On-Deck Routines Hurt Hitters' Bat Speed; Giving Up Doughnuts

[westofyou]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...550957386.html

Hey, each guy does what's right for him," says Nick Swisher, a New York Yankees outfielder. "How you feel matters most."

Call it mind over physiology, a belief in the practices that have brought them to this level, but hitters are just now digesting the news that their time-honored on-deck routines are wrong. Scientific research makes clear that the more weight you swing in the on-deck circle, the slower your swing in the batter's box. The slower the swing, the harder it is to catch up to searing fastballs and do what's considered the toughest task in sports: get a base hit.

Coop DeRenne, a physical-education professor at the University of Hawaii, frames his findings in hard numbers: Increase—or even decrease—the weight of your bat between 10% and 13%, and you decrease bat speed from three to five miles per hour.

[RollyInRaleigh]

I never used the doughnut or bat weight to try and speed up my swing. I used it to try to stretch the muscles and get loose before the at-bat.

[George Anderson]

I heard this theory back when I played 25 plus years ago.

[smith288]

Its astonishing how players refuse to accept scientific fact. Like corking your bat and wearing the same socks unwashed until you lose.

[RichRed]

In other news, phiten necklaces don't work either.

[westofyou]

Players also may step on the line when entering and exiting the field.

[smith288]

Players also may step on the line when entering and exiting the field.

I think Cueto does on purpose

[RollyInRaleigh]

Players also may step on the line when entering and exiting the field.

Oooooh, I still can't bring myself to do that.

[corkedbat]

But what about magnetic bracelets?

[Nasty_Boy]

So Crash Davis was wrong?

[traderumor]

What's the ruling on Cairo, who swings left handed in the on-deck circle?

This fact is why I think Little Leaguers need to wear body armor with the bat speed "big for their age" kids generate with the offset weight aluminum bats, where the weight is anywhere from 8 to 14 oz. lighter than the length of the bat. It gets downright dangerous. Maybe they ought to do like Pee Wee Football did, and base the league divisions on weight rather than age/grade