Bat Speed -- Baseball Hitting Forum

Posted by: () on Thu Feb 13 16:01:48 2003

Mark

Unlike in Baseball where the pitch is originating from over 6 feet high and for the ball to get to the strike zone which is only 3 feet high the ball must be falling. Now remember that I said a ball moves in any direction due to combination of drag forces, speed, gravity, and spin. By studying physics you can determine how a ball moves. Now back to my pont about the pitch height. A softball pitcher is throwing the ball from a maximum height of 3 feet probably closer to 2.5 feet for women. If the case of the ball always going down was the case then we could never throw a ball 6 feet high. The reason a ball jumps at the end of a riseball is because the spin of the ball in combination with the drag forces being unequal between the top and the bottom of the ball allows the air to push the ball higher. The longer a ball maintains more speed then what the spin and drag forces can impact the flatter the pitch. This is the reason why if a pitcher is throwing into a wind the ball moves more. The wind slows down the ball more and impacts on the movement do to a greater decrease in speed to spin ratio. There of course is a point where if the pitch is too slow there is not enough time for the spin to affect the ball.

Biomechanically using forces and constants a rise ball is an easier ball to get lift from. Lift works both ways. You get lift from underspin after you hit the ball it will carry the ball farther. You actually do not want to match swing plane the same way as hitting a low ball because you lose the already biomechanical advantage of hitting a riseball. You will nulify the spin of the ball and like you said hit it into the ground. I said you wanted a FLATTER swing plane.

A two wheel jugs machine will work to get the ball to go up but not as consitant as it will be if you are using seamed balls (drag). Try setting up the machine with about 75-80 on the bottom and about 35 on the top wheel. It is more of a gradual rise ball but is better then throwing drop balls all day.

I have instructed many athletes on hitting a riseball and some never do learn how to hit it properly but the exercise I give them about focusing above the ball works for 75% of them. They may not hit line drives all the time but they make contact.

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> Mark
> 
> Unlike in Baseball where the pitch is originating from over 6 feet high and for the ball to get to the strike zone which is only 3 feet high the ball must be falling.  Now remember that I said a ball moves in any direction due to combination of drag forces, speed, gravity, and spin.  By studying physics you can determine how a ball moves.  Now back to my pont about the pitch height.  A softball pitcher is throwing the ball from a maximum height of 3 feet probably closer to 2.5 feet for women.  If the case of the ball always going down was the case then we could never throw a ball 6 feet high.  The reason a ball jumps at the end of a riseball is because the spin  of the ball in combination with the drag forces being unequal between the top and the bottom of the ball allows the air to push the ball higher.  The longer a ball maintains more speed then what the spin and drag forces can impact the flatter the pitch.  This is the reason why if a pitcher is throwing into a wind the ball moves more.  The wind slows down the ball more and impacts on the movement do to a greater decrease in speed to spin ratio.  There of course is a point where if the pitch is too slow there is not enough time for the spin to affect the ball.
> 
> Biomechanically using forces and constants a rise ball is an easier ball to get lift from.  Lift works both ways.  You get lift from underspin after you hit the ball it will carry the ball farther.  You actually do not want to match swing plane the same way as hitting a low ball because you lose the already biomechanical advantage of hitting a riseball.  You will nulify the spin of the ball and like you said hit it into the ground.  I said you wanted a FLATTER swing plane.  
> 
> A two wheel jugs machine will work to get the ball to go up but not as consitant as it will be if you are using seamed balls (drag).  Try setting up the machine with about 75-80 on the bottom and about 35 on the top wheel.  It is more of a gradual rise ball but is better then throwing drop balls all day.  
> 
> I have instructed many athletes on hitting a riseball and some never do learn how to hit it properly but the exercise I give them about focusing above the ball works for 75% of them.  They may not hit line drives all the time but they make contact.

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