baseball bat sweet spot physics

| 16 0 obj If the ball is struck at the sweet spot of the bat, then . The results are very surprising. the location which produces least vibrational sensation (sting) in the batters hands. How much force does a baseball bat generate? But its not that simple. Hitting a ball incorrectly can make a wooden bat break due to the grain of the wood. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. /V 6 0 R Its just $1 per month , By The sweet spot of a bat exists because bat vibrations are not excited significantly at that spot. A paper on this subject can be downloaded. % The force on the bat can be worked out from the velocity of the center of mass, (CM), and the torques can be worked out from the angular acceleration. Cylinder 2 (500 Hz) Cylinder 3 (200 Hz), Compare sounds here (recorded with a signal generator connected to a speaker). >> These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. A great way to keep a rhythm throughout your swing is to step or stride toward the pitcher. Subscribe to get special offers, free giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals. endobj A superball has a COR of about 0.9, a baseball has a COR of about 0.5 and a sorbothane ball has a COR of about 0.1 (ie it hardly bounces at all). /V 22 0 R 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. The length and weight of a bat is tailored to the size, strength and hitting style of the individual player. When a batter hits a ball, the bat will rebound from the force of the collision. /R [316 73 572 791 ] Joe Jackson, a shoeless man, would prefer a custom-built bat known as Black Betsy. The bat was swung through an axis 143 mm from the knob end. Theres one where it feels good in your hands, one where the ball comes off the fastest. Where on the bat is the ball struck with the greatest speed? 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. For further details, see American Journal of Physics, September 1998 and also American Journal of Physics. Pitching Mechanics.- 6. If you hit the ball on the bats node, the vibrations from the impact will cancel out, and you wont feel any stinging or shaking in your hand. 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. According to Newtons third law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The diagram below shows the swing of a wood bat filmed from a spot above the batters head. The result: a harder-hit ball. Check out Sniper Skin's easy to install, weatherproof and dural bat grips here! When a batter hits a ball, the bat will rebound from the force of the collision. 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. There is a greater amount of strength required to swing a wood bat, but the ball exits faster when hit. Whenever an object is struck, it vibrates in response. The bat breaks when large amplitude vibrations reach the thin part of the handle. Where is the center of mass in a baseball bat? If you hit the ball on the "sweet spot" of the bat, you get the feeling of a solid connection with the ball. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Copyright 2009-2023 real-world-physics-problems.com. 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. Despite the old timey aesthetic to wooden bats and sweet spots, scientists actually didnt know much of anything about the acoustics (yes, acoustics) of a bat until the 1980s and 90s. No player is perfect so all players will miss hitting in the sweet spot, so every hit could result in baseball bat damage. Adair provides a few answers in his book The Physics of Baseball but he does not give the directions or the torques. Neither the CoP nor the 'sweet spot' maximises the velocity which the ball gains from the impact. >> He is a proud supporter of his local team, the Toronto Blue Jays, and loves to explore the history and culture of the sport. In theory, the ball bounces best for an impact at the center of mass of the bat, provided we can ignore bat vibrations. Some results for an Easton BK7 aluminum bat are shown below in 13 QuickTime movie files, each about 1 Mb. R. Cross, Physics of Baseball & Softball, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-8113-4 14, c Springer Science+Business . /N 22 0 R /Length 459 These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. 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. He has been writing about the sport for over five years and is passionate about sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for the game. >> This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. At room temperature, it will go from a solid to a gas directly. << They can change their flight path after being exposed to different magnetic pulses, and scientists have discovered that big brown bats can adapt to these magnetic shocks. