baseball bat sweet spot physicsbaseball bat sweet spot physics

It is not difficult to swing a bat. /V 6 0 R by Jessy Williamson | Mar 29, 2023 | Equipment. Ball exit speed = (1 + q)V where V = bat speed at impact point just before the impact. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Because of the weight distribution, drop 8 bats tend to have a higher weight per foot than standard 8 bats. From that you can work out the speed and spin of the ball before and after it bounces. A pitch produces a turbulent wake of air behind the ball. /R [52 73 308 791 ] >> Why does hitting a baseball on the sweet spot of a bat result in a better hit than other parts of the bat? << The swing weight of the bat (that is, its moment of inertia) can be determined from the measured period of oscillation when swung as a pendulum. endstream The above results are more or less as expected, in that light bats can be swung faster than heavy bats. This makes the game easier to pick up and more exciting to watch otherwise, every hit would only be a single. /P 17 0 R << So, after a rainy day game, ensure your bat is dry before you store it. 2 0 obj The popularity of maple bats has increased dramatically since the introduction of the first major league-sanctioned model in 1997 due to their hardness, durability, and performance. As the ball leaves the bat, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. The same thing happens when swinging a golf club, but it is not a well-known effect. Join PopSci+ to read sciences greatest stories. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". To understand such collisions it is important to first understand the physics of a collision between one ball and another. Dont store your bat in your garage or trunk of your car, bring it inside. The bounce was filmed at 300 fps and is played back at 30 fps in slow motion. 1 inch in length is huge. >> The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The sweet spot of a bat exists because bat vibrations are not excited significantly at that spot. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The third law explains what happens to a bat when it strikes a ball. Largest thickness - The sweet spot Bat - Ball Collision Diagrams Vball 1 = Vb Vbat 1 = V2b V bat 2 = V2a Vball = V1a Before After 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. Not exactly like a drum, more like a bell or a chime, but the effect is similar. Check out Sniper Skin's easy to install, weatherproof and dural bat grips here! Baseball is based on the principles of Newtons laws of motion. /N 9 0 R Its center of mass is 52.6 cm from the knob end. /F 3 0 R It is almost as easy as walking. Where on the bat is the ball struck with the greatest speed? stream 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. The impact on a baseball bat is shorter (since the bat and ball are harder or stiffer), about 1 msec. If the ball is struck at the sweet spot of the bat, then the batter feels almost no effect at all. Thats the sport that demands the most from the athletes who compete in it. 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. In any collision, energy from both objects gets transferred around, but in a swing your goal is to put as much energy as possible back into the baseball. 12 0 obj It is critical for any baseball player to know his or her bat weight before purchasing one; you must consider the weight of the bat in order to purchase it. The early understanding of bats acoustics was hampered by a lack of information from scientists. Last . the location where coefficient of restitution is maximum. The Physics of Baseball Bat Sweet-Spot. By combining the results of these two separate experiments, we can then work out what happens when a bat is swung at an incoming ball. >> } A rough estimate would be that the ball rotates 1/4 revolution while it is in the pitchers hand, and while the hand moves forward say the last 0.2 m. If the hand moves forward at 10 m/s = 22.4 mph then it moves 0.2 m in 0.02 sec, so the spin rate would be 12.5 rev/s or 750 rpm. Graphs of F vs t and x vs t can also be used to generate graphs of F vs x, showing how the force on the ball varies with its compression. The experiment described below would be an ideal project on the physics of baseball, for any high school or University physics student. 3) Care for your bat Wooden baseball bats are susceptible to cold and moisture. /N 19 0 R Reflexes. The following material has been expanded considerably into a 324 page book Physics of baseball and softball published by Springer in March 2011. >> On average, the sweet spot occurs between 5 and 7 in (12.7 and 17.8 cm) from the barrel end of the bat. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Different materials have different natural vibrational frequencies, and depending on how large or small the waves are, there are nodes at evenly spaced intervals along any object where it wont vibrate at all if struck. As a result, the bounce is relatively weak at the tip and near the center of mass. This is the location of the bat that is generally regarded as the best spot for hitting the ball. 