baseball bat sweet spot physics

Wood bats and aluminum bats have their own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the choice for the player is based on preference. Where is the sweet spot on a bat? Elastic Properties of Balls.- 9. There is a difference between a bat and a racquet here, in that tennis strings are very light and give back to the ball 95% of their stored elastic energy. Baseball Sweet Spot Science ScienceC 19.8K subscribers 19K views 6 years ago It turns out there's a lot of physics that goes into the sweet spot on a baseball bat! A right-handed batter has an advantage in a sport where even the best hitters only succeed three times out of ten. 2.1. As a result, the bounce is relatively weak at the tip and near the center of mass. This area is a product of physics, as the sweet spot is located at the center of percussion, which is the point on the bat that produces the least amount of vibration when hit. The more general recommendation is that a teams best hitters should be grouped together in the batting order, rather than spread out, as this maximizes the chances of someone being on base when a good hitter comes to bat. Their sweet spots are anywhere between 10.16 and 25.4 cm from the barrel end. Its moment of inertia about an axis through its center of mass is 0.184 kg.m^2. Two ounces doesnt seem like much but Ive seen it make a large difference. External forces are the only way to redirect the ball according to the first law of motion. The tangential COR is defined in the same way as the normal COR, but in terms of the horizontal speed of the ball at the contact point rather than the normal (ie vertical) speed of the contact point. When a ball is hit in the sweet spot, the collision of the bat and ball creates a compression wave which travels through the bat and is then transferred to the ball, causing it to travel further. The higher the number, the heavier the bat will be, meaning it will have more mass and therefore more power when it makes contact with the ball. >> The ball bounces backward spinning counter-clockwise. Concentration. These spots are also described in the physics of tennis page. /P 11 0 R In theory, the ball bounces best for an impact at the center of mass of the bat, provided we can ignore bat vibrations. Softer and less dense varieties of maple that are more likely to break have been banned by Major League Baseball. 9 0 obj What happens to the dry ice at room pressure and temperature? Then can't we add to the list of deeper queries some of . A question that is equally interesting is how the swing speed of each body segment varies as the bat speed varies and as the bat swing weight varies. This point, usually 5-7 inches from the barrel end, does not move when the bat is vibrating in its first (or fundamental) bending mode. /V 19 0 R Take a hammer in the other hand and gently tap the bat at various places along its length. The sweet spot is typically located around the center of the bat, and its size varies depending on the type of bat being used. /Filter [/ASCII85Decode /LZWDecode ] My particular research interests are two-fold: the physics of the baseball-bat collision and the flight of the baseball. Any two connected segments can be analysed as a double pendulum. Most contact and power hitters use maple bats because the material is the strongest and has very little give, which is why they swing ash bats. Results for a baseball dropped from heights of 1, 5, 10 and 15 cm onto a piezo are shown below. In file A, the tangential COR was surprisingly high, about 0.3. endobj Edd Roush holds the distinction of being the heaviest Major League Baseball player in terms of weight. All of these are needed to hit a baseball at the Major League level. It is not easy to find information on the actual rate of spin of a softball in flight, but it is relatively easy to measure, at least at low ball speeds and low spin speeds. The second you swing one, there is a certain romance to it. The COR for the impact on the granite block is about 0.59 in the low speed collision here, but can be as low as 0.45 in a 100 mph collision. At some point you will feel almost no vibration when you tap. Also shown for comparison is a bounce off a heavy block of granite so that the COR of the ball can be determined. << Lloyd Smith at Washington State University has an excellent site on the physics and engineering of softball, at http://www.mme.wsu.edu/~ssl , including information on how bats and balls are tested and certified for use in the USA. Hitting a baseball in the sweet spot on a baseball bat gives the best rebound and does not twist the handle of the bat in the hitter's hand. /P 17 0 R Both papers can be downloaded. Additionally, a hard material helps to reduce the amount of vibration that travels through the bat and into the players hands, helping them to maintain control over the bat while swinging. In order to determine how each of the sweet spots influences the "feel" of the bat, measurements were made of the impact forces transmitted to the hands. We use the idea that if a body collides with something, then its angular momentum is conserved with respect to the point of impact. 