Posted by: Beer Belly (beer_belly_34@yahoo.com) on Mon Mar 12 12:14:31 2007

It is about bat speed, but it is about the bat speed during the time when the ball is in contact with the bat. Let me try to expand on this:

Force = mass * acceleration (M*A)
Momentum = mass * velocity (M*V)

Hitting is the result of 2 objects, with momentum, colliding. One of the objects the ball, we hope, goes flying. The other object, the bat, is slowed down. The bat's starting velocity, vs it's velocity just after impact with the ball is what determines how far that the ball will travel. (Assuming that the balls are hit in the same spot on the bat)

Why does the fat kid hit the ball further? Because his bat maintains more momentum thru the contact zone.

Stand beside the kids and watch their bats at impact, or better video tape them. You will see that the smaller kid's bats are affected significantly more by contact with the ball than are the fat kid's bats.

A heavier bat will only reduce the amount that the bat will slow down (momentum). If the kid can not swing the heavy bat as fast as the lighter bat, then will not help him. A bat this is too heavy will ruin their swing.

What can you do? Hit, hit, hit, hit, & wait for these kids to get bigger and stronger.