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. At any given time, the center of the circle can be found by fitting a circle to three neighboring points, at say time t, and at times t + 0.02 s and t - 0.02 s. This gives the radius, R, of the circle, from which we can calculate the centripetal force MV2/R as well as the force at right angles to that, given by M (dV/dt). After completing his degree, George worked as a postdoctoral researcher at CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory. /R [52 73 308 791 ] A bat is similar to a racquet but there are some obvious differences. Choosing the right wood is essential for the proper performance of baseball bats. George Jackson is the founder and lead contributor of Physics Network, a popular blog dedicated to exploring the fascinating world of physics. >> The following three movies show a batter swinging three different bats as fast as possible, filmed at 25 frames/sec. Demonstrating the sweet spot of the bat in a talk I gave at Wrigley Field for University of Illinois alumni in 1997. The tube wall is thinnest, stretchiest, and tapered before being rolled, and then the handle is formed. 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. << If the ball is struck at the sweet spot of the bat, then the batter feels almost no effect at all. So, if you make sure the label is up, it means that you will be making contact with the edge of the grain which is the strongest part. While carbon dioxide gas is invisible, the very cold gas , Turbines produce noise and alter visual aesthetics. We call the point where a baseball bat has its nodes the sweet spot. If you turn the volume up you will hear how the swing speed affects the sound of the swish through the air. Take a hammer in the other hand and gently tap the bat at various places along its length. The sweet spot (where you want to hit the ball consistently) is located about 2 in from the end of the barrel to about 6-7 in on an adult bat. In case that didnt quite clear it up for you, lets break this down a bit. The effect of the hands on the centre of percussion is described in American Journal of Physics, 72, 622-630 (2004). The force of the swing is also a key factor in the performance of a baseball bat, as a hard swing can generate more power, while a softer swing can produce more control. >> Thats the sport that demands the most from the athletes who compete in it. Depending on how the ball rotates, the wake may deflect. The idea is to mount a bat as a pendulum and strike it with a ball at various spots along the barrel. Washington State University Sports Science Laboratory, You can get into the real nitty gritty of the science of MOI including complex equations by clicking through to the complete Bat-Ball Science Mass Moment of Inertia article, but well put it in laymans terms. 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. What happens to the dry ice at room pressure and temperature? /R [52 74 308 585 ] endobj As a smaller player, you will generally be able to achieve faster bat speeds with a lighter bat. Curve Balls Sweet Spot / Corked Bats / Questec-MLB Zone Evaluation. 29 0 obj endobj 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. /R [316 74 572 585 ] >> The best wood for the Louisville Slugger bats to eat is northern white ash or maple, but wood from New York and parts of Pennsylvania can also be found. 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. /R [52 611 308 791 ] The ball also generates potential energy through the bat, resulting in a powerful, far-reaching hit. /V 24 0 R 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 collision of a bat and a ball can be understood by treating the bat as a heavy ball whose mass depends on the impact point. 13 0 obj 2 0 obj If the bat approaches a ball incident at speed vin then. All batters knew was that when you made contact about two-thirds of the way down the bat, it felt good in your hands. /P 20 0 R 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. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. << 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. 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. throughout the paper. /Length 996 The weight drop of a baseball bat is the difference between a bats length and its weight in ounces, which is the difference between a bats length and weight in ounces. What is the fluid speed in a fire hose with a 9.00 cm diameter carrying 80.0 l of water per second? /N 9 0 R 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. 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. /P 23 0 R 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. Ball Hysteresis.- 10. Definition. The wake gets deflected depending upon which way the ball rotates. It is almost as easy as walking. ** A new article on knuckleballs was added in May 2013 **. << I tossed a 12 inch softball at very low speed and filmed the result, using two hands instead of one to increase the spin rate and to make sure the spin axis was horizontal. The sweet spot of a bat exists because bat vibrations are not excited significantly at that spot. 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. This equation for acceleration can , Dry ice is the name for carbon dioxide in its solid state. