Posted by: Coach C () on Thu Dec 5 11:11:27 2002

What is a good bat speed for a 18 year old college, female softball player? Do you measure that speed from initiation to the heavy bag or to full extension or does it matter?
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> Are there any studies or references or individual players to base what a good bat speed is; if so, where can I find them? Did the Olympic team, for example, get their bat speeeds tested?
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> What is a good bat speed for the male equalivent?
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> Is there any truth to the statement, that in order for a female hitter to hit a ball traveling 66 mph from 43 feet away, she needs at least the same amount of mph in bat speed?
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> Any guidance?

I think leverage is as important as batspeed. If you took a pepper swing at say 20 mph, would the ball go anywhere? The answer is no if you let go of the bat at contact, but if you held on it most certainly would. So the answer is we do not have to match the bat speed of the moving object, but we need to be stable to support the collision. This to me is the problem with swinging for the fences. It's not that one shouldn't ever do it, but understand the leverage (stability) you have at collision is far more important than the tension, reckless abandon freewheeling batspeed that I see so often in youth kids. My advice is work lower body and torso to create this batspeed you seek, and better develop the arms and wrists to support the collision that takes place at contact. One other piece of advice. Batspeed comes from loose, tension free muscles, not tight shoulders, hands and arms. Think smooth and the batspeed will develop from understanding that the arms are only carriers of the blow, not initiaters.

For the record Bonds has a batspeed in the mid to upper 90's. However he is extremely strong down below. He has hit pitches in the 100's.

I probably gave you more info than you sought, but I get very concerned when someone wants to know how fast they swing.

Good Luck