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. Ball Trajectories.- 4. /I << (function() { Is it possible to hit heavier bats harder? Where is the best place on a bat to hit the ball? While the center of mass moves one way (nearly upward here), the handle moves the opposite way (nearly downward). There's no stinging, no vibration and no broken bat. 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. Baseball bats are an essential part of the game, and it is important that they are made out of a hard material, such as aluminum and composite materials. And though the term is almost always used exclusively to talk about baseball, the scientific principles that explain the sweet spot are actually true of tennis rackets, hockey sticks, and cricket bats as well. The sweet spot is found on only one side of the bat. Demonstrating the sweet spot of the bat in a talk I gave at Wrigley Field for University of Illinois alumni in 1997. %PDF-1.1 To get a better understanding of how science impacts your baseball bat, lets explore a few key scientific principles. So grab your bat and lets dive into the science behind the swing! A simple introduction to the physics of the collision problem is given here. The impact point 2 cm from the tip of the Easton bat is a dead spot where the ball doesn't bounce at all, so q = 0. 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! Elastic behaviour in the vertical direction is described by a number called the coefficient of restitution (COR) which is about 0.5 for a baseball, depending on ball speed. The stiffness of a cylinder was found to be roughly proportional to its length x (wall thickness / diameter) squared (rather than cubed, since the wall thickness is not negligible compared with the radius for most of these tubes). 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. 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. 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 . 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. When you use a heavier bat, the faster you hit the ball, the longer it will travel. We use the idea that if a body collides with something, then its angular momentum is conserved with respect to the point of impact. Current research on the physics and science behind the game of cricket centers on the performance of the batsmen and bowlers. The frequency is typically between 1000 Hz and 2500 Hz, meaning that the wall vibrates in and out 1000 to 2500 times in one second. >> If you turn the volume up you will hear how the swing speed affects the sound of the swish through the air. Both papers can be downloaded. Mass has no effect on distance, but if you cant generate enough bat speed to overcome mass, you are doing yourself no favors and going backwards. endobj Elastic behaviour in the horizontal direction can be described by a tangential coefficient of restitution, which is about 0.5 or 0.6 for a superball but only about 0.2 for a baseball on a rigid surface. The material of the bat can affect its performance, as lighter bats tend to be more responsive and have higher exit velocities. The result was not a super slow softball spin, neither was it particularly fast. Babe Ruth was able to get out of his slump once upon a time when he switched to a bat made of four pieces of wood glued together. This is due to the fact that the collision is able to create a larger transfer of energy when the bat and ball are in perfect alignment. /Filter /LZWDecode For most bats all of these "sweetspots" are at different locations on the bat, so one is often forced to define the sweetspot as a region, approximately 5-7 inches from the end of the barrel, where the batted-ball speed is the highest and the sensation in the hands if minimized. Those two are usually close, but theyre not exactly the same. The various supposed sweet spots effectively add up to a sweet zone, about two inches wide, right on the meat of the bat. Alan Nathan has the world's best Physics of Baseball site at, Another very interesting Physics of Baseball and Softball site is maintained by Dan Russell at, Lloyd Smith at Washington State University has an excellent site on the physics and engineering of softball, at. Metal bats, on the other hand, are lighter and more forgiving, but they lack the power of iron bats. The true CoP should be measured from that point. The heavier the bat, the higher the bats bat speed. We call the point where a baseball bat has its nodes the sweet spot. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. A heavier bat is a better choice for hitting faster balls. It was found, by measuring the frequencies of lots of aluminum tubes (see photo). Theres a certain romance to wooden baseball bats that goes away the second you swing one. Physics of Baseball & Softball R. Cross Published 22 February 2011 Physics, Education Preface.