8, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: Melee2 hair line crack Any pics? How many swings? Is pop getting better, or worse? Did sound change? No matter, Like the rest of us, I'm sure you'll keep swinging until it's fate is a certainty. |
| July 8, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Hitting off a tee w/ different bats http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/bats/batw8.html Maybe. The link above will explain some of the relationship between bat speed and batted ball speed/ distance In general , increased momentum ( mass x velocity) will increase batted distance. You need to maintain bat speed to ensure increased momentum when using a heavier bat. |
| June 9, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: SSUSA Staff: Shaved Bats Benji, It's not that I disagree totally. As nothing is ever just black and white. Plenty of old guys with disposable cash to spend on any toy that suits them. And any Google search will quickly find enough people making money shaving bats. Not to mention an entire industry built around selling $200 bats to old guys. My point is, there is little reason to dispute the facts. Shaved bats exist. It's just a matter of perspective as to the significance of the problem No doubt that compression tests are not completely accurate. Otherwise the whole concept of shooting a ball out of a cannon to measure BPF or BBS would be moot. But it still seems like a pretty good way to filter out "unique" performers. And there are many ways the test could be refined to make it more reliable. As stated, I think is more important to remove bats that are too hot than to find out if they have been illegally altered. But if such a claim was justified I'm sure there are any ways to examine a bat before committing to destructive testing. Certainly there are grownups at all of the bat companies that can remove an end cap for visual inspection w/o damaging the barrel ? Again, IMO. bill |
| June 9, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: SSUSA Staff: Shaved Bats ....Nuthin,huh? Other softball orgs obviously use compression testers to identify bats that no longer meet their performance specs. The reason a bat is no longer legal ( whether shaved or well broken in) should be secondary to the process. I imagine that a bat considered too hot to have happened thru normal use could be set aside for more elaborate inspections. In the meantime, SSUSA appears to have accepted a policy of "wait and see" As long as old guys are too feable or too lucky to avoid killing anyone with a shaved bat, the current cash flow should justify the risks. we all still play, knowing that we are likely facing shaved bats. Other folks like ASA ,SSUSA or NCAA, have more stringent testing of bats for both the manufacturers certificate and player approval. But still no uniform policy from various regulating bodies. So I guess there will be a fair amount of blame to pass around when the s##t hits the fan. It's not rocket science. It's not even science. It's politics and money. IMO, Bill |
| May 31, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rocket Launcher PS Most of the grownups on this site recommend at bat that suits your particular swing preference. Most of the folk that market bats on this site acknowledge that all the top brands have similar performance potential. No ones opinion here is truely object but most are honest base on personal experience . Another site for honest yet biased opinions is "senior softball reviews" Have fun. |
| May 31, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rocket Launcher I'm the last person to tell you which weight you should choose to hit home runs. In general, little guys swing lighter bats. Bigger guys swing heavier bats. If you are a big guy with a fast swing, you can use whatever you like. If you are an old guy with no fast twitch muscles left you will likely gravitate towards a bit heavier bat to compensate for lack of bat speed. If you are and old guy and small ( like me) with no fast twitch muscles and no strength that you will choose a lighter bat that still permits good control of bat at the plate. In theory, the increased bat speed possible with using a bat with lower (lighter) MOI will compensate for slower bat speed resulting from a "heavier" larger MOI bat. But the reality is that everyones swing is altered differently with changes in bat weight, swing weight or MOI. If you really have a preference for total weight and amount of end load. It possible to find bats with similar swing behavior based on their MOI. knowing if they are really hotter or more durable or have a shorter break-in period is a bit harder w/o first hand experience or subjecting yourself to all the hype surrounding each new bat out there. regards, bill |
| May 31, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rocket Launcher oroblec, Without putting words in his mouth, I believe Doug is saying you should drop "2" ounces for the end-loaded RL if trying to maintain a swing weight similar to Dudley or Melee. If you choose a balanced RL, a 1 oz drop will get you similar behavior. In this situation, knowing the moment of inertia (MOI) would greatly assist helping different people compare the swing behavior of different bats. It's relatively easy to estimate if you know total weight and balance point. I would be even easier if the manufacturer would just tell us since they need to provide this info for BPF testing. regards, Bill |
| May 31, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: Question about 1.21 https://seniorsoftball.com/?news&story=121&keywordsfound=BPF That looks like something I would write. The link above is a good place to start. I'm sure the senior staff here are the final authority on this matter if they choose to comment. Articles by Richard Brandt and DA Russell regarding the physics and testing of bat/ball interactions in softball provide most of the reasoning for my initial comments If you find their references to ASTM 1890 ( the test SSUSA uses) you will see that the senior bats have an easier path to certification than the more stringent ASTM 2019 procedure. Specifically I believe the procedure to certify senior bats at BPF=1.21 differs from other associations like ASA or USSSA in the following: 1) uses relatively low collision speeds (60 mph vs 110 mph) 2) no experimental profiling of bat to find location of max rebound speed (Testing is only done at mathematically defined COP location) 3) no accelerated break-in like rolling is performed prior to acceptance test I don't have a lot of tournament experience so I do not wish to sound like an authority. But my impression of senior tournaments is that a bat labeled with "BPF = 1.21" is the only criteria for senior use. Hitting a ball "too far" over the fence will not get your bat challanged . But hitting up the middle may call for a compression test. .? SSUSA's position on bat testing appears to be more political that technical. The old guys funding the league definitely like to hit home runs, even if it means standing in front of a 100mph missle. And since no one has been killed yet, the financial liability has not yet to materialize. All comments welcome, Regards, Bill , |
| March 27, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: Mikens NEW 12" Patriot senior bat Thanks Alan It would seem that shortening the barrel could make the freak appear more end loaded compared to the ultra black max load. ... In the same manner that Dudley uses for their end loaded Legends. Is there information available regarding MOI or balance points for the new flavors? In your opinion, is there any advantage to shortening the barrel as opposed to just adding weight to the end cap? Regards, Bill |
| March 18, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Achilles Tendon Soreness For me... Lots of stretching, from toes to your butt. Stretch the bottom of your foot, your Achilles,calf,hammy, butt and back to create as much slack in the load path as possible. Kneed Achilles and calf with rolling pin or similar. It will bring tears to your eye, but it helps. Extended warmup like lite jogging about an hour before game time ...and 600 mg of ibuprofen good luck, Bill |
| March 12, 2016 fennellwg | Topic: Bats Discussion: 2016 melee Thanks Lee, The reebok melee has always been popular here. It's good to hear that the new adidas flavors will old guys another good option for our bat fix. You have mentioned ,a couple of times , that the new bats have technology that allows them to swing 'faster' than in the past. I'm assuming that you are not claiming some new form of drag reduction for bats. So that typically implies that the adidas has reduced the moment of inertia or swing weight compared to the reebok. Have the balance points for a given weight changed by much? Would a prospective hitter consider moving up in weight or going from balanced to end loaded to get the same feel as a comparable reebok? When do you think the new melees will start showing up for the regular folks? Regards, Bill |