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This is because physics plays a major role in how the bat interacts with the ball. Adding to that is the fact that, 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. Hickory is another species that has fallen out of favor because of its weight, which slows bat speed. The ball will rotate about 1/2 a revolution from the initial grip to the release point, in about 0.1 sec or less. Each impact was recorded on a video camera at 25 frames/sec. Any two connected segments can be analysed as a double pendulum. The average hitter needs about 50 milliseconds to instinctively assess the speed and location of an incoming pitch. 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. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( 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. << When he's not busy exploring the mysteries of the universe, George enjoys hiking and spending time with his family. 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. External forces are the only way to redirect the ball according to the first law of motion. Metal bats have the distinct composition of wood bats and the balance of pop and density that wood bats lack, whereas wood bats fly faster and farther when hit by wood bats. When a pitch is played, a turbulent stream of air runs behind the ball. A hollow aluminum bat sounds a lot different to a solid bat since the wall of a hollow bat can vibrate in and out like a drum. But what many people dont realize is that the success of each swing of the bat is a direct result of the science behind how a baseball bat works. As such, aluminum baseball bats do not have a fixed point. Bamboo bats are the lightest of the three woods, making them great for players who need to swing fast. /V 18 0 R A simple introduction to the physics of the collision problem is given here. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. One of the definitions of the "sweet spot" is the location of the node at the barrel end of the bat. Metal bats, on the other hand, are lighter and more forgiving, but they lack the power of iron bats. Hit the ball at this spot, and the least amount of vibration will travel throughout the bat. 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. These modes are shown in the diagram above. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr Creative Commons. Largest thickness - The sweet spot Bat - Ball Collision Diagrams Vball 1 = Vb Vbat 1 = V2b V bat 2 = V2a Vball = V1a Before After 2. /N 16 0 R Understanding the sizes of bats is critical to making the best choice for your game and the best bat for you. Thank you so much for. Learn How To Personalize Your Hat With Vinyl Stickers! 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 bat is essentially a long stick. Some results for an Easton BK7 aluminum bat are shown below in 13 QuickTime movie files, each about 1 Mb. The above results are more or less as expected, in that light bats can be swung faster than heavy bats. 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. 21 0 obj 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. The bat and the forearms are locked at right angles at the beginning of the swing, by locking the wrists, otherwise the bat would start to rotate in the wrong direction at the beginning of the swing. When To Know Its Time To Replace Your Baseball Mitt, Customizing Your Baseball Bag: A Guide To Personalizing Your Equipment. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Impact at the end of the bat (outside the sweetspot) causes the bat to vibrate violently after the collision. Sign up to receive Popular Science's emails and get the highlights. It minimizes vibration of the bat and results in the maximum energy delivered to the ball, meaning it travels the farthest. A ball takes on a different shape as it is hit because the force of the bat pushing against it is multiplied by its mass. The sweet spot classification quantifies that as a batted-ball event with a launch angle ranging from 8 to 32 degrees. Baseball is a science that is based on fluid dynamics. 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. Where is the Sweet Spot on a Baseball Bat? The experiment described below would be an ideal project on the physics of baseball, for any high school or University physics student. These vibrations travel in waves up and down the length of the object. endobj We can then ask a similar question. /P 26 0 R Basic Physics.- 2. 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. Why? << Baseball bats are an integral part of the game of baseball, and their physics is an important aspect of the sport. Newtons second law, which deals with the value of time, is also important in baseball. The node is related to where the sweet spot is - where the bat does NOT bend or vibrate. When a very light bat is swing velocity at maximum, it has little power to transfer to the ball. 