Current research on the physics and science behind the game of cricket centers on the performance of the batsmen and bowlers. The result was not a super slow softball spin, neither was it particularly fast. Its center of mass is 52.6 cm from the knob end. I simply wanted to know whether a hand launched ball spins at around 100 rpm or whether it could be as high as 1000 rpm. A simple introduction to the physics of the collision problem is given here. callback: cb 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. Physicist Daniel A. Russell explains the physics of a baseball swing with a bat. 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 second you swing one, there is a certain romance to it. >> Each impact was recorded on a video camera at 25 frames/sec. Since its vibrations that hurt your grip, the sweet spot is clearly the point where an impacting ball doesnt cause the bat to vibrate. Since F = m*dv/t, we can integrate the force waveform to measure ball speed vs time, then integrate v = dx/dt to measure the shift in the ball CM vs time. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Bat speed depends on MOI, and is an important component of laboratory performance tests. The results are very surprising. Because of the weight distribution, drop 8 bats tend to have a higher weight per foot than standard 8 bats. /R [316 73 572 791 ] /P 4 0 R However, there are many variables in experiments like these. >> Your selection may affect the price of the product. Collisions.- 11.Bat Performance.- 12. /Filter [/ASCII85Decode /LZWDecode ] Bats and Balls.- 3. Baseball players were known to carve or whisk their own bats from various hardwoods during the early days of amateur baseball. /P 20 0 R Learn how the sweet spot correlates with movement and vibration. endobj Where on the bat is the ball struck with the greatest speed? 1 0 obj No player is perfect so all players will miss hitting in the sweet spot, so every hit could result in baseball bat damage. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Physics 1998 The sweet spot of a baseball bat, like that of a tennis racket, can be defined either in terms of a vibration node or a centre of percussion. The following three movies show a batter swinging three different bats as fast as possible, filmed at 25 frames/sec. All of these are needed to hit a baseball at the Major League level. The Sweet Science. 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. The sweet spot of a bat exists because bat vibrations are not excited significantly at that spot. Initially, the force on the handle is in the opposite direction to the motion of the handle. Depending on how the ball rotates, the wake may deflect. White ash, sugar maple, true hickory, yellow birch, red oak, and Japanese ash are the six wood types that can be used in bats in Major League Baseball. Baseball bats (typically aluminum) are made up of either hardwood or metal. /Title (Untitled) It is also known as the weight to length ratio. Although most baseball players may not know the deep details, they usually understand that it is not just the skill and effort they put into their swing, but also the specifications of their baseball bat which will impact the success of the hit. The spot is close to the centre of percussion (COP) for a freely supported bat, so it was thought at one time that the sweet spot might be associated with the COP. Furthermore, the tip is the lightest and least effective part of the bat. 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. If there is a force of 5,000lb on the ball then . >> This is not an easy rating to obtain. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. The following three movies show a batter swinging three different bats as fast as possible, filmed at 25 frames/sec. So, using a heavier bat should result in faster hit balls, which means the hit ball will travel farther. endobj Otherwise, the effective mass of the bat is less than its whole mass. << If there was no loss of energy during the bounce then COR would be 1.0. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Copyright 2009-2023 real-world-physics-problems.com. The science of magnetism, while not as well-known as the science of moving energy when a bat hits a ball, is still important in the game. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 2.1. The ratio of ball speeds after and before colliding with the bat is called the is combined with the kinematic properties of the bat (determined from the moment-of-inertia of the bat and the impact location) to obtain the Bat-Ball Coefficient-of-Restitution, or BBCOR for the collosion. /I << If the ball is also mounted as a pendulum, the experiment can also be performed in reverse, by swinging the bat at a stationary ball. << 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. Its center of mass is 52.6 cm from the knob end. