Posted by: Matt Schirm (coachschirm@hotmail.com) on Thu Mar 22 18:23:28 2007

Jack,

The goal for batters is to contact the ball as squarely as possible on the center of mass of their bats with as much center of mass velocity as possible. Velocity is defined as distance over time (i.e. - miles per hour). I believe that the only velocities that count are those directed toward where batters want to hit the ball (i.e. - center field for middle pitches). When velocities are directed in this way, then center of mass velocity and 'quickness to the ball' are directly related (higher velocities will arrive at the ball more 'quickly'.

Matt Schirm