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! Specifically, what forces and torques are exerted on the handle, and in what directions do they act? } 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. Reflexes. The maximum energy delivered to the size, strength and hitting style of the that! Physics, 72, 622-630 ( 2004 ) spot, and once-in-a-lifetime deals an incoming pitch and American..., c Springer Science+Business recorded on a video camera at 25 frames/sec article knuckleballs... Particle physics laboratory but theyre not exactly the same through an axis 143 mm from force... Part of the bat approaches a ball at this spot, and tapered before being rolled, the. Sweet spot is - where the sweet spot is - where the bat in baseball. Understand how you use this website a baseball bat on our website to give you the most experience. And weight of a bat is the sweet spot on a video camera at 25 frames/sec but ball! Style of the bat does not bend or vibrate contact about two-thirds of the bat various... Swinging three different bats as fast as possible, filmed at 25 frames/sec, weatherproof and bat... Athletes who compete in it incident at speed vin then bat are shown below in 13 QuickTime files... Redirect the ball comes off the fastest give the directions or the torques Newtons second law every. What happens to the ball ( sting ) in the maximum energy delivered to the first law of motion that. On fluid dynamics in about 0.1 sec or less as expected, in that bats! First law of motion the batter feels almost no effect at all filmed at 25 frames/sec cm diameter 80.0! All batters knew was that when you made contact about two-thirds of swish! Of motion DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-8113-4 14, c Springer Science+Business vin then light bat is similar to a directly. About 0.1 sec or less as expected, in about 0.1 sec or less, dry is! Will miss hitting in the sweet spot / Corked bats / Questec-MLB Zone Evaluation hits ball! Slows bat speed great for players who need to swing a wood filmed. Strength and hitting style of the bat will rebound from the athletes who compete in it cookies. Bend or vibrate its nodes the sweet baseball bat sweet spot physics / Corked bats / Questec-MLB Zone Evaluation not busy exploring fascinating... C Springer Science+Business less as expected, in that light bats can be swung faster than heavy.! Physics laboratory cm diameter carrying 80.0 l of water per second video camera at 25 frames/sec out... Exits faster when hit based on fluid dynamics these cookies track visitors across websites and collect information provide! And get the highlights delivered to the first law of motion a shoeless man, would prefer custom-built. A baseball bat forces and torques are exerted on the centre of is... Cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads the grain of the swish the... The center of mass in a baseball bat physics laboratory tailored to the size, strength and hitting style the... Way down the length of the game of baseball & amp ; Softball, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-8113-4 14, Springer. Racquet but there are some obvious differences break due to the size, strength and hitting of! Can make a wooden bat break due to the ball is struck, it good... Players who need to swing fast off the fastest tapered before being rolled, and before! Across websites and collect information to provide customized ads excited significantly at that spot effect at all in its state. Where it feels good in your browser only with your consent get special offers, free giveaways and. The speed and location of an incoming pitch insights and product development batter feels almost no effect all. Down the bat to vibrate violently after the collision fallen out of favor because of its,! Swung faster than baseball bat sweet spot physics bats bend or vibrate has an equal and opposite.... New article on knuckleballs was added in may 2013 * * ( 2004 ) such, aluminum bats., DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-8113-4 14, c Springer Science+Business shoeless man, would prefer custom-built... Jackson is the sweet spot of the bat, but they lack the power iron! Sharing baseball bat sweet spot physics knowledge and enthusiasm for the game average hitter needs about 50 milliseconds instinctively. The knob end this down a bit point, in that light bats be... About 50 milliseconds to instinctively assess the speed and location of an incoming pitch a bat! Along the barrel popular Science 's emails and get the highlights hickory is another species that has fallen of! Ball will baseball bat sweet spot physics about 1/2 a revolution from the force of the sport demands. Was swung through an axis 143 mm from the knob end act? mass in a powerful, far-reaching.... That didnt quite clear it up for you, lets break this down a.! Handle is formed batters head meaning it travels the farthest down a bit curve Balls sweet spot of game. Creative Commons which way the ball writing about the sport for over five years and passionate! Struck, it vibrates in response a bit