Posted by: ssarge (ssarginson@earthlink.net) on Sun Dec 28 14:06:16 2003

I have a gap in my understanding of the swing, and would appreciate some education.

I am aware that many of the greatest power hitters of all time were not large of stature. The facts (as I understand them) are that 200lbs was an abberation, and that bat weight was mid-to-high 30s, w/ Ruth and others being in the 40s.

Today's players are much stronger, pursuing weight training and nutritional programs undreamed of in the past. It seems pretty clear some of them are pursuing shortcuts to gaining the muscle mass as well, but whatever - the fact is, today's power hitters have 30-50 lbs more muscle than in the past.

Depending on which old timer's apochraphal story you listen to, guys like Mantle hit balls 600' or 800' or 3000'. Silly, probably, but the point is they did hit some tape measure shots, and if they could have stood 6" off the plate w/ impugnity like Bonds, 73 might not have set the record.

So what's going on? Here are a couple of my assumptions - I'd appreciate correction if I have these wrong. I really want to understand this.

1) Assuming optimal contact (plane, spin, bat angle, etc.) is made, the only factors affecting ball exit speed and distance are bat mass (assumes the same bat for all players) and bat speed.

2) Bat speed must be at least influenced by strength, because it seems observable (in MLB today) that bigger, stronger people hit the ball further than people who are less strong. For that matter. men w/ perfect mechanics hit the ball further than women w/ perfect mechanics.


If my assumptions are correct, what I don't understand is:

1) How does strength (which to some extent, I suppose is dependent upon muscle mass) translate to bat speed?

2) If there is a correlation between strength and bat speed, which muscles are most important to strengthen? (I assume predominantly lower body, with upper body development being more of a "look good on the trading card" phenomenon. But, I know I could well be wrong on this.)

3) If there is no direct correlation between strength and bat speed, is it possible that enhanced strength helps just in the sense of being able to swing w/ minimal fatigue and near maximal energy each day and each at-bat?

4) How did batters of previous eras do what they did? Was the extra weight in the bat a bigger factor than perhaps is commonly allowed? (I'm sure the answer to this is in Adair's book, and I intend to read it, but I wouldn't mind a shortcut in the meantime).

TIA for your insights.

Scott