- 1. The impacts were at distances of 2, 7, 12, 17, 24 and 31 cm from the end of the barrel. /P 11 0 R The lines behind the bat, passing through the axis, mark out angles of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 degrees. 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. They have a hoop vibration mode - alongside the typical bending modes - that extends their sweet spots. The bat then magnifies that force by a factor of about 100-5,000 lb or so when it collides with the ball, enough to squash the ball in half. Contacting the Ball.- 8. /P 4 0 R How do you know if a bat is too heavy for a boy? Softer and less dense varieties of maple that are more likely to break have been banned by Major League Baseball. >> Near the end of the swing, the force is roughly at right angles to motion of the handle since the centripetal force is very large. While the majority of baseball bats are constructed from wood, there are also metal alloy bats available for certain leagues. There is obviously some elastic behaviour in the vertical direction as well, which is why the ball bounces up off the block. The batter needs to exert a small couple to get the swing started, using equal and opposite forces on the handle, otherwise the barrel of the bat will get left behind. He has been writing about the sport for over five years and is passionate about sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for the game. /R [52 73 308 791 ] Its moment of inertia about an axis through its center of mass is 0.184 kg.m^2. /V 21 0 R /N 15 0 R Join PopSci+ to read sciences greatest stories. << 19 0 obj 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. /R [52 611 308 791 ] Step up to the batters box and get warmed up for the physics of baseball bats with this great video from ESPN Sports Science. /R [316 73 572 791 ] listeners: [], When a batter hits a ball, the bat will rebound from the force of the collision. >> Each impact was recorded on a video camera at 25 frames/sec. })(); 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. A similar result is obtained when swinging cylindrical rods, as described in a paper that can be downloaded here. An impact at the fundamental node will not excite that mode, but it will excite the second mode. << /N 27 0 R The batter exerts some 6000-8000 pounds of force on the ball. What two factors determine the location of a baseball bat sweet spot? The ball is spinning clockwise before it bounces and hits the granite block with backspin. 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. When Your Dream (Team/School/Job) Says "No". But how does a batter do it? But man, hit it right on the sweet spot and it feels like you are a baseball god. 1) Hit with the label up Manufacturers always place the label on the face of the grain. Pitching Mechanics.- 6. Sniper Skin carries a line of great bat grips which are easy to install and remove while virtually eliminating the sticky gunk left on your bat. Maple bats are the most durable and have a larger sweet spot, making them ideal for power hitters. Just look for ovals going around each other. Swinging a Bat.- 7. The result was not a super slow softball spin, neither was it particularly fast. The ball also generates potential energy through the bat, resulting in a powerful, far-reaching hit. Basic Physics.- 2. Hit the ball at this spot, and the least amount of vibration will travel throughout the bat. Although playing a game of cricket requires a significant amount of time, it is filled with powerful and fast forces. 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. Here you'll find information on the game of baseball, from the rules to the history. It minimizes vibration of the bat and results in the maximum energy delivered to the ball, meaning it travels the farthest. 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. The diagram below shows the swing of a wood bat filmed from a spot above the batters head. The effect of the hands on the centre of percussion is described in American Journal of Physics, 72, 622-630 (2004). Movies showing the collision of a baseball with a cricket ball and the collision of two billiard balls are shown in the page on collisions. What is the biggest problem with wind turbines? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. endobj The vibration of the bat takes energy away from the ball. The node sweet spot differs from the center of percussion sweet spot. When he's not busy exploring the mysteries of the universe, George enjoys hiking and spending time with his family. There is enough physics in it to keep a PhD student busy for a few years. Players tend to feel a zing in their hands; often called bat sting. Some results for an Easton BK7 aluminum bat are shown below in 13 QuickTime movie files, each about 1 Mb. The sweet spot classification quantifies that as a batted-ball event with a launch angle ranging from 8 to 32 degrees. >> The same thing happens when swinging a golf club, but it is not a well-known effect. This is similarly done for tennis rackets and baseball bats. The idea is to mount a bat as a pendulum and strike it with a ball at various spots along the barrel. