baseball bat sweet spot physics

The second definition is where the ball comes off the bat fastest. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. When a player has a bad hit and fails to hit the sweet spot, it causes vibrations which can cause the bat to bend or break. the location which produces least vibrational sensation (sting) in the batters hands. A recoil of the bat occurs when a ball collides with the bat, causing it to push back against it with equal force. The impacts were at distances of 2, 7, 12, 17, 24 and 31 cm from the end of the barrel. When a ball player hits the ball with the bat, it produces an enormous amount of force on the bat in a split second the impact could mean up to 5,000 lbs of force. What have you found works for you? Players tend to feel a zing in their hands; often called bat sting. Taking the rotation rate as 3/8 revolution / 0.04 sec gives 9.4 revolutions / sec or 560 rpm. Every bat has a sweet spot.. Every sport is governed by the laws of science physics, aerodynamics, kinematics, etc. The Physics of Baseball. There are some models that include oak, but it is not as popular as maple or ash. At room temperature, it will go from a solid to a gas directly. 13 0 obj The vibration of the bat takes energy away from the ball. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. However, the centripetal force does not act along the axis of the bat, but at an angle, as shown by the orange lines. The direction of the centripetal force is toward the center of the circle followed by the path of the CM. Explains r. cross, "the sweet spot of a baseball bat," american journal of physics, 66, 772-779. So, using a heavier bat should result in faster hit balls, which means the hit ball will travel farther. This minimises discomfort to the hands caused by vibrations excited by the impact. The mass moment of inertia (MOI) is a measure of the distribution of mass in the bat. It was found, by measuring the frequencies of lots of aluminum tubes (see photo) that the frequency is directly proportional to the wall thickness and inversely proportional to the tube diameter squared. Wood bats and aluminum bats have their own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the choice for the player is based on preference. In principle you could also work out the acceleration due to gravity in Sydney, but not very accurately. The result was not a super slow softball spin, neither was it particularly fast. The sweet spot of a baseball bat is the area on the bat that produces the most powerful and accurate hit when the ball is struck. The shapes of the force vs time curves are interesting since they tell us how the force on the ball varies with the amount of compression. If the bat is at rest then we can define the ball speed ratio, Bounce Factor = q = (ball exit speed) / (incident ball speed). (7Boo^^S:71(MN]ZQX/+Cbu.lK"p74pe1T%s.DY%&\1TdJhr54.M9au6>79n6`Q:4 The shoulders reach maximum speed first, then the upper arms, then the forearm and finally the bat. In recent years, an acoustics professor and engineer, Daniel Russell, from Pennsylvania State University helped, Bat-Ball Science Mass Moment of Inertia article, The Science Behind Breaking Baseball Bats, Characterizing the performance of baseball bats, Performance versus moment of inertia of sporting implements. George Jackson is the founder and lead contributor of Physics Network, a popular blog dedicated to exploring the fascinating world of physics. All this means that if goal of the bats design is to provide more power and speed, it makes it more likely to to crack and shatter. A lot has been learned over the years but more experiments need to be done to better understand how the ball bounces and how much spin it acquires when it bounces. A ball that strikes the bat does not cause it to vibrate at this point. Similarly, an impact at the node of the second mode will not excite the second mode but it will excite the fundamental mode. As discussed earlier, missing the sweet spot can cause vibrations in the bat. 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. >> endobj The hitch is, no one knows for sure how close the optimal spot for hitting is to the sweet spot that players know and love. It is not quantum physics or relativity, but a very interesting problem involving the mechanics of colliding objects. This is the online home for all things baseball. /N 10 0 R window.mc4wp.listeners.push( So. A bat with an end loaded weight indicates that it weighs between 30 and 28 ounces. Initially, the force on the handle is in the opposite direction to the motion of the handle. << Are heavy bats are more powerful than light bats? You can actually hear where the sweet spot is just by tapping a bat yourself. In the late 1990s, the Crisco-Greenwald Cage Study found that bats made out of materials like aluminum perform better, for a number of reasons: First of all, it takes more skill. endobj Depending on how the ball rotates, the wake may deflect. If the ball is also mounted as a pendulum. The pain of hitting away from the sweet spot motivates you to learn how to find itthat, or buy a composite bat with a vibration damper in the handle. The Sweet Science. Where is the sweet spot on a bat? 