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| Posted | Discussion |
| Jan. 20, 2011 OmahaChuck Men's 60 39 posts | Sports Sensors - Swing Speed Radar Ordered one of these devices off of eBay about a week ago and am loving it. Trying to get my bat speed up to generate more power and find the right groove that produces the greatest speed while maintaining control. You can really see the difference in bat weight too. Anyway, just wanted you guys to know that it is pretty cool. Has anyone used it before? Does anyone know of any formula or reference that equates bat speed to 'approximate' distance? Here's a link to an eBay listing of the item I bought: http://cgi.ebay.com/Swing-Speed-Radar-FREE-SHIPPING-/260596968189?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cacca2afd |
| Jan. 21, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | I've had one for a couple of years. It is a great way to compare bat speeds of different weighted bats and techniques. Don't know about a formula for distance. It's all about timing and when you hit the ball in your swing, early and you loose distance. |
| Jan. 21, 2011 Mario Men's 50 451 posts | The heaviest bat at 100mph will hit the ball the farthest. Bat speed is important, but if you can swing the heavier bat just as fast, then the ball will go farther. If you run a dump truck in to a brick wall at 50 mph it will do ___ much damage. Now if you load that dump truck to capacity and run it into a brick wall at 50 mph it will do more damage than the empty truck did. |
| Jan. 21, 2011 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | The formula is the key. Which travels farther: a 30 oz bat at 95 mph bat speed or a 28 oz at 105? If you say it's the same effect, does the formula hold? How about a 32 oz at 80 mph versus a 26 oz at 120 mph? Anyone know the formula for mass versus speed? |
| Jan. 21, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | I'll throw another in. Which will hit the ball further, a 28oz with 2oz in the handle or one with the 2oz in the end. Through using my Swing Speed Radar I've found that you can swing balanced bat much faster than endloaded bats. I've posed this question online several times without a reply, "If you weighted you bantting gloves with a couple of ounces, would the hit bat travel further?" |
| Jan. 21, 2011 Gloffer 24 posts | I believe the raw formula is KE=1/2 mv2 KE=Kinetic Energy-the energy due to the motion of an object(the bat) m=mass (the bat) v2= velocity squared (the bat speed) So in pure energy terms that means that for a twofold increase in speed, the kinetic energy will increase by a factor of four. Now you have to factor in how the KE is actually transferred from the bat to the ball. But, per the formula any increase in speed goes up geometrically as opposed to an increase of the bat weight which only goes up porportionally. Per your example For the lighter bat: 1/2 X 105X105 X 28 = X units The 105 mph speed is a 12% increase in bat speed over 80 mph. This speed percentage increase is then squared 1.12 X 1.12= 1.25. So for the 12% change in bat speed you get a raw change in the KE by a factor of 125% Now for the heavier bat: 1/2 X 80 X 80 X 32= X units The 32 oz bat weight is a 14% increase in bat weight. This speed percentage increase is then merely added to the old bat weight. So for the 14% change in bat weight increase you get a raw KE change by a factor of 114%. 125% is much greater than 114% so that you can see that for an even lower percentage increase in bat speed as in the example provided, you can see that the available KE is more. 125% for a 12% increase in speed vs. 114% for a 14% increase in weight. I'm sure my thinking is flawed, but as they say, "speed kills." I never heard the same or similar saying for weight.:) |
| Jan. 21, 2011 Airbosn Men's 70 329 posts | Physics and Acoustics of Baseball & Softball Bats Daniel A. Russell, Ph.D. Applied Physics, Kettering University. Have fun reading the info...lol...It hurts my head and I taught science in college as a part time instructor. |
| Jan. 21, 2011 crusher Men's 75 524 posts | Ray Demarini described the key to hitting for distance is "the bats speed after striking the ball". If a 100mph swing is going 62mph after striking the ball the ball will travel 271.2 feet" If the bat swing speed befor striking the ball is 88mph and 83mph after striking the ball the ball will travel 321 feet. In the 100mph swing most of the energy was transfered to the bat, while, in the 88mph swing the energy was transfered to the ball. ball 44x375 |