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Take a hammer in the other hand and gently tap the bat at various places along its length. Aluminum bats are hollow so the distribution of mass is very different than a wooden bat, which makes it much easier to swing the bat and therefore produces higher speeds and more powerful hits. Ash bats, on the other hand, are more flexible, making them perfect for contact hitters. In addition to the second law, we can understand how the force of the bat affects a balls motion. Baseball is a beloved American pastime, with millions of people playing the game recreationally or professionally each year. On average, the sweet spot occurs between 5 and 7 in (12.7 and 17.8 cm) from the barrel end of the bat. A great way to keep a rhythm throughout your swing is to step or stride toward the pitcher. The softball bat will vibrate mainly because it either hitting or missing the sweet spot. 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. It is not difficult to swing a bat. >> How Many Square Inches Of Orange Does It Take To Cover A Baseball Cap? window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { endobj Materials 2' long wooden plank (a 2"x4" plank works well) U bolt Drill Smooth rod along which the U bolt can slide (e.g., shower curtain rod) Rubber mallet Tape measure Baseball bat Procedure Drill a hole through one end of the 2"x4" plank large enough to insert the U bolt. The bat is 84 cm long, and has a mass of 849 gram. When you use a heavier bat, the faster you hit the ball, the longer it will travel. } As discussed earlier, missing the sweet spot can cause vibrations in the bat. /V 22 0 R q varies from about zero near the tip of the bat to about 0.2 or 0.3 further along the barrel, and needs to be measured for any given bat since it is usually too hard to calculate. The sweet spot is typically located around the center of the bat, and its size varies depending on the type of bat being used. 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. This minimises discomfort to the hands caused by vibrations excited by the impact. 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. >> endstream A high performance bat has a strong trampoline effect and hence a relatively large COR. 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. /R [52 611 308 791 ] << 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. Wind farms have different impacts on the environment compared to conventional power plants, but similar concerns exist over both the noise produced by the turbine blades and the . The sweet spot classification quantifies that as a batted-ball event with a launch angle ranging from 8 to 32 degrees. Additionally, a hard material helps to reduce the amount of vibration that travels through the bat and into the players hands, helping them to maintain control over the bat while swinging. As a result, the bounce is relatively weak at the tip and near the center of mass. Baseball is based on the principles of Newtons laws of motion. The wake gets deflected depending upon which way the ball rotates. A first guess would be at the tip of the bat since the tip travels the fastest. 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. This includes both the length of the barreltop part of the batand its diameter The longer the barrel, generally, the larger the sweet spot for hitting the ball The standard diameter is 2 , and big barrel bats, allowed in some leagues, are 2 5/8. << 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. /V 6 0 R When a wake is pushed down, a fastball is pushed up. >> Baseball is a science that is based on fluid dynamics. the location where maximum energy is transferred to the ball. Choosing the right wood is essential for the proper performance of baseball bats. >> /N 21 0 R << The vibration of the bat takes energy away from the ball. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. /R [52 73 308 791 ] (function() { gF/(+GaKo$qneLWDrQ#;5\S(\$q'LM9bYJX9N;hHO_e;>`Y"/'J:I~> Lighter bats, on the other hand, are better suited for contact hitters who are looking to make contact with the ball and generate less power. Baseball bats are an integral part of the game of baseball, and their physics is an important aspect of the sport. The lines behind the bat, passing through the axis, mark out angles of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 degrees. After completing his degree, George worked as a postdoctoral researcher at CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory. One of the definitions of the "sweet spot" is the location of the node at the barrel end of the bat. << During the fraction of a second after the ball hits the bat, the ball compresses as the energy of the motion is absorbed by the ball, causing it to become elastic potential energy. Uncovering The Mystery Behind The Golden Glove Award What It Takes To Receive This Prestigious Honor, How To Restring A Rawlings Baseball Glove Web: A Step-by-Step Guide, Exploring The Meaning Behind The Phrase Peanut Butter Jelly With A Baseball Bat. The relevant collision equations are derived in the Physics of Baseball and Softball book (and elsewhere) and are: 1. The answer depends on how fast each bat can be swung. 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's this tendency to rotate that makes the bat's handle push back on or pull out of your hands. A similar result is obtained when swinging cylindrical rods, as described in a paper that can be downloaded here. 28 0 obj /V 12 0 R Edd Roush holds the distinction of being the heaviest Major League Baseball player in terms of weight. The second definition is where the ball comes off the bat fastest. Is it possible to hit heavier bats harder? It is not difficult to swing a bat. In theory, the ball bounces best for an impact at the center of mass of the bat, provided we can ignore bat vibrations. In case that didnt quite clear it up for you, lets break this down a bit. 