Posted by: Coach C () on Thu May 8 20:33:37 2003

I have read all the batspeed and swing mechanics articles on this site and I tend to agree with most of the research. However, I would like someone to explain if the exact same batspeed can
> be achieved be two players of say 10 inches in size difference. For example I coach 13 year old
> kids and I look at two players one 6 foot the other 5 foot. It would appear to me that the 5 foot kid is swinging the bat with much greater speed than the 6 foot kid who has a painfully slow
> swing velosity. Yet the 6 foot kid with the slow swing hits the ball three times as far and with much greater force. It would appear to me that size and strength are primary factors. Could someone explain why this seems to be case and how that applies to the swing velosity theory.


Batspeed before contact, not post contact. I've seen plenty of people who can generate great batspeed....85+ Mph, but couldn't hit very far, unless they hit the ball way out front and pull or push it. I've seen people look effortless at 80 Mph or less and hit bombs regularly. The difference is that the great hitters get to that speed prior to contact, the poor hitters get that speed at post contact. Taller people have longer limbs as well and with mechanics that are executed correctly, the arc of the swing would be longer creating more speed on the end. Think of a ball on the end of a string.....The longer the string the faster the ball will go when it's released.

I don't know if you golf, but the radius of Ernie Els' swing is extremely long, this allows him to generate more club head speed than most, thus hitting the ball a ton. Look at how long John Daly's swing is. Now I'm not advocating we preach length......but when your limbs are longer (and the mechanics correct) you have no choice. Tall guys anatomically should have an advantage in batspeed, but their strikezone is larger and that's the trade off.

There are either key elements as well, such as core strength and leg stability, but all things being equal, length builds speed (a good thing), but takes more time (not a good thing).


Respectfully,

Coach C