Posted by: Joe (joe.flowers@nofreewill.com) on Tue Sep 28 04:31:35 2010

> About the measurement you mention: Do you know what measurement
> numbers would be considered optimal or most desirable when
> calculating them?

Optimal is going to vary from individual to individual.
One thing to keep in mind, basic Kinetic Energy is 1/2 * mass x velocity^2, so you want to maximize the KE you bring to the collision with the ball. So, if you double the weight of the bat then you double the energy you bring to the collision. If you double the speed of the bat, then you quadruple the energy you bring to the collision. So, you can see why bat speed is so important (and driving slower and hitting the brakes before a car wreck).

There is a point at which no matter how light your bat is that you cannot swing any faster. This means you need to increase the weight of the bat so you put more energy into the collision - for free - no loss in bat speed.

Jack's research is about implementing the technique that will maximize your bat speed (and collision course with the ball), maximizing the velocity part of the KE equation. On the other end of this, you need to work on maximizing the weight of the bat that does not drop your bat speed by any significance. On the other hand, swinging a 0 pound bat means 0 KE. So, you've got to work on what feels most comfortable to you and how you can operate at the knee in the curve - the point just before your bat speed starts to drop off significantly. As you get stronger and back into condition, you'll get stronger and a heavier bat will be more optimal than a lighter one that you start with.

> Also, I think it was on this site that Jack or someone else
> mentioned the best effect was achieved by gripping a bat at the
> base of the handle.

I think this is true because this is a much much better grip for producing more bottom hand torque - pulling in - a sharp, explosive shortening of the radius of the spiraling-in circular-like hand path that causes the spike in the velocity of the head of the bat due to the conservation of angular momentum - the twirling figure skater effect seen when they bring their arms in sharply which produces a much much faster spin (rotation).

> This calculation you mention would seem to suggest choking up on a > longer, heavier bat would possibly produce a more favorable result.

Or, it could mean using a shorter bat - which is what I had in mind when I responded originally - keeping in mind plate coverage.

So many variables...
There is no relative maximum in the basic K.E. equation.
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