"Best of Max Speaks Out on the internet "....Over the past two years Max has expressed his views on hitting and pitching training and mechanics. Many of these address fundamental issues that are key to maximizing your baseball abilities. Max Ratofor, BS, MS, Physiokinetist, Web Pilot and SETPRO consultant gives his "straight from the hip" views and opinions on today's training issues. You can send your questions and comments to maxrfd@ntplx.net |
| The following is Max's response to how a hitter actually generates bat speed (Reply to Jack Mankin). Dear Jack, As usual I have misplaced Professor Adair's book so I can't comment on his specific statement. I assume he says it is not possible to generate bat speed because there is no opposing force (feet firmly plated) to work against as one tries to swing. For the most part I agree. But it is still possible to develop a reasonable amount (50%?) of your maximum bat speed because the inertia of the lower body will oppose the movement of the upper body. It's the same principle as a cat's ability to right itself (land on its feet) if it is dropped with it its back facing downward (cat can turn 180 degrees in air with nothing to push against). I think professor Adair qualifies his discussion on swinging a bat by saying his model is based on certain assumptions. As an aside, I never answered a question you asked on another web site (subject was giving up on swing). My interpretation of professor Adair's analysis is that once the center of mass of the bat is allowed to leave the path of the hands, centripetal acceleration (whip effect) will now try to pull the bat out of your hands. The further the center of mass gets from the center of motion (typically the batters spinal column, the greater the force ((V^2/R)*M, where M=mass of bat, V=speed of center of mass and R = distance from center of motion). But V (speed of bat) will decrease as momentum is sucked out of system (system being bodies mass in rotation). The momentum transfer process is instantaneous. The goal is to get the bat head fully extended at the point of bodies maximum momentum (before the limits of muscle travel/force drop off). Once the head of the bat (center of mass) leaves my hand path, a self feeding extension will take place (self feeding because centripetal acceleration is V^2/R and V=R*W, where W=hitters body rotational velocity, thus centripetal acceleration = ((R*W)*(R*W))/R which equals R^2*W^2/R or R*W^2; centripetal acceleration will increase as the radius increases assuming W^2 remains reasonably stable (extend bat at bodies maximum rotational velocity, i.e. bodies maximum rotational momentum)). If the bodies angular momentum (rotational momentum) is significantly larger than the bats extended momentum, the bat head will continue to accelerate outwards rapidly (the radius R, gets bigger, acceleration gets bigger, accelerates faster, etc). The faster I can get the bat head extended, the sooner I reach maximum bat head speed (assuming I am at maximum rotational momentum). So far I have stuck with professor Adair’s model (weight on end of rope).But, if I rely on only the whip effect, I might not get the bat extended before I start to lose momentum because of the body slowing down (reached the limits of muscle travel). Unlike professor Adairs weight on the end of a rope, a bat is rigid. I can assist the bat head getting extended by the wrists pushing the bat head out faster (wrists release in a chopping motion). This helps get the bat head out of my hand path faster, especially at the beginning when the head is just starting out of the path and has only a small centripetal acceleration. This extension, where the arms, wrists are trying to force the bat head out is what I mean by not giving up on the swing (follow through). The batter tries to drive/extend the bat out using his wrists and arms at the same time pulling his back hip around as hard as possible. I know most everyone who reads this is now very ill or mad because I wasted the space with all this techno jargon. But I have followed many of Jacks posts and he has helped me better understand (pushed me) and question some of Professor Adair’s assumptions. Max |