Posted by: slugger (slugger@netzero.com) on Fri Jul 26 13:41:14 2002

Are there any good drills that can be used to help increase bat speed? My question is related to softball but does it really matter?
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> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > thanks
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> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Brian,
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> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > If you want to build up bat speed, develop more strenght.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Wrist, arms, back and legs. Well, i guess thats the whole body, right? Well, more strenght will increase speed.
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> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Joe A.
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> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > If strength were the key, then NFL linemen would have 100 mph+ batspeed.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Power is strength with quickness and as you develop your body for baseball you need to develop strength that is powerful - quick and fast developing strength.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > And as much as powerful muscles help, mechanics is the primary thing that will increase batspeed. Poor mechanics will waste any strength or power that you could develop.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Check out setpro for more details on proper training for power vs strength and what proper training entails.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > JoeA, get that spellchecker fixed.
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> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > You need to butt out
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> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Lol easy Joe, don't convert back, ive actually enjoyed reading your posts lately
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The Hitman
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> > > > > > > > > > > > > > That wasnt me someone was imposterating me
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> > > > > > > > > > > > > "The Three Faces of JoeA"
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> > > > > > > > > > > > NFL linemen don't have 100 a mph batspeed because they don't hit and no one measures their bat speed. No one cares because they play football not baseball.DUH!
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> > > > > > > > > > > > On the other hand, as anyone noticed any similarities between the most recent top home-run hiters? Sosa? McGwire? Bonds? After many, many years playing in the majors, suddently they bloon up into muscle men, look like NFL linemen and start hitting homeruns in numbers never seen before. Do you think that they changed their swing? No, they added muscles. I wonder why? Come on guys, use your powers of observation and some common sense.
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> > > > > > > > > > > > Joe A.
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> > > > > > > > > > > The observation seems accurate. But HOW do stronger muscles translate into batting power? Just more batspeed or is it something else?
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> > > > > > > > > > Batters can generate high bat speed with the strength they already have. If you increase strength you can maintain speed with a bigger bat (mass) which translates into greater power. But, remember, a power hitter hitting 4 or 5 in the order will bat from 450 to 500 at bats, maybe more. The top number of home runs is 73. They only have to hit it on the button about one in 7 times to hit the most homeruns ever hit. This site seems to be obsessed with homerun hitters but they are not the best hitters.
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> > > > > > > > > Have guys like Bonds and Sosa gone to heavier bats? or is that just conjecture?
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> > > > > > > > Why did Caminiti admit to using steroids? Why do many major leaguers use steroids? Why did mcgwire use andro? Why do major leaguers lift weights? Wake up and smell the coffee, man!!! Talk about top hand torque and other imaginary concepts all you want but the fact is, major leaguers know something you don't: strength = power!!! Don't get me wrong, steroids and andro are wrong (my opinion) but the point is, there is more to hitting than all of these things you guys have concocted up.
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> > > > > > > Ah, Milton,
> > > > > > > Thanks for the revelation that Major Leaguers lift weights and maybe to steroids. Without you and JoeA I wouldn't be up to date on any of this late breaking news.
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> > > > > > > Only thing I don't understand is that if you think strength is everything and technique is nothing, then why are you wasting your time posting here when you could be posting on powerlifting sites.???
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> > > > > > OK Minor Dan I'll ignore the stupid sarcasm and answer your question. First I didn't say strength os everything and technique is nothing, you said that. What I said is there is more to hitting than tophand torque bottom hand torque and whatever else you want to call the things you dream up.Speak English? Do you understand, now? I'll repeat it, there is more to hitting than just technique.
> > > > > > Second, why do I post? Because I have that right.It might not be in the Constitution but I have just as much a right as you or anyone else.There is one difference in me and you, though and that is that I don't need this site but it appears that you do need it. Seems like the more you post the more you are trying not just to convince others but to convince yourself of something.
> > > > > > Third, what is your problem? It seems like you are always trying to pick a fight with someone. Why is that?
> > > > > > Hasta luego, Minor Dan (sorry, do you speak English?)
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> > > > > I think we can all agree that stronger is better and players should work out. There are plenty of sites dedicated to conditioning/strengthening. This site is dedicated to the study of hitting mechanics. I too got the impression you were downplaying the importance of mechanics so I understand Dan's question. Evidently we misunderstood you. Since you apparently acknowledge some level of importance of mechanics in developing batspeed, perhaps you would care to address the original question in this thread?
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> > > > Drills do not increase batspeed, strength (in the right places), size (in the right places) and excellent mechanics is what increases batspeed.If the questioner has a particular major flaw in his swing it could be that some immediate corrections & relief could be provided, but generally it's a long term thing.Further details available upon request.
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> > > Are good drills properly used not one way to develop excellent mechanics?
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> > Of course you use drills to develop excellent mechanics. All I'm saying is that learning excellent mechanics is a long term process. Of course, the big question is what are the best mechanics.
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> That would be the first question wouldn't it. Can't start designing drills till we figure out where we're going. Assuming we want to hit for average AND power, what's your take on the best mechanics? Or if it would simplify the discussion, where do you differ from Jack?

Jack's theories are in the mainstream, he just mislabels his concepts and exaggerates/misinterprets what the so-called "linearists" have to say.

Hey, I think we all agree strength is important for hitting the long ball. But it's not everything. Good mechanics and of course hand-eye coordination are pretty important too. Look at Canseco...stong as a bull with great bat speed but couldn't hit the ball and too many strike outs. What happened to him? Old age? Don't really know but either mechanics and/or hand-eye coordination went south. So being stong is important but it's not everything. If your lucky enough to have strength with good mechanics and hand-eye coordination then you have the ingredients for hitting home runs.