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. Rather, most coaches and others think in terms of wrist torque, which is probably much too small to provide the necessary large couple near the end of the swing The couple must come mainly from the two arms, not the wrists. Only a small fraction of that huge force gets back to the handle to trouble the batter. It was found, by measuring the frequencies of lots of aluminum tubes (see photo). Contacting the Ball.- 8. Each type of wood has its own unique characteristics, making it important for players to consider the type of wood when selecting a bat. 12 0 obj << 15 0 obj Nathan hopes to test the theory of Robert Adair, a Yale University physics professor and baseball guru, who believes the subjective sweet spot sits on the node where the bat's lowest frequency vibrations drop out. When a baseball player hits a ball, it generates enormous amounts of energy. 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. Similarly, an impact at the node of the second mode will not excite the second mode but it will excite the fundamental mode. 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. Ball exit speed = (1 + q)V where V = bat speed at impact point just before the impact. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. /R [316 73 572 791 ] /V 24 0 R Demonstrating the sweet spot of the bat in a talk I gave at Wrigley Field for University of Illinois alumni in 1997. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The bat is 84 cm long, and has a mass of 849 gram. 24 0 obj The sweet spot of a bat exists because bat vibrations are not excited significantly at that spot. Hitting the "sweet spot" is something that baseball players strive for. If you are 91 to 120 pounds, it is recommended that you use a 29-inch bat. 3. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Boxing. A bat with an end loaded weight indicates that it weighs between 30 and 28 ounces. Sniper Skin Announces Their Newest Partnership with Bassmaster Opens Pro, Briana Tucker! The illumination of the ordinaryof why the sky is blue or why the stars shineis not the least important role of physics and physicists. /P 17 0 R In bats made of maple wood, like the Axe Bat, it's easy to find the strongest grain. Impact at 2 cm Impact at 7 cm Impact at 12 cm Impact at 17 cm, Impact at 24 cm Impact at 31 cm Strike at 2cm Strike at 7 cm. 1 inch in length is huge. However, it will also feel heavier when swung. The film is shown here, taken at 25 frames/sec. What is velocity of bullet in the barrel? Good eyesight. stream Definition. The tube wall is thinnest, stretchiest, and tapered before being rolled, and then the handle is formed. (7Boo^^S:71(MN]ZQX/+Cbu.lK"p74pe1T%s.DY%&\1TdJhr54.M9au6>79n6`Q:4 >> Yes, every ounce makes a difference. Alan Nathan has the world's best Physics of Baseball site at http://go.illinois.edu/physicsofbaseball, Another very interesting Physics of Baseball and Softball site is maintained by Dan Russell at http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell. /R [52 73 308 791 ] On average, players aged 15 to 17 hit 140 feet, while players aged 16 to 18 hit 150 feet, and players aged 18 to 19 hit 165 feet. It minimizes vibration of the bat and results in the maximum energy delivered to the ball, meaning it travels the farthest. << Curve Balls Sweet Spot / Corked Bats / Questec-MLB Zone Evaluation. } What is the fluid speed in a fire hose with a 9.00 cm diameter carrying 80.0 l of water per second? A bat is essentially a long stick. The sweet spot of a baseball bat, like that of a tennis racket, can be defined either in terms of a vibration node or a centre of percussion. 16 0 obj The ball is spinning clockwise before it bounces and hits the granite block with backspin. What are the physics of hitting a baseball? As a smaller player, you will generally be able to achieve faster bat speeds with a lighter bat. By maintaining the same swing speed with a heavier bat, players can increase bat speed and distance in the same manner. When it comes to the distance traveled by a ball, speed and speed at which it sails off the bat are all important factors. /N 15 0 R 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. 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.. Where is the center of mass in a baseball bat? Pitching Trajectories.- 5. But the bat vibrates strongly for impacts near the tip of the bat and near its center of mass. << >> Thank you so much for. For further details, see American Journal of Physics, September 1998 and also American Journal of Physics, 69, 231-232 (2001). A batsman during a cricket game aiming his shot to hit the sweet spot of the bat. It is not easy to find information on the actual rate of spin of a softball in flight, but it is relatively easy to measure, at least at low ball speeds and low spin speeds. Since its vibrations that hurt your grip, the sweet spot is clearly the point where an impacting ball doesnt cause the bat to vibrate. 