Thread: Generating Power

Originally Posted by FiveFrameSwing

Personally, for me anyway, my biggest performance increase came not from worrying about bat speed per say, but more of a focus on the mechanics involved in transition.

FFS--figured I'd hear from you on this, and with this approach : >

Mr. T had similar thing to say: The hips, torso, hands, bat must fire in a similar way in softball for maximum power.

Would you agree power is all about that "firing" sequence?

Originally Posted by SBFAMILY

dbias, kids were having same issues with the TurboSlot Gloves. The Bat Jack actually works better , is cheaper, and you can't cheat with it on the bat like you can if you don't follow the instructions of the TurboSlot Gloves of pinching the finger and thumb together. I suggest the dd try it. I have many players now swear by it. It you use a bat speed meter, you can test what produces the most power in a swing. Howard Carrier has one mounted that we use to see what the bat speed is for a kid. Then you work as those posted above to improve that bat speed . You can also test different bats and see the effect on bat speed.

Have you measured bat speeds with and without the Bat Jack?

Originally Posted by RichK

FFS--figured I'd hear from you on this, and with this approach : >

Mr. T had similar thing to say: The hips, torso, hands, bat must fire in a similar way in softball for maximum power.

Would you agree power is all about that "firing" sequence?

I think I hear what you are asking for discussion. Fundamentals, sequence, mechanics all being correct, what conditioning or other factor can be added to enhance the power? Strength, etc. Did I hear you right?

Originally Posted by Mr T

Phreak what's a good way to measure bat speed? I just got a playsport. Maybe with the 60fps I can make some calculations, just need to figure out where to start and stop the "measurement"

One other thing Rich you asked about, big kids vs. smaller kids: For the younger ages especially girls do not use their sources of power. By chance when I first started teaching lower body mechanics to an 8U team the under-age 6 yr old paid the most attention and proceeded to hit the farthest ball I had seen hit in that league for 8U up to that point. That was an eye-opener. Yeah that was a tough athletic little kid but size and strength can easily be outdone by technique at the younger ages.

I really don't know the best way to measure bat speed. The only way I've ever seen is to measure it with a radar gun. I assume it measured it at the fastest point. Don't know if the measured speed with and without the Bat Jack could be definitive.

I think RichK's question is what can be done to make a difference in power assuming the mechanics are correct. And how physique and conditioning plays into that formula—long arms, weight, strength, etc.

I would like to hear specific areas to work on and how. Proven, softball-specific, muscle-targeted techniques would be great.

Swing Speed Radar Unit. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_sp...nsors%2C%20Inc Many on the market. We use one made in Cincinnati Ohio. Anyone that plays golf knows all about these devices. Yes we have tested grip with the correct grip you add 2 to 4 MPH. What was interesting with about 80 some kids we measured this at the beginning and the end of a Bustos hitting Clinic at Columbus, Ohio. The results were impressive when you train kids to swing a bat correctly. There are many that read but don't post on here have seen this device used by her and Howard Carrier at camps.

Originally Posted by FiveFrameSwing

IMO 'power' is intimately related to the 'firing sequence'.

Think back to those big hits you've had ... when you likely felt the swing was 'effortless'. I bet you thought the swing was 'effortless' because your usage of your arms to power the swing was minimal in relation to tapping into the swing's more optimal power source. The reason it felt 'effortless' was because the effort level with your arms was minimal. If you tried to hit the ball further, by engaging the arms, then you likely failed to hit the ball further ... because you changed the firing sequence.

What takes place in transition largely determines how one powers the swing.

And SBF ... to answer your question ... my reading was that of greater hit ball distances (and improved ball flight) with an increased focus on transition mechanics. I've never hit the ball so far as I have when I'm focused on transition mechanics.

DD hit a three run shot last night and it fell under the effortless category.
Me: Hey... New pitcher.. ya see her warming up
DD: yeah dropballer... i know up in the box
Me: yeah watch you've been casting a little lately
DD: I know... hands inside the ball

First pitch way clears 220 centerfield fence

Next at bat

Me: know what they will throw you now?
DD: yeah off speed or change... she's pretty good with it too
Me: I know the coach set on a change till you get a strike on you
DD: Ok

Sure enough change up first pitch and DD sent it to to left field fence for standup triple. Thing was a little low but she set on it and pulled it down third base line about six feet of the ground and 3B barely had time to flinch.

I think the "effortless" thing comes about when the batter guesses right on what to expect, gets what they were looking for and fires from the feet up. DD seems to do better when thinking more about the pitch and less about the swing.

Originally Posted by SBFAMILY

dbias, kids were having same issues with the TurboSlot Gloves. The Bat Jack actually works better , is cheaper, and you can't cheat with it on the bat like you can if you don't follow the instructions of the TurboSlot Gloves of pinching the finger and thumb together. I suggest the dd try it. I have many players now swear by it. It you use a bat speed meter, you can test what produces the most power in a swing. Howard Carrier has one mounted that we use to see what the bat speed is for a kid. Then you work as those posted above to improve that bat speed . You can also test different bats and see the effect on bat speed.

Will have to look into the BatJack. Can it be used on the bat in a game like the Turboslots or is it for training muscle memory? Seems to me if something was to put the bat handle to get it out in the fingers the batjack would be btwn the bat handle and the palm much like the pad of the turboslots. It seems interesting though.

Now im no scientist or anything when it comes to the power/speed analysis like some people are. I only commented that for my DD over the past few months she seems to have gained power, measured in HR as the bats she has used have gotten heavier. This spans several months, since Feb 28, and a variety of pitchers faced and tempratures played in. Early with the -10 it was terrible cold, and now with the -8 to is warmer so maybe that played into it a little. Like i have posted before DD is a strong athletic girl who loves to bat but has had trouble staying back on slower pitchers but is getting better with work.