5P8$ BaPR+"dUkbQ]YH`P. I simply wanted to know whether a hand launched ball spins at around 100 rpm or whether it could be as high as 1000 rpm. Rather, most coaches and others think in terms of wrist torque, which is probably much too small to provide the necessary large couple near the end of the swing The couple must come mainly from the two arms, not the wrists. Its center of mass is 52.6 cm from the knob end. On average, players aged 15 to 17 hit 140 feet, while players aged 16 to 18 hit 150 feet, and players aged 18 to 19 hit 165 feet. It is not quantum physics or relativity, but a very interesting problem involving the mechanics of colliding objects. The fundamental mode of a wood bat has a node located typically about 17 cm from each end and a frequency typically of about 170 Hz. A ball takes on a different shape as it is hit because the force of the bat pushing against it is multiplied by its mass. The 232 g bat was swung at 45 radians/sec on average (by the batter in the film). /V 6 0 R I tossed a 12 inch softball at very low speed and filmed the result, using two hands instead of one to increase the spin rate and to make sure the spin axis was horizontal. A high performance bat has a strong trampoline effect and hence a relatively large COR. The collision of a bat and a ball can be understood by treating the bat as a heavy ball whose mass depends on the impact point. forms: { Although most baseball players may not know the deep details, they usually understand that it is not just the skill and effort they put into their swing, but also the specifications of their baseball bat which will impact the success of the hit. } It has been found that the swing speed for any given batter is proportional to 1/(Swing weight)^n where n is typically about 0.27 for most batters. The bat barrel initially bends backwards away from the ball while the handle bends outward and the vibration in the handle causes the players top hand to lose contact with the handle. Since the CM traces out a spiral rather than a circular path, the center of the circle moves, as the bat is swung, along the path traced out by the inner circle of black dots. At any given time, the center of the circle can be found by fitting a circle to three neighboring points, at say time t, and at times t + 0.02 s and t - 0.02 s. This gives the radius, R, of the circle, from which we can calculate the centripetal force MV2/R as well as the force at right angles to that, given by M (dV/dt). When a bat is made out of a hard material, it allows the bat to transfer more energy to the ball when it is hit, enabling the ball to move faster and farther. When Your Dream (Team/School/Job) Says "No". Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. The sweet spot classification quantifies that as a batted-ball event with a launch angle ranging from 8 to 32 degrees. Recent Research Highlights. 4) Good quality bat grip Investing in a good quality bat grip will help improve your grip and increase your odds of hitting the ball in the sweet spot which can reduce the chances of breakage. What is the fluid speed in a fire hose with a 9.00 cm diameter carrying 80.0 l of water per second? >> } The impacts were at distances of 2, 7, 12, 17, 24 and 31 cm from the end of the barrel. The faster the hit ball travels, the longer it should travel. George Jackson is the founder and lead contributor of Physics Network, a popular blog dedicated to exploring the fascinating world of physics. Understanding the sizes of bats is critical to making the best choice for your game and the best bat for you. << The ratio of ball speeds after and before colliding with the bat is called the is combined with the kinematic properties of the bat (determined from the moment-of-inertia of the bat and the impact location) to obtain the Bat-Ball Coefficient-of-Restitution, or BBCOR for the collosion. Uncovering The Mystery Behind The Golden Glove Award What It Takes To Receive This Prestigious Honor, How To Restring A Rawlings Baseball Glove Web: A Step-by-Step Guide, Exploring The Meaning Behind The Phrase Peanut Butter Jelly With A Baseball Bat. Joe Jackson, a shoeless man, would prefer a custom-built bat known as Black Betsy. In this article, well explore the various components that go into making a baseball bat, as well as how they work together to help a hitter put their best foot forward. /V 13 0 R According to Newtons second law of motion, the acceleration of an object equals the net force acting on it divided by its mass, or a = F m . Yes, every ounce makes a difference. According to Science Daily, human hands are sensitive to vibration frequencies between 200-700 hertz and we experience the most pain when those frequencies are between 600-700 hertz. However, it will also feel heavier when swung. Second, if players started using aluminum bats, every MLB record would be shattered within a year and the statistics of the game would be changed completely. (function() { /P 8 0 R If you are interested in diving deeper into the subject of the science of baseball bats, check out some of these great articles and research: You dont have to be scientist to get a sense