Bat Speed -- Baseball Hitting Forum

Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Tue Jan 4 14:26:41 2005

hey all! i'm doing a science fair project about bat speed. the question i'm asking is "how does hand position on a softball bat affect your bat speed." I was wondering if any of you have any imput on which hand position (i'm testing 2 different ones the first is how most coaches have taught me when your middle knuckles are lined up.) the second i'm testing (the kuckles farthest away on ur left hand are lined up with your middle knuckles on your right hand- for right handed batters that is) which of those 2 would work the best and why. if you have any input on which hand position you think would work best and why that would be great could you please email me at hmbgirl2002@yahoo.com
~Kristen

Hi Kristen

When we describe the alignment of the knuckles, we should also consider what effect that alignment has on the wrists and forearms during the swing. When the batter keeps the wrist fairly straight, the lining up of the middle knuckles cause the forearm to be separated by only 15 to 30 degrees.

This 15 to 30 degree angle between the forearms is fine for a good contact position. The angle also presents little problem in the launch position for batters who initiate the swing with the back-elbow lowered to their side. However, what about batters who elevate the elbow 70 to 90 degrees up from their side? This launch position has the forearms separated 120 to 150+ degrees.

Obviously, if the middle knuckles are kept aligned, each wrist must be flexed (or abducted) 50+ degrees to allow the forearms to separate 130+degrees. -- In conclusion, we want the wrist straight at contact with a small angle separating the forearm. To maintain the same knuckle alignment and still accommodate the elevated elbow, the batter must allow the wrist the flex and un-flex during the swing (ala Barry Bonds).

Most batters however, choose to keep the wrist straighter and allow the top-hand to rotate around the handle to accommodate the elevated elbow. By keeping a loose grip, the top-hand can rotate back to a good position (middle knuckles aligned) at contact.

Jack Mankin

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> hey all! i'm doing a science fair project about bat speed. the question i'm asking is "how does hand position on a softball bat affect your bat speed." I was wondering if any of you have any imput on which hand position (i'm testing 2 different ones the first is how most coaches have taught me when your middle knuckles are lined up.) the second i'm testing (the kuckles farthest away on ur left hand are lined up with your middle knuckles on your right hand- for right handed batters that is) which of those 2 would work the best and why. if you have any input on which hand position you think would work best and why that would be great could you please email me at hmbgirl2002@yahoo.com 
> ~Kristen 
> 
> Hi Kristen
> 
> When we describe the alignment of the knuckles, we should also consider what effect that alignment has on the wrists and forearms during the swing. When the batter keeps the wrist fairly straight, the lining up of the middle knuckles cause the forearm to be separated by only 15 to 30 degrees. 
> 
> This 15 to 30 degree angle between the forearms is fine for a good contact position. The angle also presents little problem in the launch position for batters who initiate the swing with the back-elbow lowered to their side. However, what about batters who elevate the elbow 70 to 90 degrees up from their side? This launch position has the forearms separated 120 to 150+ degrees. 
> 
> Obviously, if the middle knuckles are kept aligned, each wrist must be flexed (or abducted) 50+ degrees to allow the forearms to separate 130+degrees. -- In conclusion, we want the wrist straight at contact with a small angle separating the forearm. To maintain the same knuckle alignment and still accommodate the elevated elbow, the batter must allow the wrist the flex and un-flex during the swing (ala Barry Bonds).
> 
> Most batters however, choose to keep the wrist straighter and allow the top-hand to rotate around the handle to accommodate the elevated elbow. By keeping a loose grip, the top-hand can rotate back to a good position (middle knuckles aligned) at contact.
> 
> Jack Mankin

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