Posted by: Jack Mankin (MrBatspeed@aol.com) on Sun Nov 6 13:38:06 2005

>>> Bat speed alone does not equate to good hitting...mechanics can be altered to generate increased bat speed however what does this get you...?

First off what are the components of 'good hitting?" these are some that I think are importent
-pre-pitch preparation
-game situation...understanding what the at-bat means in the scope of the game.
-mental readiness
-physical readiness
-coping with pressure
-coping with past success and failure
-being able to take a positive (consistent) approach up to the plate every time
-balance and RHYTHM, (pre-pitch rhythm and, when the pitch is coming)
-focus
-seeing the baseball out of the pitchers hand
-anticipating break
-adjusting to strike zones
-adjusting to change of speed
-adjusting and being able to hit when your fooled
-consistently being able to get the barrel on the baseball…squaring it up.
-adjusting with 2 strikes
-understanding the tactical advantage and disadvantages when your ahead or behind in the count.
-MECHANICS and bat speed…

In my opinion there are a lot of thing that go into ‘good hitting’, the Holy Grail in my opinion is not bat speed…its ‘showey’ and sure sounds great but that along will not make you a good hitter.

If 'good hitting' is a !00%...how importent (in a percentage) is bat speed? <<<

Hi Scot

Welcome to the site. – All the points you mentioned are important. But so is hitting the ball hard and that requires bat speed. Obviously, the hitters at the top of the stat charts are great hitters. What percentage of them would you say do not generate great bat speed?

Jack Mankin