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| Posted | Discussion |
| June 14, 2014 ? 121 posts | Bat Weights & Bat Doughnuts I was just reading an article about a study a few years ago that claims that swinging a weighted bat just prior to getting into the batters box will actually Slow Your Bat Speed DOWN!! Any input or thoughts? |
| June 14, 2014 garyheifner 649 posts | Can't comment on the study but I do swing a bat a 100 times a day with a 1 pound donut and another 100 with a 2 pound weight-easy in sets of 25 while watching TV. Started several years ago I have definately increased my hand-wrist and forearm strength. I am no longer a HR threat unless a serious wind is blowing out but I really feel my bat head speed with my 29 is faster and I get more velocity on the lined singles than I did 3-4 years ago. Got macho and doubled the workout for a while but just ended up with sore wrists. I mentioned in another post that I saw Resmondo play recently. They have a Weighted ROD in the warm-up area and many of their guys swing it two or three times real easy but then take 3 or 4 really violent practice swings with their game bat before stepping in. I told my teammates that were watching with me that we would break our backs if we swung that hard in the warm up area. |
| June 14, 2014 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | I have heard and read the same thing..?.......demarini says it in one of his vids...he says to just swing your gamer in the on deck circle.......he says the weighted bat slows your fast twitch muscles that are used to swing your bat ..... |
| June 15, 2014 0 70 posts | Interesting.... Now that I think about it, I've noticed that in other sports where speed is important, like a golfer just before hitting a ball or a sprinter running a race don't use any sort of heavy weight just before their swing or race. Also MLB pitchers don't go into a game on the mound warming up with a heavy ball before the first game pitch. |
| June 15, 2014 Nancy Allen Men's 55 1438 posts | When Ray D had his series, he said that using a Wiffle ball bat was the best exercise. I believe the reason was more about training the muscles and helping increase your bat speed before swinging your real bat, but I would have to look for the video since I do not trust my memory right now. I just remember that we kept one in Coachie's bat bag. Of course Ray was the one that trained all of you to give up your 36, 38 ounce bats in the first place with the concept of bat speed. I have yet to hit a home run, but Ray also made it much easier for me to even find a bat under 30 ounces which really helped my batting. I still remember being delighted at finding a 29 ounce Tennessee Thumper because it was the lightest one that I ever had. My favorite is a 25.5 EST, but most of mine are 26 bats. I could never bring myself to use a fast pitch bat. |
| June 15, 2014 HJ Men's 70 481 posts | I believe Mike Macenko has on this site set forth his program. By memory it involves swing your regular bat and then 1 8 oz or so heavier and 1 8 oz or so lighter. It is a regimented program with specific amounts of reps. The theory is that the light bat activates the quick twitch muscle and then the brain "remembers" the feel of that swing and the other bats develop the strength to swing the regular bat that fast. I bought a SKLZ bamboo bat which is about 1" in diameter about 16 oz and most importantly is 34 inches long. Its real use is hand eye with small wiffle balls, but I use it for fast twitch. Does the whole think work, probably does help some. |
| June 15, 2014 Shut Up & Pitch 67 posts | HJ So what does Macenko advise about what to swing in the on deck circle? |
| June 15, 2014 Wildtimes Men's 50 13 posts | I'd be interested in reading the article, if you'd be kind enough to post a link. I've used both the 16oz (blue) and 24oz (black) Pow'r Wraps for years with great success as part of my on deck routine. I'll stretch out my arms and back with it and then take 3 big swings. Right before I enter the batters box I swing my game bat (27oz Worth Legit )as hard/fast as I can...then I'm ready. My goal has always been to swing as fast as possible thus hitting the ball as hard as I can to all fields. In my opinion using the pre warm-up weight absolutely works for me - Scott 'Git R Done' 50 |
| June 16, 2014 cw Men's 65 79 posts | But just about every MLB basball player swings their bat with a weight in the on-deck circle. Maybe they should break out the wiffle ball bat? Or does it have something to do with the speed at which the ball is coming towards you? |
| June 16, 2014 Shut Up & Pitch 67 posts | Wildtimes This is one of the articles I have read, I know there are other..... http://megliofitness.com/should-baseball-players-warm-up-with-a-weighted-bat/ |
| June 16, 2014 ? 121 posts | Be sure to watch the VIDEO in the above article. |