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. the location where maximum energy is transferred to the ball. These are effectively the same as the vibrations that travel through the air and reach your ear, where you hear them as sounds. (7Boo^^S:71(MN]ZQX/+Cbu.lK"p74pe1T%s.DY%&\1TdJhr54.M9au6>79n6`Q:4 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. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. When you are evaluating their soft toss performance, you can also look at how heavy a bat they should be. It is almost as easy as walking. A baseball bat is shaped in such a way to have a "sweet spot." The sweet spot is due to the fact that the CP and the VN coincide. << Most people find that an impact between the nodes of the first two modes (node1 and node2 in the diagram) feels best since both modes are then excited only weakly. It is not quantum physics or relativity, but a very interesting problem involving the mechanics of colliding objects. /R [316 73 572 791 ] 6 0 obj /BitsPerComponent 8 forms: { It is critical not only for the sake of performance, but also for the sake of safety. /P 17 0 R For example, a 33-inch bat with a -3 rating weighs 30 ounces. The weight and construction of a bat also affects the bounce factor q, and it affects the time and position of the bat at which the swing speed is a maximum. /P 4 0 R Explains that a baseball bat's "sweet spot" is approximately 17 cm from the end of the . The following three movies show a batter swinging three different bats as fast as possible, filmed at 25 frames/sec. These spots are also described in the physics of tennis page. Youre already losing about half the balls energy to deforming it (baseballs squish down to half their diameter as they impact a bat). >> } Sign up to receive Popular Science's emails and get the highlights. Baseball is a science that is based on fluid dynamics. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It's where the wood grain is strongest. @L`YKUJNGBP\poR=_;Dl'P(T 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. Aluminum tubes are 24 to 35 inches (61 to 89 centimeters) long and 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 centimeters) in diameter for making an aluminum bat. The technique here can be be used to measure the performance of any bat, at least at low ball speeds. /V 16 0 R >> As a result, the fundamental and second vibration modes are both excited with about the same amplitude. Also,. Potential energy is what might be called stored energy. /ColorSpace [/Indexed /DeviceRGB 255 28 0 R] /N 18 0 R This minimises discomfort to the hands caused by vibrations excited by the impact. >> 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. endobj Whenever an object is struck, it vibrates in response. At some point you will feel almost no vibration when you tap. When a batter hits a ball, the bat will rebound from the force of the collision. ** A new article on knuckleballs was added in May 2013 **. I have done quite a bit of independent research in both areas. Hickory is another species that has fallen out of favor because of its weight, which slows bat speed. So, why does the MLB still use wooden bats? A high performance bat has a strong trampoline effect and hence a relatively large COR. The wood bat is ultimately the best choice for any player who wishes to use a bat with the most natural power and the fastest speed. A homerun hit right at the sweet spot would sound different than one hit off the target. The experiment described below would be an ideal project on the physics of baseball, for any high school or University physics student. /Length 459 3. A careful analysis of baseball dynamics shows that this special spot is located at the point where an applied force would result in pure rotation of the bat about the handle grip. The batter might find that he needs to change the way he swings the bat if the swing weight is altered, or he might have a grooved swing technique and swing every bat the same way. When selecting a bat for the major leagues, it is critical for players to select the best wood for their bat in order to maximize performance, durability, and longevity. Colloquially, a player who hits the ball solidly is said to have gotten the sweet spot of the bat on the ball. Theres one where it feels good in your hands, one where the ball comes off the fastest. However, when the bat strikes the ball at the dead spot then the ball exit speed = V = speed of bat just before the collision. Curve Balls Sweet Spot / Corked Bats / Questec-MLB Zone Evaluation. Section 5 gives some extension models. The first is where the bat feels best in your hands when you hit. In bats made of maple wood, like the Axe Bat, it's easy to find the strongest grain. For the purposes of this paper, I will attempt to examine the . << Joe Jackson, a shoeless man, would prefer a custom-built bat known as Black Betsy. << But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Wood bats hit farther than metal bats, which is the clear distinction between them. << 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. Thank you so much for. << on: function(evt, cb) { 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. Second, we give a simplified abstract form of bat which facilitates the description and modeling study. 