Studies About Baseball and Fastpitch Hitting and Swings

We have accumulated a list of important studies related to hitting all in one handy reference.

Bat Speed, Exit Speed, and Distance

According to a Daniel Russell, Kettering University, Physics Study, non-wood bats may be 8mph faster, because of lighter weight (can be swung faster for more bat speed), and more "trampoline effect".

The MLB ball exit speed list from Hit Tracker Online.

The Univ of Florida Baseball Home Run Simulator shows the required exit speeds to hit a baseball for a given distance.

The Cal study by Sawicki and Hubbard concludes:

There is an optimal strategy for achieving maximimum range [of a batted ball]. For a typical fastball the batter should undercut the ball by 2.65 cm [see note] and swing upward at an angle 0.1594 rad [9 degrees].

Note: 2.65 cm is approx. 1 inch. However, reader bbrages at BBF pointed out that the authors were measuring the distance from the centerline of the bat to the centerline of the ball. This point of contact is approximately 1/2 inch below the centerline of the ball.

Bat MOI etc.

ASMI study on bat MOI Dr. Fleisig tested 17 college baseball and 17 college fastpitch players (aluminum bats)

Biomechanics of the Swing

Human Performance Techologies study by Welch, Banks, Cook, and Draovitch in November 1995 Hitting a Baseball: Biomechanical Description [PDF , Google Quick View]

This action defines two components of motion: rotational and linear [an early point of confusion]