Posted by: Dave P (cdpaetkau@telus.net) on Tue Apr 25 11:28:02 2006

> > >>> 2) Bat speed must be at least influenced by strength, because it seems observable (in MLB today) that bigger, stronger people hit the ball further than people who are less strong. For that matter. men w/ perfect mechanics hit the ball further than women w/ perfect mechanics. <<<
> > >
> > > Hi Scott
> > >
> > > Welcome to the site. I would basically just ditto Donny’s assessment. – Efficient mechanics trumps strength with inefficient mechanics. Obviously, efficient mechanics applied with great force equals greater production.
> > >
> > > Jack Mankin
> >
> >
> > Thank you, Jack. About the answer I expected, I think.
> >
> > My daughter has benefited a good deal from the info I have been able to convey to her, based on your DVD - much appreciated.
> >
> > Highest regards,
> >
> > Scott
> Strength is not directly proportionate to bat speed because the more efficient you are with your hands the more explosive your swing will be yet if you are strong but have lethargic hands there is less explosiveness thus resulting in a weak swing. If you give a girl a bat and she has quick hands and swift hips she will hit the ball better than a fat strong kid.

Hi Jack

Strength has more of an influence to less efficient swings because the strength of the individual will help to compensate for poor contact or contact position. The ability to 'fight off a pitch' is more apt to happen if you are stronger HOWEVER a smaller muscled person with better mechanics, eye-hand coordination, and/or a better mental approach will need to fight off pitches less due to faster bathad speed and other pertinent factors. Bulky muscles that are TIGHT are less efficient in generating bathead speed. This is a proven fact that muscles that stretch and then contract produce faster motion and also more efficient swings that use the larger muscles (legs, torso, and core muscles) more efficient will generate faster bathead speeds.

Now if you can combine efficient batting mechanics with proportial strength you now create hitting machines that set records.

Bigger is not better because if that was the case all the major league scouts would be at the world strong man competitions recruiting for their teams.

Dave P