Softball Hitting - Why Swinging a Heavy Bat on Deck is a Bad Idea

[morrisworldwide]

I agree. Besides, swinging a heavier bat while on-deck is about as effective as studying for a test while the teacher is handing it out!! DO THE WORK IN PRACTICE.

[overheadstorage]

The concept behind using a heavier bat in the circle is called "post-potentiation activation." The idea is that by using a heavier bat, more fibers are recruited, thus the bat can be swung faster. However, one thing people dont consider is that when you change the weight of the bat, you change the mechanics of the swing. Research shows that an increase of more than 10% in bat weight alters the swing. A better option is to warm-up with a bat that is 2-3 oz heavier than your regular bat.

[ProSeasons]

This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. A muscle fiber is determined to be fast or slow twitch GENETICALLY. It has nothing to do what you did on the on deck circle. If you want to accelerate a bigger or heavier bat, one must neurologically recruit the appropriate amount of muscle fiber to DO THE WORK, i.e., work to become STRONGER. As one becomes stronger, he or she becomes QUICKER. Period.

[markunit72]

if you been doing this for years and you can hit the ball well just keep doing it. theres no reason to mess up what you got going

[scitchrcoe]

People, he's not talking about using a heavier bat when hitting. He's talking about using double bats or a doughnut when warming up. Mass times acceleration has nothing to do with warming up your muscles. Sports are all about muscle memory, that's what he's talking about. If your muscles remember moving slowly in warmup, they'll move slowly during the game.

[panterastang]

27.5oz mayhem perfection!

[reimersnj]

27 oz... perfect bat weight

[milanoflix]

very laborious presentation

[max66bhs]

Force = Mass x Acceleration...that is how simple this really is. If you want to move an object then you have to apply a force. When you hit with a heavier bat, not a log but a bit heavier you will hit the ball further. It is simple physics.

[jetblackpaving]

Check out some of the other videos. This guy is dead on. This is also true in golf. They recently did a show on sports physics on discovery or espn, can't remember which, that clearly demonstrated the validity of this effect. Larger heavier items activate slow twich muscle fibers while lighter ones the fast twich ones. Yes f=ma.... you seem to be forgetting the acceleration.

[jumbo21515G]

You are right. Players kind of forget that you swing faster with a lighter bat, and slower with a heavier one. If you can swing as fast with a 30 oz than with a 28oz, then use the 30. But in reality, the gain in speed from using a 28, for example, more than compensate for the additional weight of a 30 but with less speed.

[Frosty539018]

well when u sub acceleration for a lighter bat, you forget about mass. ive tried hitting softballs with light bats and they never go far or as quick. I think heavier bats work better even though your swing may be a little slower. you get a better payoff

[Djm4114]

Frosty, the force you get on a ball is the product of mass and acceleration. Your body can only produce a certain amount of force, and if you increase the mass during warm-up, you will decrease you acceleration and it stays like that till you loosen up again, so don't use a heavy bat in the on deck circle.

[cymaddux31]

obviously you coach girls.