Posted by: Dave P (cdpaetkau@tleus.net) on Tue Jul 4 11:03:31 2006

> >>> Hi Mike
>
> Sorry batspeed affects the distance the ball travels more then bat weight. For every 5 MPH great bathead speed you hit the ball 30 feet further in baseball and 20 feet further in softball. The addition of one ounce in weight will only contribute 4 feet in distance to ball travel.
>
> This comes striaight off a sport science text book. <<<
>
> Hi Dave
>
> I am a believer in both science and the importance of bat speed. However, there appears to be an inconsistency in what the scientific community is reporting.
>
> The “Sport Science Text Book” calculates that one ounce in weight will only contribute 4 feet in distance to ball travel. Professor Adair (The Science of Baseball) calculates that a 35 ounce wood bat swung at 70 mph can hit a ball about 410 feet. Therefore, according to Sport Science, a 34 ounce bat (at 70 mph) would hit the ball 406 feet, a 33 ounce bat would equal 402 feet and so on. This would mean that a bat with zero mass should hit a ball 260 feet. -- (410 – (4 X35) = 410 – 140 = 260)
>
> We know that is not the case. There is obviously many more factors to the correct equation.
>
> Jack Mankin

Jack

I understand what you are trying to explain but I think you are trying to simplify something that is too complicated for the ordinary individual. People coming to this site are not scientists and biomechanical wizards they are parents and coaches trying to get their players and children to hit the ball better. By trying to explain away the distance gained by increasing weight of the bat you and I both know that you can not divide distance by weight. BUT the calculations that govern force (F=MA) are not incorrect and the cacluations in an example of a bat swung with the same length, composition, force and acceleration of one ounce less will go the 4 feet less as previously stated. Unless you would like to refute the laws of motion.

Therefor using a really heavy bat is not the way to increase homerun potential.

You know that the factors to increase distance in hitting is the balance between science, mechnaics, mental approach, physical strength, weather, and other more simply factors. How much each one contributes is the bone of contention.

Dave P