Every hitter does it. Its been done forever. It’s all in their head.

RJM:

Was the heavy bat a narrow handle? Was the heavy bat metal or wood?

Did the hitter "choke" the game bat? Can they measure "swing efficiency"?

Bob

You’re overthinking. It’s basic physics regardless.

"Basic physics" does not help to hit a Bob Gibson "fast ball"!!

Swinging a lead bat 10 times at batted ball in BP and erasing the back chalk line in the batter's box increases the possibility for success.

Bob

Placebo effect. Those horrible scientists provided evidence that it does not work, but I am sure a Google-ologist in here will find data to state otherwise.

Thanks for posting, RJM.  Interesting data, although I'd like to see a larger sample size to really drive home the point.  Unable to see the WSJ as I don't have a subscription anymore...2022 household fiscal cutbacks.     

I've always wondered about this topic.   A baseball swing is muscle memory that has been individually tweaked to quickly move the bat head through the hitter's longest area of the hitting zone to ensure contact.   Tennis and golf....same deal with muscle memory just slightly different end goals.   I've never seen tennis, golfers, hockey players swinging multiple rackets, sticks or clubs when warming up.  I have seen baseball hitters, hockey players, golfers and tennis players strengthening their swings in the weight room with weighted bands but that is something entirely.   Baseball hitters, hockey players, golfers and tennis players hit many thousands of practice  balls and pucks finding that optimal swing and results.   Never once did I see any of them practicing with equipment they had no intention of using when it mattered most.

Using weights to loosen up arms, shoulders, core makes sense.  But swinging a weighted bat through your ideal hitting zone never made sense to me from a logic perspective in any sport.

As always JMO.