| Jan. 21, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | crusher has hit the nail on the head.i have that video with demarini showing that.don't know how many times i have said that it is after hitting the ball contact speed that is important.he could swing all bat weights around 100 mph but his best after contact speed was with a 26 oz bat(his choice).he did say that one of his big guys on his team was real close in both before and after speed with a higher bat weight,so he didn't need to go down in weight. |
| Jan. 21, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | So, OmahaChuck, have you thought of a way to measure bat speed after contact? I tried this last spring but never accomplished it. I would place cardboard between the radar and my pre-contact swing and it would still read the speed. I thought maybe a sheet of lead might work. I was surprised that the cardboard didn't block the radar. |
| Jan. 22, 2011 The real deal Men's 70 114 posts | Fascinating stuff guys, thanks. As a line drive hitter, I always thought my lack of power was due to the fact that I'm a front foot hitter, not bat speed. My college baseball coach likened my swing to a boxer punching the heavy bag while sitting on a chair vs. a boxer punching the heavy bag coming off the back foot. Both punches were the same speed, but the latter had more power because of body leverage. |
| Jan. 22, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | While important, more things contribute to how far a ball will travel than just bat speed. Two primary ones are trajectory and amount of backspin. |
| Jan. 22, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | bruce you still haven't figured out how to do that,how about going a foot or so forward of your tee,or have you tried that.what about facing it to measure batted ball speed,and see what bat gets the best BBS.i might need to watch demarini's vid again and see how he did it. |
| Jan. 22, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | MD, I tried everything that I could think of. The radar reads the fastest speed and I can't figure out how to block the input up to ball contact. |
| Jan. 22, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | maybe we can work on it at CST,or TOC if you get there early,i'll be there tues afternoon/nite.... |
| Jan. 23, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | My plans are to get to Winterhaven early Wednesday afternoon. I'll bring it. |
| Jan. 23, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | otay bruce,maybe we can figure something out for ya.... |
| Jan. 24, 2011 leftyfalcon Men's 65 158 posts | Mad dog what's your number on your uniform I'll look you up. I know we don't play at the same park. But I might see you when we eat. I'll find out what hotel we are at. We might be at the same one you never know. See you at the TOC. Joe Lefty Falcon #8 Wild Bunch Softball 60 Major |
| Jan. 24, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | joe i'm 76 for the dallas spurs,we are gonna be at loyce park.which park are you guys,ya gonna be there wed and thurs for the festivities then.i met you at dalton one year(08),i was with the texas legends that year. |
| Jan. 24, 2011 hombre Men's 60 240 posts | Bruce, have you given any thought to using tin or aluminum foil to block the pre contact motion? Just a thought. |
| Jan. 24, 2011 garyheifner 649 posts | Hi Crusher Your comment might explain my last season. Not a single HR when I tried. A number of Hrs swinging smoothly for singles or trying to hit a gap. Maybe I put so much into the HR swing that I had no bathead speed after. Maybe the smoother swing led to more bathead speed after contact?????? |
| Jan. 24, 2011 crusher Men's 75 524 posts | garyheifner... That is so right about a smooth swing, it is amazing what happens to the ball on a TIMED SMOOTH SWING with FOLLOWTHRU. |
| Jan. 24, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | gary,crusher,both are so right,i have had my longest shots with that nice and smooth swing,its when i gorilla swing that it feels like i loose something off my swing. |
| Jan. 24, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | bruce what if you put the radar a touch out front so as only to catch the ball,might have to angle it out,and just use batted ball speed,for each bat.see what bat gives you the best batted ball speed,thats what we are looking for anyways right. |
| Jan. 24, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | Hombre, good idea. I can do the aluminum foil thing until I get a sheet of lead. MD, I've tried it all. We can work on it at CST. |
| Jan. 25, 2011 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | BruceinGa, Might think of putting gun facing up from ground, even if at angle, to catch bat after the ball is hit. |
| March 21, 2011 twinsfather 1 posts | The key is maintaining bat speed after contact. A bat that that is too light will reduce speed after contact due to inadequate mass, meanwhile a bat that is too heavy you won't be strong enough to maintain the bat speed after contact. The best bat size will be the one that allows the highest bat speed after contact with the ball. |
