Posted by: S. Procito () on Thu Jan 9 05:46:32 2003

does anybody think where contact is made has an effect on how hard or far a ball will travel. it seems better hitters can make contact when the ball is deeper in the box. closer to the catcher.
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> Typically the ball ishit harder when deeper in the the box because there is more power when the the batter has his hands in, Opposed to already extended. Its just like any other sport. Why do golfers line the ball up between there leg? more power.
> But i also think the farther the ball gets in a the box on a pull hitter the less power he has because of his style of swing. I play D-2 ball and i see way too much of this all the time. Better hitters can hit the ball where its pitched and thats all there is to it.

First of all, I assume that we all agree that greater bat speed = greater power when applied to the same point on the ball.

That being said, I agree with MacBee. It seems logical that batspeed increases as the swing progresses. At some point in the stance the bat is stationary. From 0 mph it starts moving forward toward the ball. The body is in motion and the hands are applying force/torque. Applying force to a moving objectmake the object move faster,assuming that the force is in the same direction the object is moving.

Hand force is applied constantly until the hands start to roll over and bat speed is increasing as long as the force is applied. Doesn't it stand to reason that the maximum batspeed is at the point just before the force is removed? This point is forward in the swing. At any point before that the bat speed is slower there for the power is less.

Isn't this what Jack is talking about with Top Hand Torque? A constant application of force to develop greater bat speed?

S Procito