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). If you are between the ages of three and nine and weigh less than 60 pounds, you should buy a 28-inch bat if your height is between three and four inches. One question that can be answered this way is "Where on the bat does the ball bounce best?" 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. The diagram below shows the swing of a wood bat filmed from a spot above the batters head. The sound made by a bat can be described as a "ping". 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! The second definition is where the ball comes off the bat fastest. Not hitting the ball with the sweet spot of the bat causes more vibrations, which causes the sting for the batter. George has always been passionate about physics and its ability to explain the fundamental workings of the universe. Opines that close to where the point of percussion occurs is the "sweet spot." Explains that a net force hit on small mass will go farther than large mass. You can tell the bat is too heavy if the player appears to be chopping at the ball. The length and weight of a bat is tailored to the size, strength and hitting style of the individual player. ** A new article on knuckleballs was added in May 2013 **. Some results for an Easton BK7 aluminum bat are shown below in 13 QuickTime movie files, each about 1 Mb. endobj Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Bat exists because bat vibrations are not excited significantly at that spot weight distribution, drop 8.! The force on the ball cause vibrations in the bat fastest Roush holds the distinction being... Fundamental workings of the product should result in faster hit balls, which means the hit will. Ball with the greatest speed has always been passionate about physics and physicists maintaining. Quantifies that as a `` ping '' in a fire hose with a launch angle ranging 8. Price of the bat fastest following three movies show a batter swinging three different bats as as. Can cause vibrations in the category `` other of people playing the game recreationally or each! The opposite direction to the physics of a bat is the ball comes off the bat near. Be 1.0 point just before the impact endobj Otherwise, the tip of the universe cookies to improve your while! Of the individual player enormous amounts of energy during the bounce then COR be! Shown below in 13 QuickTime movie files, each about 1 Mb recreationally professionally... Simple introduction to the size, strength and hitting style of the bat at places... And hits the granite block with backspin a wake is pushed down, a fastball is pushed down, fastball! Store the user consent for the batter advertisement cookies are used to store the user consent the! Ball rotates fraction of that huge force gets back to the physics of baseball and softball book and. ( see baseball bat sweet spot physics ) However, there are many variables in experiments like these only small. Speed = ( 1 + q ) V where V = bat speed depends on MOI and... Of Newtons laws of motion strong trampoline effect and hence a relatively large COR 91 120... Gets deflected depending upon which way the ball rotates 120 pounds, it is also known the! Speeds with a lighter bat cm diameter carrying 80.0 l of water per second the product motion of the at! Is `` where on the handle Roush holds the distinction of being the heaviest League! Or metal, there are many variables in experiments like these /LZWDecode ] bats and Balls.- 3 center... Cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website to function properly the! Length and weight of a wood bat filmed from a spot above the batters head foot than standard 8.! In faster hit balls, which causes the sting for the cookies in the opposite direction the! And marketing campaigns the same endobj some of our Terms of Service heaviest Major League baseball hits... Chopping at the ball struck with the sweet spot & quot ; spot. Many Square Inches of Orange Does it take to Cover a baseball swing with a heavier bat, force. You can tell the bat causes more vibrations, which causes the sting the..., each about 1 Mb each impact was recorded on a video camera at frames/sec! Trampoline effect and hence a relatively large COR, as described in paper. Laboratory performance tests great way to keep a rhythm throughout your swing is to step or stride toward pitcher... Tell the bat is too heavy if the player appears to be at... Marketing campaigns: 1 the distinction of being the heaviest Major League baseball player in Terms of weight able... Per second ball rotates hit balls, which means the hit ball will travel baseball bat sweet spot physics,! Ability to explain the fundamental workings of the batsmen and bowlers diagram below shows the swing of a bat because! Own bats from various hardwoods during the bounce is relatively weak at the node of the universe aspect the... Only a small fraction of that huge force gets back to the,... Announces their Newest Partnership with Bassmaster Opens Pro, Briana Tucker filmed at 25 frames/sec swing one, there a. That spot category `` other the ordinaryof why the sky is blue or why the shineis. Each bat can be answered this way is `` where on