| March 21, 2011 leroy28 Men's 50 23 posts | Here's an idea. Go to a field with a fence and try all your bats and see which one hit's it the fartherest. |
| March 21, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | Mike, I did this a few years ago. I hit all of my ASA bats off a tee, 15 swings with each bat, excluded any mis-hits. My son marked where each ball landed and I then figured the average distance for each bat. My orange Mayhem had the best distance of my Extended, Flex, and my red/blue Worth. |
| March 21, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | twinsfather, correct, that's why I was trying to capture the bat speed after contact with the ball. |
| March 21, 2011 garyheifner 649 posts | After 8 very successful seasons in Senior Softball both power hitting and batting average, I think my whole 2011 season is screwed. I have been using the Tiger Wood method of see ball-kill ball. Now as I swing, all I am going to see is a long line of various numbers Xs other numbers and worrying about follow through bat head speed. |
| March 22, 2011 tg69 393 posts | Seriously guys.I think that you all are doing way too much thinking about this,just step in the box and take your best natural cut with a bat that feels good and let the chips(ball) fall where it may.Bruce,Ive seen you hit,you dont need any help,sweet swing.Dont know any of you other guys but I would say that mechanics may be your problem.Just my opinion. |
| March 22, 2011 goforit 97 posts | Gary i agree, my head is spinning from reading all of this important information about hitting. I'm sure there are players out there that believe that the more gimmicks/video's you have the better hitter you will be. In my opinion nothing takes the place of practice (finding your swing zone) and being consistant everytime you go up to the plate. Everything else just gets in the way of what you are trying to do when the game starts. You can pop the ball up with a heavy or light bat and a fast or slow swing. Just the thoughts of an old none gimmick/video guy. John Giesler Master Collision 60 Major |
| March 22, 2011 garyheifner 649 posts | goforit Your right. My 65AA Chicago Classics Gary Sox team has had success and has a line up of very good hitters. Mostly singles hitters and a little power. We are an amuzing team to watch in batting practice and games. I have never seen so many different types of hitting styles on any team. Everyone stands, strides, and swings differently. Some make you wonder how they even hit the ball at times. Find your own niche and go for it. |
| March 23, 2011 billcoo 35 posts | Ive done these test with a 28/29/30 oz bat...my ball speed off the bat was faster with a 29 or 30..... so dont forget to measure ball speed not distance |
| March 24, 2011 leroy28 Men's 50 23 posts | That's right goforit. Plenty of bp will take care of the timing part. Working out and watching the ball hit the bat will take care of the rest. |
| May 16, 2011 tekdad1023 Men's 40 8 posts | Not quite as old as you fellas but I will tell you that the guys that have the best follow through have the best " after contact" bat speed. An end loaded bat will not only assist in bat speed but also your follow through as well. finishing your swing in my opinion is the single most important factor in hitting for distance.... Troy E Class Act Softball, Norcal Calif... |
| May 16, 2011 BruceinGa Men's 70 3233 posts | I agree Troy! A few years ago I began to notice that most all of the big hitters would violently pull the bat around behind them after contact. |
| May 16, 2011 tekdad1023 Men's 40 8 posts | Yes Bruce I speak from experience. As I have gotten older and less flexible, it is a struggle to follow through. You can take a powerlifter with a 500lb bench and 22" that swings the bat extremely fast and " hello" apparently is " strong like bull" and he gets no distance on the ball, likewise is the case with the muscular flexible athelete who ironically has a big whirlwind follow through that hits tape measure bombs. In my early yrs I had the pleasure of playing with hall of famers ,Mike Cellura, Denny Jones and recently hitting with Mike Macenko. One thing they all have in common is a great finish or follow through swing. I'm a big guy myself and I practice letting my top hand go so I can finish my swing, the difference is substantial. I even see some big guys spin and end up with there bodies facing the batted ball. Hitting is truly an art that each has to master for himself, and in my opinion as I've stated before the finish is the most impotant part of power hitting.. Troy E ... Class Act Softball, Norcal.. |
