Posted by: Jack Mankin (Mrbatspeed@aol.com) on Mon Apr 28 13:12:10 2003

>>> I'd like an answer to a question that has been asked several times but never answered.

Where does the batspeed come from, when Arod is fooled and hits a ball low and outside, way off the plate, 390 feet. He basically throws the barrel at the ball. There is no tht in the swing, there is no bht in the swing and there is no chp. Where does that bat speed come from? <<<

Hi Teacherman

I am afraid your assessment is wrong on two counts. Not only does Arod maintain a CHP on outside pitches, the radius of the hand-path is greater and for a given rate of angular displacement, the bat speed gained is greater than with a shorter radius. He is able to retain the rate of angular displacement of the hands by applying top-hand-torque over a greater portion of the swing.

As he applies the THT required for an outside pitch, the bat-head accelerates back toward the catcher in a wider arc and the back-elbow does not lower directly to his side as with an inside pitch. It also sweeps out in a wider path. This trajectory sends the hand-path (and bat-head) into a wider radius and allows him to generate greater bat-head speed back toward the catcher before he turns and directs his energy toward the ball.

You are correct regarding BHT. On outside pitches there is less shoulder rotation and thus less BHT being applied. But it is made up for by the added THT.

Jack Mankin