Posted by: BHL (Knight1285@aol.com) on Thu May 6 19:37:57 2004

> >>> Thank you for your response. However, I thought the purpose of your original experiment was to show that torque applied at impact generated significant bat speed. <<<
>
> Here's your quote:
>
> "As the bat-head accelerated to the bag, it was evident that torque was a major factor in generating bat speed. "
>
> If I read your response properly, it appears you are saying that you should actually apply the torque throughout the swing, rather than at impact like your experiment demonstrated. In other words, your experiment demonstrated that torque can generate significant bat speed, but you're not advocating applying it in the manner described in your experiment. Is that a fair reading of your response?
>
> If that is a fair reading, then there is an obvious question that begs asking. If bottom hand torque is not applied at contact like your experiment, then precisely where in the swing is bottom hand torque applied? If you plotted a graph of bottom hand torque versus time, where would the maximum torque occur in the swing?
>
> Thanks – JJA <<<
>
> Hi JJA
>
> You must remember that Adair stated (Nyman and BHL agree) “a force at the handle is not transferred to the point of contact.” This means they discounted torque as a factor for generating any bat speed anywhere. To them torque does not exist at initiation, not in the middle of the swing, or in bringing the bat to contact. The sole purpose of the test was to prove that forces applied at the handle IS transferred to the point of contact – torque is a factor in generating bat speed.
>
> Yes, torque should be applied through the swing. -- Applying BHT does bring the bat to contact. The reason I used the linear method of applying torque was because most readers would understand extending the top-hand (linear) better than applying torque by pulling the bottom-hand back (BHT – rotational).
>
> I would venture to say that a pressure sensor pad on the handle would indicate that the forces supplied through the hands remain fairly constant throughout the swing. The more opposing the forces were the greater the bat speed developed. – Just my opinion as I have no data to support it.
>
> Jack Mankin
>
Hi Jack,

Please remember that Nyman believes in a "crack of the whip" type of analogy.

When I first entered the site, I believed that a circular hand path was garbage, and tried to "tear your arguments to shred." However, after reading your material many times, I became a firm believer in generating a good CHP.

You have also convinced me at this point in time that torque might play a role in the swing.

However, I have a question for you: how can one apply torque throughout the swing when centrifugal force causes the hands to have a very light grip on the bat?

Jack, it is the aforementioned question that troubles me with your suggestion that torque is created throughout the swing.

Is it possible to initiate the bat with torue, and a circular hand path, but, as a result of the rapid acceleration of the bat, have only angular displacement acting on it as a force at impact?

Sincerely,
BHL
Knight1285@aol.com

P.S. As of this moment, I believe torque is a minor factor in the swing.