MEASURE BASEBALL & SOFTBALL BAT SPEED WITH YOUR SWING SPEED RADAR
BAT SWING SPEED MEASUREMENTS
MEASURE THE SPEED OF THE BARREL OF THE BAT, OUT FRONT, IN THE HITTING ZONE
To measure bat speed “out front”, in the hitting zone where batters are taught to hit the ball, the Swing Speed Radar™ can be positioned in front of the batter, or behind the batter.The most important consideration in using the Swing Speed radar™ is to position it in the plane of the swing as the bat enters the hitting zone, similarly to positioning a ball at the desired height and location on a tee.
If the batter is swinging “in air” without a ball, the Swing Speed Radar™ can be located forward about six feet in front of the hitting zone, at the height of the bat swing through the hitting zone. The radar can be mounted on a tripod or hung on a net or fence, using the two snaphooks provided with the Swing Speed Radar.The batter is now swinging toward the radar as though it were the ball coming from the pitcher. This is an ideal location for bat swing training.
If the batter is swinging at a ball on a tee, the Swing Speed Radar™ must be located behind the batter to prevent the batted ball from striking the radar and/or erroneous reading caused by the unpredictable ball flight from the tee. The radar should be about six feet behind the tee, facing the ball on the tee and at the height of the ball.The radar must be sufficiently rearward , where a catcher would ordinarily be positioned, to prevent it from being struck with the bat .In this location, the batter is swinging away from the radar.To accomplish this positioning, the Swing Speed Radar™ can be mounted on a tripod, or hung on a net or fence by using the two snaphooks.
Whether the Swing Speed Radar™ is located rearward or forward, it will measure the speed of the bat barrelin the hitting zone.When determining the energy imparted to the ball, the maximum exit velocity results from the ball being struck at or near the “sweet spot” of the bat, which can be about 4” to 6” from the bat tip.Therefore bat barrel velocity is more relevant to ball exit velocity, and ball flight distance, than bat tip speed, which will be about15%-20% faster than the “sweet-spot” velocity.Thus a 60 mph average barrel velocity will correspond to a bat tip speed of about 70 mph.However, a batter doesn’t intentionally hit the ball with the bat tip—so measure bat barrel velocity with the Swing Speed Radar™.
BAT SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS
·A short, compact swing allows the most time to react to the pitch.
·A light bat can be swung faster, and with more control to make ball contact, facilitating the short, compact swing better than a heavy bat.
·A heavy bat will provide more momentum to drive through the ball.
·A heavier bat, swung at the same speed as a lighter bat, will hit the ball harder and farther.
·Select the heaviest bat swung at, or near, the same speed as the lightest bat.
SELECTION PROCESS
·Swing multiple candidate bats ten times each and record each swing speed.
·Alternate bats to eliminate physical biases.That is, swing bat A once, then bat B, then bat C; then bat D; swing D again, then C, then B, then A;repeat A, B, C, D, D,C, B, A ,A, B, etc, until the ten swings of each have been recorded.Average the speed for each bat.
·Select the heaviest bat that can be swung at, or near, the fastest average speed.
·Additional considerations include moment of inertia characteristics, incl. bat length, barrel size, shape, taper; sweet zone; and “feel” to the batter.The batter must be comfortable with the bat!!
HITTING INSTRUCTORS & TRAINING AIDS
There are many outstanding baseball/softball instructors who use, and sell, our Swing Speed Radar® and other valuable training aids.Some have email newsletters that are very informative regarding all aspects of the game.Prominent resources, listed alphabetically, are:
VSI Baseball, Coach Preston Peavy, GA, 404-909-8020, www.peavynet.com
WebBall, Coach Richard Todd, 888-205-3300, www.webball.com (great newsletter and products)
A particularly helpful hitting training aid is the unique Hands Back Hitter, created by Swing Buster, LLC.It embodies the key elements common to all successful hitters in an affordable hitting station by which players can practice proper hitting mechanics.Check out www.swingbuster.com, or call 877-422-8292 for details on this and other innovative training aids.
Another simple, but effective hitting aid is the Target Swing Trainer, offered by NEDCO Sports.Use it at practice or warming-up before games.Check out their web site, www.hit2win.com, or call 256-891-4006.
