When I hit in the cage or off the tee I use a 31 ounce wooden bat(33in). My regular game day bat is 32/29. Does anyone have a comment on wether the heavier bat can mess up fundamentals?
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4loveofthegame,
I suggest you stay with about the same weight bat as you use in a game situation. Most players change to wood for BP and drills which tend to be a little heavier than the aluminum whick is OK. A significantly heavier bat will change your timing. A few dry swings with a weighted bat are good to stimulate your muscles prior to BP. Surprisingly, a very light bat (broomstick) used for hitting soft tossed whiffle balls is an effective training aid in increasing batspeed. As I understand it, the broomstick allows increased batspeed and targets and develops additional muscles. A good hitting instructor is important in developing hitters and should be able to provide you with proper bat weights.
Best of luck,
Fungo
I suggest you stay with about the same weight bat as you use in a game situation. Most players change to wood for BP and drills which tend to be a little heavier than the aluminum whick is OK. A significantly heavier bat will change your timing. A few dry swings with a weighted bat are good to stimulate your muscles prior to BP. Surprisingly, a very light bat (broomstick) used for hitting soft tossed whiffle balls is an effective training aid in increasing batspeed. As I understand it, the broomstick allows increased batspeed and targets and develops additional muscles. A good hitting instructor is important in developing hitters and should be able to provide you with proper bat weights.
Best of luck,
Fungo
thanks fungo,
I've never heard of that broomstick drill but it sounds interesting I'll try that out. Any other suggestions?
I've never heard of that broomstick drill but it sounds interesting I'll try that out. Any other suggestions?
I recommend using wood and aluminum bats in practice. However, I feel that you should use a 32 wood if you are using a 32 aluminum. Naturally, the wood bat will feel a little heavier. I don't like changing lengths of bats from practice to an actual game. It's also important to remember to alternate between wood and aluminum because there is a difference.
The use of a heavier bat in warmups is based on the same premise as using a donut. When you tak ethe donut off, your regular bat FEELS lighter and it FEELS like you are swinging faster.
Of course you aren't, but it's one of those old baseball superstions that continues to this day.
Who knows though though. So much of hitting is mental, if you THINK you're swinging faster, maybe it helps. Placebo effect and all that.
Of course you aren't, but it's one of those old baseball superstions that continues to this day.
Who knows though though. So much of hitting is mental, if you THINK you're swinging faster, maybe it helps. Placebo effect and all that.