Posted by: BHL (Knight1285@aol.com) on Fri Apr 23 23:31:01 2004

The question was about bat quickness, not bat speed.
>
> What's the difference?

Hi George,

Bat quickness is a different concept than batspeed.

Obviously, the quickest way to bring the bat to the ball is to place it there in the first place, and bunt a pitch, or arc the bat back enough so that you can punch it through the infield.

You will attain very little batspeed.

Now, arc the bat a considerable amount of degrees backwards.

This time, you must swing the bat earlier; however, you will generate more power.

Now, arc the bat as far as you possibly can. You will need to swing even earlier, but will hit the ball with the maximum possible velocity.

Hence, bat quickness deals with being on time with the bathead, whereas batspeed pertains to the maximum possible velocity attained at contact.

BHL

Citations: JJA, who has explained to me the detail between the two concepts with great clarity.

Here are some thoughts:

90 degree bat head rotation will get you to the ball quicker than 180 degrees of angular displacement, but since speed deals with the accumulation of velocity over time, you will not be able to hit the ball as hard as when you use the latter amount of angular displacement. Inversely, if you use the latter, you can pick up great velocity, but, if you wait too late, will not hit the ball on the sweet spot.

Note: Personally, I prefer the latter, since balls hit imperfectly with more velocity will travel further than perfectly hit balls with less velocity.