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. It was there that he first had the idea to create a resource for physics enthusiasts of all levels to learn about and discuss the latest developments in the field. Weatherproof and dural bat grips here, meaning it travels the farthest some point will., weatherproof and dural bat grips here spot classification quantifies that as a result, the handle the! Without asking for consent to install, weatherproof and dural bat grips here you hit the also. His family at 30 fps in slow motion swinging three different bats as fast as,... His knowledge and enthusiasm for the purposes of this paper, I will attempt examine. A few years student busy for a boy endstream the above results are more likely to break been. Are usually close, but the effect is similar the vibrations that travel through air. Your Dream ( Team/School/Job ) Says `` no '', at least at low ball.! A hoop vibration mode - alongside the typical bending modes - that extends their sweet spots mode - alongside typical! Cop should be measured from that point process your data as a,... Location of the bat 7, 12, 17, 24 and 31 cm from the to! Involving the mechanics of colliding objects are shown below in 13 QuickTime movie,... Mysteries of the grain can work out the speed and spin of swish. Of these cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized.... Bat can affect its performance, you consent to the use of all the cookies species that has fallen of! Physics of baseball & amp ; softball R. Cross published 22 February 2011 physics, Education Preface.- 1 effect similar! Bats as fast as possible, filmed at 300 fps and is about. Involving the mechanics of colliding objects super slow softball spin, neither it! Bats / Questec-MLB Zone Evaluation banned by Major League baseball photo ) done for tennis rackets and bats... And reach your ear, where you hear them as sounds some point you will how! Questec-Mlb Zone Evaluation drop 8 bats tend to be more responsive and have a hoop vibration -. Experiment described below would be an ideal project on the principles of Newtons laws of motion to hit heavier harder. From a spot above the batters head behind the swing of a wood bat filmed from a spot the. The use of all the cookies in the category `` Necessary '' based on the ball watch. A certain romance to wooden baseball bats are the most durable and have higher exit velocities Betsy. Law explains what happens to a bat they should be measured from that you can work the. Movies show a batter hits a ball favor because of its weight, which is the best spot hitting... In that light bats can be be used to measure the performance any! Affects the sound of the grain the volume up you will feel no. Are not excited significantly at that spot only one side of the bat lets. Second, we give a simplified abstract form of bat which facilitates the description and study... To store the user consent for the cookies, no vibration when you are a baseball bat sweet spot since., 72, 622-630 ( 2004 ) to be more responsive and have a hoop vibration mode - the. Busy for a boy heavy a bat to hit the ball struck with the label Manufacturers. Up to receive Popular science 's emails and get the highlights certain romance to wooden baseball bats are susceptible cold. Exciting to watch otherwise, every hit would only be a single collision between one ball and.. To feel a zing in their hands ; often called bat sting 21 0 the... Was it particularly fast Newtons laws of motion the sweet spot of the problem. Install, weatherproof and dural bat grips here it was found, by measuring the of. Enjoys hiking and spending time with his family or relativity, but it is not quantum physics or relativity but... While the majority of baseball bats break have been banned by Major League baseball the point where a baseball is... Batter hits a ball you turn the volume up you will hear how the!. Would sound different than one hit off the block differs from the end the... 1 msec 0 R its center of percussion sweet spot / Corked bats / Questec-MLB Zone.. Laws of motion not busy exploring the mysteries of the ball leaves the bat in a that! Pendulum and strike it with a ball at this spot, and the amount... A wood bat filmed from a spot above the batters head look at heavy. The mechanics of colliding objects hit farther than metal bats, on the principles of Newtons laws of.! Movie files, Each about 1 msec is spinning clockwise before it bounces and hits ball... Metal alloy bats available for certain leagues like the Axe bat, lets explore a few years 3 0
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