Posted by: Mark H. () on Sun Sep 30 15:48:47 2001

>>> You say the the mechanics for hitting a baseball and softball are the same so all the methods taught on this site about the swing are the same. This is in error.
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> > > > > > > Fast pitch softball has less reaction time so their swing must be a little more compact/quicker. The frame-by-frame says that in the begining of the swing the batter should slightly turn his/her back to the pitcher and extend your front arm across the body should not be taught to softball hitters. These actions make the swing longer and it takes more time.
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> > > > > > > Your statement is incorrect . The linear mechanics you are referring to will not bring the bat to contact quicker than the rotational mechanics exhibited by Barry Bonds or other great baseball hitters.
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> > > > > > > Jack Mankin
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> > > > > > Also, the reaction time in baseball at 60'6" is similar to the reaction time in fastpitch at 40' considering the fastest women throw near 70 and the fastest men's baseball pitchers throw near or around 100.
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> > > > > > Mark H.
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> > > > > Mark H.
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> > > > > You are talking about the amount of time it takes the ball to reach the plate. This is a superficial observation and is only one component of reaction time. Further is is by no means is it the most important one.
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> > > > > Joe A.
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> > > > Do go on. You have my attention.
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> > > > Mark H.
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> > > Mark,
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> > > I wasn't going to answer this because I am in a discusson with Jack about this subject. Jack is not answering my posts so I guess he has run out of excuses for the errors on the frame-by-frame. So, I will tell you.
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> > > First of all you must remember that we are dicussing the difference in reation time between fast pitch softball and base ball.
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> > > A 90 mph baseball at 60 feet (forget the 6 inches)is comparable in reaction time to a 60 mph softball at 40 feet which is High School distance. Both have a reaction time of .454545 seconds. This is as far as most "experts" go. They assume that since the time is the same the reaction time is the same.
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> > > Consider this. As soon as a pitcher releases the ball good hitters start to calcualte its path and decide where its going to be when it reaches the plate. To make this calcuation it the ball must travel some distance.
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> > > There is no reason to beleive that the ball must travel more or less distance for a softball or baseball player make this calculation. So, lets say for the sake of everyones education that it the ball must travel 15 feet before the batter can calculate where the pitch will be.
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> > > So after 15 feet the baseball player has used up only 25% of the time the ball will take to get to the plate. The softball player has used 38% of the and time.
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> > > So with a total travel time of .4545 the baseball player has .3409 seconds of reaction time after calculating the path of the ball. The softball player has .3090 secs.
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> > > Do you know anyone else who knows this stuff? Tell the truth.
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> > > Joe A.
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> > I have seen this discussed before, but I have never seen anyone present any research that convinced me it was definitely true or false. Since you "know" this, you must have done the research and I look forward eagerly to hearing about it since I do concede some possible validity to your point.
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> > As to the quickest swing, a study of Jack's site will tell you the results and methodology of his research on this question so maybe instead of answering you immediately, he is waiting to see if you do your due diligence first?
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> > By the way, did you ever decide whether in fact a fastpitch pitcher could make the ball break left, right or down? That thread kind of died out with some of my questions hanging after I gave you some suggestions about where to go do some field research.
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> > Mark H.
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> Mark,
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> Before I even consider giving you information about my research methods, tell me where you have seen this particular approach about reaction time discussed. Pleae give me details so I can go and access it myself.
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> I will not respond to any more of your posts until I get this information.
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> Joe A.
>

I follow the Fastpitch Forum, eteamz fastpitch discussion boards, Mike Epstein's site, and this discussion board. I occassionally drop in on High School Baseball Web, Setpro and some others. It would be one of these. Sorry if I disappointed you when you found out you weren't the only person in the world to think of this. Maybe you were the first. I doubt it since this game has been played for a long time, but who knows? In any case, it is possible you may have a valid point. Some of the lack of hitting in FP comes from technique, but some of it comes from other factors IMO. Your point may be part of it.

What about Jack's findings that the rotational swing took fewer frames on video than the linear swing? Also, I don't necessarily equate shorter with quicker.

What about the fastpitch pitching question?

Mark H.