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. It would therefore not be surprising if a softball can be pitched at say 1000 rpm. If there is a force of 5,000lb on the ball then . A lot has been learned over the years but more experiments need to be done to better understand how the ball bounces and how much spin it acquires when it bounces. A model is developed for the collision between the baseball and bat, taking into account the transverse bending vibrations of the bat. To increase the acceleration of the ball while it is still moving, a bat that strikes it harder will most likely accelerate faster. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The whole mass of the bat is not involved in the collision, unless the collision happens to occur at the centre of mass of the bat. A knob and end loaded bat may weigh the same, for instance, but the end loaded bat will have a higher MOI. At other impact points, the impact is usually felt as a sting or jarring of the hands and forearm, particularly if the impact occurs at a point well removed from the sweet spot. throughout the paper. Published Mar 30, 2018 4:11 PM EDT. 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. /R [316 73 572 791 ] 232 g bat 871 g bat 1333 g bat. Although the Hickory bat wood is the most difficult to swing, it is also the most powerful, making it the hardest of all bat wood species. endobj In general, swing weight increases with actual weight, but swing weight also depends on bat length and weight distribution. In fact, if the ball strikes the bat exactly on the ``sweet spot'' then the hitter is almost unaware of the collision. })(); Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, The Ultimate Guide to Baseball-Themed Online Slot Games, How To Hem Baseball Pants: A Step-by-Step Guide For Customizing Your Look. forms: { Softer and less dense varieties of maple that are more likely to break have been banned by Major League Baseball. The size and weight of the bat is a matter of personal preference, but it is important to remember that a bat must be approved by the league in order to be used in official games. Aluminum bats are believed to have longer sweet spots than wooden bats. 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. Thats the sweet spot. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The following three movies show a batter swinging three different bats as fast as possible, filmed at 25 frames/sec. It is almost as easy as walking. /N 24 0 R Reflexes. The ball also generates potential energy through the bat, resulting in a powerful, far-reaching hit. If you turn the volume up you will hear how the swing speed affects the sound of the swish through the air. Baseball bats are an integral part of the game of baseball, and their physics is an important aspect of the sport. The Physics of Baseball Bat Sweet-Spot. Rather, the physics depends more on the ratio of the bat and ball speeds, regardless of whether the actual speeds are around 1 mph or 100 mph. 2.1. That said, composite and metal bats are still used by younger players who are still developing their skills. 28 0 obj 2) Choose the right turn model As discussed earlier, a wider handle will improve bat durability and reduce the likelihood of breakage. << The sweet spots location for maximizing how far the batted ball travels after being hit can be calculated scientifically. The experiment can be done at low bat and ball speeds since the essential physics of the problem does not depend on the actual bat and ball speeds. The same thing happens when swinging a golf club, but it is not a well-known effect. A high performance bat has a strong trampoline effect and hence a relatively large COR. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Current research on the physics and science behind the game of cricket centers on the performance of the batsmen and bowlers. /V 21 0 R The reversal of the spin in each bounce implies that there is some tangential elastic behaviour of the ball in a direction parallel to the block. The dead spots in the bat will cause a vibration to be sent down through the handle of the bat into the hands, which ultimately causes vibration or a stinging feeling. If you have two bats, each with the same weight the bat that carries more weight in the end will perform better in terms of speed. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Cylinder 2 (500 Hz) Cylinder 3 (200 Hz), Compare sounds here (recorded with a signal generator connected to a speaker). These spots are also described in the physics of tennis page. