The Difference Between Bat Speed and Bat Velocity
It is crazy how the diamond sports world of softball and baseball is falling in love with metrics. There is exit velocity, spin rate, launch angle....so many metrics. Let me say two things about metrics. I personally do love them. They tell me a lot about the hitter and I have learned a lot about hitting by just observing the metrics of really good hitters and hitters that aren't really good.
However, there are so many components that go into the ability to be a very good hitter that can't be measured. Always has been and always will. So, balance is the key. Don't fall in love with Metrics to the point you don't use your eyes or your instincts.
With this said, let's talk about two metrics that we now have the ability to measure and are very important to the success of a hitter. Bat Speed and Bat Velocity. First a general definition of each:Bat Velocity: Many call this bat speed. I like to refer to it as bat velocity since it is measured in miles per hour. That is it. It is how fast the bat moves through the hitting zone from the launch position to the contact point.
Bat Speed: Blast Motion calls this, "Time to Contact". I prefer Bat speed personally. This is how quickly the bat moves to the contact point and is measured in seconds, well, in split seconds. Usually less than .20 seconds.
When measuring moving objects that are traveling the exact same distance both will be the same but in hitting, the distance the bat is traveling is not the same. One swing can be longer than the other, so knowledge of both is important but understanding the difference is equally important.
Not until recently, could we accurately test our hitters in these two areas but now there is very effective technology available. We, at National Fastpitch Academy, use Blast Technology, radar guns, and stopwatches for our metrics but use Blast Technology to test our Bat Velocity and Bat Speed.
We conduct the testing by placing the device on the bat and the hitter hits 10-12 swings ball off the batting tee. We record the top velocity and speed in our database of which you can learn more about here.
We conduct the testing by placing the device on the bat and the hitter hits 10-12 swings ball off the batting tee. Important note about bat speed. The beginning of the bat speed is when the bat begins its forward path. Bat speed does not include the load and the load can be a long time in terms of split seconds. A lot of hitters are LATE because they have a late or long load. Again, this is another topic for another day.
So, bat speed and bat velocity are very related but there are some differences. To be a high-quality hitter that generates production at the plate, both are needed. (Unless you are just a pure speed player/slap hitter then bat speed is much more important than bat velocity)
A topic for another day? Yeap.
We offer services to test your metrics and we do test metrics during all of our lessons.
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