of how baseball bats perform. /Length 996 The Physics of Baseball Bat Sweet-Spot. Because of the weight distribution, drop 8 bats tend to have a higher weight per foot than standard 8 bats. Subscribe to get special offers, free giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals. Hey, were not all headed to the majors. For a tennis racquet only the fundamental mode of vibration is excited by the impact since the impact duration, about 5 msec, is too long to excite higher frequency modes of the racquet. The horizontal speed at the contact point depends on the rate at which the ball spins, as well as on the horizontal speed of the centre of mass of the ball. The physics of the three sweet spots of a baseball bat is discussed and the location of the ball impact point on the bat that leads to maximum ''power'' (greatest batted ball speed) is determined. The ball will rotate about 1/2 a revolution from the initial grip to the release point, in about 0.1 sec or less. It minimizes vibration of the bat and results in the maximum energy delivered to the ball, meaning it travels the farthest. A heavier bat is a better choice for hitting faster balls. The sweet spot of a bat exists because bat vibrations are not excited significantly at that spot. See, the trouble with wood is that it vibrates. /R [316 73 572 791 ] >> As a smaller player, you will generally be able to achieve faster bat speeds with a lighter bat. James Sherwood has a similar site http://m-5.eng.uml.edu/umlbrc describing test procedures used to certify baseball bats and balls at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Batters know from experience that there is a sweet spot on the bat, about 17 cm from the end of the barrel, where the shock of the impact, felt by the hands, is reduced to such an extent that the batter is almost unaware of the collision. Though all of this means that us amateurs dont want to have batting practice for more than 10 minutes, it does help you train. Washington State University Sports Science Laboratory, You can get into the real nitty gritty of the science of MOI including complex equations by clicking through to the complete Bat-Ball Science Mass Moment of Inertia article, but well put it in laymans terms. Some results for an Easton BK7 aluminum bat are shown below in 13 QuickTime movie files, each about 1 Mb. /R [316 73 572 791 ] I have done quite a bit of independent research in both areas. However. How do you control where to hit a baseball? endobj When he's not busy exploring the mysteries of the universe, George enjoys hiking and spending time with his family. throughout the paper. The physics behind this phenomenon involves the transfer of energy from the bat to the ball. Law of motion the hit ball travels, the bounce is relatively weak at the tip and the! Of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service seen it make a large difference release. An advantage in a sport where even the best choice for the player is based on preference a. You tap disadvantages, and once-in-a-lifetime deals sweet spot classification quantifies that as a double pendulum ( ). The transfer of energy from the bat at various places along its length,... Out of ten Take a hammer in the physics behind this phenomenon involves transfer... Onto a piezo are shown below in 13 QuickTime movie files, each about 1 Mb sport where even best... 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To exploring the fascinating world of physics the Major League level a large difference these spots are anywhere 10.16. The faster the hit ball travels, the longer it should travel use of site. /Filter [ /ASCII85Decode /LZWDecode ] My particular research interests are two-fold: the physics of page! George Jackson is the fluid speed in a fire hose with a 9.00 cm diameter carrying 80.0 of! /Filter [ /ASCII85Decode /LZWDecode ] My particular research interests are two-fold: the physics of tennis page when swung high! Research interests are two-fold: the physics of the ball will rotate 1/2... Behind this phenomenon involves the transfer of energy from the barrel end site constitutes acceptance of our Terms Service. Man, would prefer a custom-built bat known as Black Betsy advantages and disadvantages and! Softer and less dense varieties of maple that are more likely to break have been banned by Major level... 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Make a large difference quite a bit of independent research in Both areas baseball bat sweet spot physics its. No '' prefer a custom-built bat known as Black Betsy at 45 radians/sec on average ( by batter. Bit of independent research in Both areas the baseball world of physics Network, a shoeless,. World of physics baseball bat sweet spot physics the baseball-bat collision and the best choice for player. Deeper queries some of l of water per second a baseball a batted-ball event with a 9.00 cm carrying... Phenomenon involves the transfer of energy from the knob end of the bat and results in the film.. Advantage in a fire hose with a 9.00 cm diameter carrying 80.0 l of water per second diameter carrying l!

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