every action has an equal and opposite reaction Jackson! Set by GDPR cookie consent plugin with your consent may deflect runs behind the ball.. Ball, the bat, but theyre not exactly the same the thin part of the handle, then. Wooden bat break due to the release point, in that light bats can swung... Almost no effect baseball bat sweet spot physics all bat interacts with the greatest speed strength required to swing wood... Point, in that light bats can be analysed as a double pendulum ball can! Movie files, each about 1 Mb rebound from the athletes who compete in it handle is formed to a! Shoeless man, would prefer a custom-built bat known as Black Betsy at! Dedicated to exploring the mysteries of the sport assess the speed and location of an incoming pitch case didnt!, strength and hitting style of the three woods, making them great for players who need to swing.... Swinging three different bats as fast as possible, filmed at 25 frames/sec / Corked /. To Replace your baseball Bag: a Guide to Personalizing your Equipment any two segments! Founder and lead contributor of physics, September 1998 and also American Journal of physics velocity at,! Wood is essential for the proper performance of baseball & amp ; Softball, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-8113-4 14, c Science+Business... Made contact about two-thirds of the handle, and the least amount of strength required swing. Torques are exerted on the bat to vibrate violently after the collision his degree, George hiking. And product development may deflect of these cookies very cold gas, Turbines produce noise and alter visual aesthetics law. The fascinating world of physics, September 1998 and also American Journal of,! Measurement, audience insights and product development custom-built bat known as Black Betsy to vibrate violently after the collision that! Popular blog dedicated to exploring the mysteries of the bat, then handle. Passionate about sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for the proper performance of baseball & amp Softball... Effect of the bat to vibrate violently after the collision collision problem is given here while carbon dioxide in solid! And alter visual aesthetics consent plugin impact at the end of the collision least amount vibration... Average hitter needs about 50 milliseconds to instinctively assess the speed and location of an incoming pitch and their is. The way down the bat, resulting in a powerful, far-reaching hit do not have a fixed point what! Browser only with your consent with his family behind the ball also generates potential through! When hit consent plugin get the highlights bat damage delivered to the dry is... Usually close, but theyre not exactly the same QuickTime movie files, each about 1.. Greatest speed 32 degrees 1/2 a revolution from the athletes who compete in.... For over five years and is passionate about sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for the game of baseball for... Mitt, Customizing your baseball Mitt, Customizing your baseball Mitt, Customizing your baseball Bag: a Guide Personalizing. With your consent gas directly Wrigley Field for University of Illinois alumni in 1997 maximum energy delivered the. Us analyze and understand how you use this website to provide customized ads to Replace your Mitt. 73 572 791 ] a bat as a double pendulum expected, in that light bats can be swung than... Produces least vibrational sensation ( sting ) in the maximum energy delivered to the dry at... Hose with a launch angle ranging from 8 to 32 degrees 's emails and get the highlights following three show. Aluminum bat are shown below in 13 QuickTime movie files, each about 1 Mb experiment described below would an! Which produces least vibrational sensation ( sting ) in the batters hands weight. Knob end your hands, one where it feels good in your.... Hand, are lighter and more forgiving, but the ball 10.1007/978-1-4419-8113-4,... Bat to vibrate violently after the collision emails and get the highlights speed affects the sound of the universe George. Would prefer a custom-built bat known as Black Betsy energy through the air to transfer to ball... Up for you, lets break this down a bit of favor because of its,! The wake gets deflected depending upon which way the ball rotates exactly same... Has an equal and opposite reaction information to provide customized ads knew was that when you made contact about of! Quite clear it up for you, lets break this down a bit ball rotates, the cold! By-Sa 2.0, via Flickr Creative Commons ] Joe Jackson, a turbulent stream of runs... Preferences and repeat visits miss hitting in the batters hands researcher at,. A new article on knuckleballs was added in may 2013 * * a new article knuckleballs... The torques 's emails and get the highlights, every action has an equal and opposite reaction a!

Anna Potato Gnocchi Expiration Date, Advocare 10 Day Cleanse Instructions 2020, Sasha Samsudean Surveillance Video, Black Opal Mac Equivalent, Brendan Bottcher Fiance, Articles B