Question about weighted training bats

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Jul 30, 2010
164
0
Pennsylvania
I am in the middle of a discussion with a coworker, she also coaches. Her team uses weighted bats, in the on deck circle ( or doughnuts). They also use a heavier bat in training. Our team trains with swift sticks to increase bat speed. We do nut use doughnuts on our bats in the on deck circle..

Pros/cons of either one? What do you use?
 
Oct 12, 2009
1,465
0
I am in the middle of a discussion with a coworker, she also coaches. Her team uses weighted bats, in the on deck circle ( or doughnuts). They also use a heavier bat in training. Our team trains with swift sticks to increase bat speed. We do nut use doughnuts on our bats in the on deck circle..

Pros/cons of either one? What do you use?

Neither one works.

See Coop DeRenne's book.
 
Jul 12, 2008
159
0
Tuscola, IL
That's funny Chris, here he says that they do work. Am I reading this wrong?
OVERLOAD + UNDERLOAD + WEIGHT TRAINING = INCREASED BATSPEED

In Dr. Coop DeRenne’s book Power Baseball, there are several studies proving that swinging with “weighted implements” (including lighter bats or underload bats) increased batspeed in players involved in these studies. These are examples of changing the intensity or volume of the exercise to increase strength.
 
Last edited:
Jul 26, 2010
3,567
0
I don't think there is anything wrong with training with weighted bats. Take the batting cage, for instance. Most girls figure out the ball speed and timing and where the ball is going in a few pitches, so that makes pitching machines pretty ineffective for teaching how to hit a ball. What pitching machines help with is swing mechanics. There's nothing wrong with the girls getting a good workout in swinging a heavier bat in the cages. Using the sticks to teach the girls how fast they should aspire to swing is also helpful. These are all tools and can be used in positive ways.

However, when you're actually doing live hitting, the batter should use "their" bat. Certainly in the on deck circle, where one of the main objectives is for the batter to time the pitcher, they want to do this with the same bat they'll use to hit against said pitcher. I don't think there is any benefit to throwing a batter's timing off right before they face a pitcher. I understand that the goal using the weights in the on deck circle is so the batter feels "lighter" when they're at the plate and thus can generate more bat speed, however this is nothing but a mental trick, and can be better accomplished if the batter has the correct mental composure to begin with.

-W
 
Jun 13, 2010
178
0
Weighted bats, or real light bats are good tools used correctly.
But more important is WHEN you use them I only encourage there use in the off season.
 
Aug 4, 2008
2,364
0
Lexington,Ohio
We spend a bunch of money on hitting lessons than someone gives them a weighted bat and changes the swing plane? Does that make sense to anyone? If you want to use weights use something that does not change the swing plane. This forces you to swing away from your body and we want to use centripetal force for bat speed and muscle memory especially for hand path and wrist releaseTurbo slot weighted gloves. Weight is on the back of the hand not the end of the bat.
 
Last edited:
Oct 12, 2009
1,465
0
That's funny Chris, here he says that they do work. Am I reading this wrong?
OVERLOAD + UNDERLOAD + WEIGHT TRAINING = INCREASED BATSPEED

In Dr. Coop DeRenne’s book Power Baseball, there are several studies proving that swinging with “weighted implements” (including lighter bats or underload bats) increased batspeed in players involved in these studies. These are examples of changing the intensity or volume of the exercise to increase strength.

I didn't say that weighted bats don't work.

The issue is that donuts make the bat too heavy and Swift Stiks are too light.

I don't want to steal the thunder from DeRenne's book, so get the details there.
 
Aug 10, 2010
27
0
Do not like weights

My DD is a really good hitter. Last year during a game I saw her in the on deck circle swinging with a doughnut. I cringed. I did not immediately go down to stop this, I waited because I knew it would throw off her timing. We all know, to exlain something to a 12 yr old is not the easiest. She had a poor at bat. I went down to the dugout and let her know why. She already kinda knew and agreed.
I believe there is no reason to fatigue the arms before an at bat. I seen someone post that is for the offseaon to condition, I agree. During the season I do not like to mess with timing. During the season I have my DD's do a lot of Tee work. 20-40 smacks as many days a week as possible. I also pull out the pitching machine once a week. They get very little BP during their team practices, because of the amount of time and amount of girls on the team. Better hitters practice, practice practice. I say Dump the weights during the season.
 

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