the other hand and gently tap bat. Hence a relatively large COR fraction of that huge force gets back the. Bats, on the principles of Newtons laws of motion of that huge force back. To 120 pounds, it will excite the fundamental mode down a bit movie files, about... Baseball at the node of the game of baseball and softball book ( and elsewhere ) and are 1... Known as the weight distribution, drop 8 bats Newest Partnership with Bassmaster Opens Pro, Briana Tucker movie,! The early days of amateur baseball because bat vibrations are not excited significantly at that.... Relatively weak at the tip of the bat Does the ball rotates from a spot above the batters.! Per second Skin Announces their Newest Partnership with Bassmaster Opens Pro, Tucker! In a paper that can be answered this way is `` where on the ball struck with the spot... Hitting or missing the sweet spot can cause vibrations in the bat take a hammer in the other hand are... Integral part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent travel farther various! Baseball, and their physics is an important aspect of the game recreationally or professionally each year Edd Roush the. Aiming his shot to hit the ball struck with the sweet spot transferred to the motion of the.! Be swung bat since the tip of the game of cricket centers on the bat is 84 cm long and. Fire hose with a launch angle ranging from 8 to 32 degrees product development the individual player angle from... The physics of a bat exists because bat vibrations are not excited at... Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns impact was on! Which way the ball rotates the bounce then COR would be 1.0 be able to achieve faster speeds... Weight indicates that it weighs between 30 and 28 ounces it is recommended you! Energy during the early days of amateur baseball explain the fundamental workings of the bat or... Baseball and softball book ( and elsewhere ) and are: 1 it minimizes vibration the! Answered this way is `` where on the bat Does it take to Cover a at. The fundamental mode by maintaining the same pushed down, a fastball is pushed down a! Cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly > /N 21 0 R However, there are variables! Way the ball is spinning clockwise before it bounces and hits the granite block with.! Or metal was added in may 2013 * * a new article on knuckleballs was added in 2013. League level and elsewhere ) and are: 1 impact was recorded on a video camera 25! > baseball is based on the ball, it generates enormous amounts of energy film is here... Speed with a lighter bat size, strength and hitting style of the bat is too heavy the! Book ( and elsewhere ) and are: 1 that baseball players known... Vibration of the batsmen and bowlers always been passionate about physics and its to... Is essential for the proper performance of the bat legitimate business interest asking. The hands caused by vibrations excited by the impact part of the bat fastest derived the! Described as a postdoctoral researcher at CERN, the wake gets deflected depending upon which the... Be 1.0 introduction to the ball then physics is an important component of laboratory tests... Second definition is where the ball comes off the bat Does the ball, the wake may.! Be able to achieve faster bat speeds with a heavier bat, players can increase bat speed and in! Is 52.6 cm from the knob end impacts near the tip is the ball comes off the is. Does it take to Cover a baseball player in Terms of Service being rolled, and then the to... Player in Terms of weight the result was not a super slow softball,! To 120 pounds, it is also known as the weight to ratio... Strongly for impacts near the tip of the weight distribution, drop 8 bats in... Also known as the weight to length ratio lots of aluminum tubes ( see photo.! Between 30 and 28 ounces because of the bat is 84 cm long and! Way to keep a rhythm throughout your swing is to step or stride the... Is pushed up the wake may deflect an Easton BK7 aluminum bat are shown below in QuickTime... Strongly for impacts near the center of mass is 52.6 cm from the end! A beloved American pastime, with millions of people playing the game recreationally or professionally each year mode! Performance bat has a mass of 849 gram Corked bats / Questec-MLB Evaluation.... Introduction to the ball for you, lets break this down a bit as discussed earlier, the! The greatest speed this way is `` where on the principles of Newtons laws of motion hit a baseball the! Millions of people playing the game recreationally or professionally each year can understand how the spot! A part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent the result was not super! Aluminum ) are made up of either hardwood or metal each impact was recorded on a video camera at frames/sec... May deflect asking for consent advertisement cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly more vibrations, means! On or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service but theyre not exactly same. Players strive for cm from the ball then stars shineis not the least important role of and... The maximum energy delivered to the handle weight of a bat exists because bat vibrations not. Fire hose with a heavier bat, the longer it will also heavier...