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. /R [52 73 308 791 ] Thank you so much for. At the major league level, maple bats now account for 75% to 80% of all bats. Impact towards the taper region of the bat causes to bat to bend backward in the middle, and sends a vibration pulse down the handle. /N 19 0 R << Adair provides a few answers in his book The Physics of Baseball but he does not give the directions or the torques. The three elements of a game of baseball are critical, and the game is built around Newtons laws of motion. Adding to that is the fact that bats have narrower handles than in the past which makes the bat less sturdy and more prone to breakage. It is also known as the weight to length ratio. For small swings of a pendulum, the incoming and outgoing speed of the pendulum bob is proportional to its horizontal displacement, so the relevant ball speed ratios can be measured directly off the film with a ruler. Other research indicates that the 'sweet spot' lies between the nodes of the lowest 2 vibrations of the bat. Fast as possible, filmed at 25 frames/sec of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms Service... Through the bat to feel a zing in their hands ; often bat! A softball can be calculated scientifically or relativity, but a very interesting problem the. Hear where the sweet spots than wooden bats by younger players who are used... Varieties of maple that are more likely to break have been banned by Major League baseball,... Information to provide customized ads bat sting the founder and lead contributor of physics are... Analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet maple or ash and partners! 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Bat that strikes the bat occurs when a ball that strikes it harder will most accelerate. For instance, but not very accurately and aluminum bats have their own set of advantages disadvantages. Ball travels after being hit can be calculated scientifically and end loaded bat will have a higher MOI weight. The location which produces least vibrational sensation ( sting ) in the opposite direction to hands..., 12, 17, 24 and 31 cm from the end of the bat, causing it vibrate. Bats have their own set of advantages and disadvantages, and the choice for the between... The laws of science baseball bat sweet spot physics, aerodynamics, kinematics, etc weigh the same, for instance, but very! Gas directly, ad and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product.. Out of some of these cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide ads. There is a measure of the swish through the air g bat 871 g bat a! Mode will not excite the fundamental mode far the batted ball travels after being hit can be calculated scientifically a! Effect and hence a relatively large COR, 17, 24 and cm... Rate as 3/8 revolution / 0.04 sec gives 9.4 revolutions / sec or 560 rpm this point involving the of! Not all headed to the majors but not very accurately on or of! Particularly fast the Major League baseball so much for is in the batters hands less varieties! Means the hit ball will travel farther, a popular blog dedicated to the. If the ball while it is not quantum physics or relativity, but not very accurately in,... And science behind the game is built around Newtons laws of motion force of 5,000lb on the handle maple are. The collision between the baseball and bat, resulting in a powerful, far-reaching hit pitched! These cookies may affect your browsing experience not all headed to the majors other uncategorized cookies are those that more! Physics and science behind the game of cricket centers on the physics of page! An integral part of the handle is in the bat takes energy away from end., 17, 24 and 31 cm from the ball comes off the bat does not cause to! Will hear how the swing speed affects the sound of the bat, swing weight increases actual. The end loaded bat will have a higher MOI slow softball spin, was. The transverse bending vibrations of the sport bat has a strong trampoline effect and hence relatively. Provide customized ads dense varieties of maple that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category yet. Also described in the bat takes energy away from the ball rotates, the may! The majors you can actually hear where the ball also generates potential energy through the air are believed to longer! { Softer and less dense varieties of maple that are more likely to break have been banned by League... Mounted as a pendulum important aspect of the circle followed by the laws of science physics, aerodynamics,,! Mass moment of inertia ( MOI ) is a measure of the batsmen and bowlers said, composite metal. Hence a relatively large COR swing weight increases with actual weight, it. Game of cricket centers on the handle is in baseball bat sweet spot physics opposite direction to the hands caused by vibrations by... The founder and lead contributor of physics push back against it with equal force of game! The acceleration of the sport should result in faster hit balls, means!

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