Posted by: Bryce (bsummers06@wou.edu) on Thu Apr 22 00:53:43 2010

> > Great Post and answers...just found this site and it is very
intriguing......but in regards to the information in regards to bat
mass vs speed......am i correct in saying that a 30 oz bat swung at 68
mph will cause the ball to travel further than a 28oz bat swung at 68
mph? Of course all other things being equal?
> >
> > If this is the case than do you know what the trade off would be
in using a heavier bat vs the bat speed lost by doing so? For
example...if you could swing a 33 0z bat at 65 mph or a 30 oz bat at
68 mph, which would be the more desirable option....all else being
equal?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Dave
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Also another thing to take into consideration is the size of the
bat. But overall, it is more important to generate bat speed than it
is to get bat mass. A ball will travel farther when a heavier bat is
used if a hitter was able to use a heavy bat plus swing with the same
velocity of a light bat while hitting in the center of percussion.
The problem for most mortals is that they cannot swing a heavier bat
as fast. I don't know anyone that can swing a 42 ounce bat as fast
as a 33 ounce bat, including Barry Bonds.
> > >
> > > There is so much more. But I hope this answered some of your
questions.
> > >
> > > My Best,
> > >
> > > Joe Hernandez
>
> I'm thinking that the ball doesn't care.
>
> Does the ball know the weight of the bat?
> Or does the ball react to the density of material, and the speed, or
angular velocity, with which the bat impacts it?
>
> More hitter strength is required to accelerate a heavier vs. lighter
bat to a given speed.
>
> It would be interesting to see a study on ball response physics to
impact variables.
> Maybe Jack can help with this.
>
> Jim D

Guys,

I'm guessing that, in general, the bat you are most comfortable with
will be the one to best suit you. It's one of the oldest equations in
physics: Force = Mass * Acceleration. In other words, the greater the
mass of the bat, the more force it can impart to the ball. But at the
same time, a hitter cannot give a heavier bat the same amount of
acceleration as he can a lighter bat. Certainly, this doesn't happen
in a vacuum and other factors apply, such as the distribution of
weight of the bat itself, amount of spin imparted to the ball
(lessening the overall linear force imparted to it), etc. There
probably IS a minor advantage one way or the other, but I'd advise the
hitter to find the bat that he can swing WELL and consistently contact
the ball at the sweet spot with. Work on the mechanics with THAT bat,
because if you try and tweak every little thing, every time, it will
be harder to develop the consistency.

Bryce