| June 16, 2014 Wes Men's 65 335 posts | The study is right--you build bat speed befor the season starts. I start BP in Jan Feb with some old 34oz wood bat and try and build up muscle and speed. I got one of those end of the bat swing speed computers last year so I check my speed at each BP--it's a good item and it work for me. |
| June 16, 2014 batter4u Men's 65 82 posts | never used a heavy bat to warm up with since getting rid of my 35 oz black magic that I hit with a long time ago. Always used the gym to work on strength and used a broken bat with a couple of inches cut off the end for my warm up, although some of the guys looked at me like ???? when I was warming up. Saw this video a long time ago and routine works for me.. Now if I could only find a way not to hit those damm short piches |
| June 16, 2014 HJ Men's 70 481 posts | This is the link to MM's batspeed program: http://www.bigcat844.com/increasing_bat_speed.html His site also has other specific pages of softball advice including weight training. I didn't see any advice of an on deck routine, but I might have missed it. I think whatever makes you feel comfortable and relaxed is best for you on the on deck circle. All muscles are in pairs so the muscles which fire the swing must be warmed up and flexible. Likewise the muscles which "stop" the swing must be relaxed. Personally, I just swing my game bat as fast as I can and concentrate as if a ball were being pitched so my eyes are on the imaginary ball as I swing. |
| June 16, 2014 bkb555 301 posts | weighted bat works for me....I can see if you use one for off season or something but swinging a weighted bat before going up to the plate INCREASES bat speed because your bat is lighter to your feel.....each to their own I say...it loosens muscles, increases flexibility and makes the bat feel easier to swing...... |
| June 17, 2014 Home Plate 35 posts | bkb555 Did you really READ the ARTICLE and WATCH the VIDEO? Try it again.... http://megliofitness.com/should-baseball-players-warm-up-with-a-weighted-bat/ |
| June 17, 2014 HJ Men's 70 481 posts | I did read the link and watch the video. Although the science is not persuasive I did notice something for both the golfer and the BB hitter. It seemed that their timing was slightly off after using the heavier bat or golf club. For those of us who are challenged to make consistent good contact, it seems to me we should never use a heavy bat during the season and in fact should probably have 2 or more of the same bat to use for BP and games. I recall that Ted Williams was fanatical about his bats and would reject any new bat which was slightly off in any way as to weight or conformation. That said I believe weight training and a batspeed program using different weight are probably both beneficial during the off season. By the way the link and video both do point out that the bat does "feel" lighter after the heavy bat swings and also points out that how it feels is totally irrelevant. I have seen good fielders make throwing errors early in the game after warming up with a heavy ball. |
| June 17, 2014 Pull My Finger 81 posts | There is something that was NOT MENTIONED OR EXPLORED IS HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR BAT SPEEDS TO RETURN TO NORMAL? I do the heavy bat, light bat work out. Also I use a bat speed meter. I have noticed that after I use the heavy bat the speeds of the light bat do go down. However after taking about 10-20 swings with my regular bat...... My swing speeds SEEM to return to normal. So I believe that while there is a drop in bat speeds after using a weighted bat it is not permanent and will return to normal in a short time. But probably not in the short time it takes to get from the on deck circle to the batters box. |
| June 17, 2014 bkb555 301 posts | I don't come on here to argue with people...I stated what worked for me.....for some people it helps, others it does not...I have been playing softball for 37 years, I have tried many things over the years, heavy bat seems to work for me....not everyone, but it works for me..... some people use 30 ounce bats, some use 26, some use 2 piece , some use one piece, some people wear high tops, some wear turf shoes...if the game was the same for everyone, there would only be one bat, one shoe and one glove out there......it's just an opinion but not everything fits into the same mold |
| June 17, 2014 lewis 49 posts | If you watch major league baseball most of the on deck hitters are swinging with a object over their bats. |
| June 17, 2014 Az Iz 66 posts | Can anybody name another sport in which heavier weights for warm up are used less than a minute before a using lighter game weight? Do horse trainers make race horses run with extra weights just seconds before entering the starting gate? Or Olympic sprinters? What about Golf do they swing heavy clubs just before the long drive? Hockey sticks? Tennis rackets? Football? Swimming? |
