Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Wed Jun 8 11:39:33 2005

 > Hi Jack,
> >
> > Excellent work with the site.
> >
> > I have been reviewing an argument re: the correct swing plane at contact for baseball vs softball.
> >
> > There is an interesting presentation at the following site (of which I’m not affiliated):
> >
> > http://www.swingmechanics.com/What_Will_It_Do.htm
> >
> > Shown is a softball bat hitting a softball. Swing angle, and whether the ball is hit above or below center line influences post-contact ball spin and trajectory.
> >
> > Although not shown, backspin introduces loft as per Bernoulli effect (i.e. lower air pressure on top of ball creates lift).
> >
> > The ratio of bat-to-ball cross-sectional diameter appears to influence how much backspin is likely to be induced by a downward hit on the lower half of the ball. This may be significant in softball.
> >
> > This ratio in baseball is much closer, and I believe it would be more difficult to introduce significant backspin (compared to translational speed) by swinging down on the lower half of a baseball.
> >
> > As such, for baseball, it is best to hit the ball square with slight upslope.
> >
> > Can you comment on the validity of this argument?
> >
> > Regards,
> > Mike.
>
>
>
>
> I believe the good folks at Swingmechanics.com are absolutely correct regarding the effect of spin on the ball induced by the bat. However be aware that all of the discussions on that site concern slowpitch softball. Maybe there is some benefit in attempting to induce spin in slowpitch.
>
> The objective in hitting a ball with a bat is to transfer as much energy to the ball as possible. Hitting the ball squarely in the middle accomplishes this. In fastpitch and baseball, striking the ball below center or above center produces fly balls and ground balls. Those kinds of results, if done consistently, tend to keep the player on the bench.
>
> I can't imagine any batter faced with pitch speed as seen in fastpitch and baseball ever developing a successful batting strategy based on the concept of inducing spin with the bat.
>
> In reading some of the ideas presented at swingmechanics.com it seems obvious that in the game of slowpitch, one can bat successfully without having much understanding of how the body creates maximum energy and transfers it to the ball. If one can hit a softball 400 feet as claimed with the swing mechanics presented there, imagine how far it would go with a proper swing!

Good point: not only is it easier to induce softball spin due to bat-to-ball diameter cross-sectional ratio - but in slowpitch softball the ball translational speed is much lower.

The Bernoulli effect (ball backspin creating lift) is due to the air pressure difference between top and bottom of ball. This difference, in turn, will be greater when the ball translational speed is lower.

Thus, the same backspin will generate a greater upward force if the ball is translating slower. This may explain why introducing spin is so effective in slowpitch softball.

Mike. <<<

Hi Mike & Jim

I agree with Todd Graham that backspin can be induced with varied swing planes. I would also agree that due to its diameter, greater backspin could be generated with a softball. However, I would say that his opening statement is quite misleading. He stated, “There is a common belief that if you want to hit the ball up in the air, you have to swing up at the ball and lift it. This is absolutely false.”

One could derive from the statement that ball flight distance with a bat angling downward at contact could produce ball flight distance as great as a bat angling upward at contact. Although a downward angle may produce equal or greater backspin, it will not produce equal or greater distance.

Rather than delving into the physics of why an up-slope can hit a ball (baseball or softball) farther, I decided to just look at the swing plane of balls hit a great distance. I reviewed tapes of a baseball home run contest and a slowpitch game between the Slowpitch-All-Stars and Major League Baseball players. --- I could not find a single home run (baseball or softball) where the bat was angling downward at contact.

Jack Mankin