Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatSpeed@aol.com) on Sat Oct 16 14:38:10 2004

>>> JACK, ARE YOU SAYING FLAIL IS THE SAME THING AS TOP HAND TORQUE? IF SO IM CONFUSED BECAUSE MANNY SAYS FLAIL IS LINEAR AND WE ALL ALREADY KNOW THAT FOR SURE TOP HAND TORQUE IS THE OPPOSITE OF LINEAR, THAT IS, THT IS ROTATIONAL.CLARIFICATION WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANKS. <<<

Hi James

No, I am not saying, “flail is the same thing as top-hand-torque.” In fact, the addition of the steering-wheel knob eliminates torque (hands applying force from opposing directions at the handle) as a factor in generating angular displacement of the bat-head.

There are two independent mechanical principles at work that induce the rate of angular displacement of the bat (bat speed).

Principle (1) – An angular displacement rate of the hand-path (CHP) induces angular displacement of the bat-head. -- Some may refer to this as “flail.”

Principle (2) – Hands applying force at the handle from opposing directions (Torque).

We set up tests that would isolate the bat speed generated from each principle. In order to gather data on bat speed generated from the CHP alone, we needed to eliminate the torque factor. That is why we added a steering-wheel knob for this test. – We found that the straighter the hand-path (less angular displacement) the less the bat speed generated.

In order to test for the amount of bat speed that could be generated from Torque alone (little to none generated from a CHP), we kept the hand-path as straight as possible. --- We found that with a 24 to 26 inch hand-path, both CHP alone and Torque alone produced 50 to 55 mph bat speed. Readings for applying both (CHP & Torque – John Elliot – 34/32) was around 81 to 84 mph.

Jack Mankin