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If you used our free hitting metrics calculator to determine whether or not your bat speed metrics are on trend (for your age and size), your next question is…where does your bat speed come from? Size & Strength? Mechanics? Or both?
Here’s a simple formula that applies pretty well…
Strength/Size + Mechanics = Your Metrics
- Good strength but below metrics curve likely equals poor/inefficient mechanics.
- Undersized but near/meets/exceeds curve likely means mechanics are responsible.
- Good Strength + Good Mechanics = Above-Average Metrics
- Good Strength + Bad Mechanics = Fair Metrics and/or Poor Contact & Inconsistency.
Mechanics and Power:
Hip/shoulder separation is the key to generating power via mechanics, primarily by creating stretch during the stride. To oversimplify, this means keeping the hands back & front shoulder coiled as the body moves forward. Lower-half use, balance, etc. matter too…but we won’t get into the weeds here. It’s about getting your body into the right position(s) at the right time(s).
Undersized overachievers are a good way to see this in action. [Pictured] These examples show how elite hitters “remove slack” during stride [forward move] as they stretch to separate. It’s a slingshot/bow-and-arrow/rubber-band effect that creates, stores/builds, then releases energy.
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Size-Mechanics-Metrics Connection: With size/strength we’re typically referring to level of physical maturity. Height-to-weight differential is a good, quick indicator of this.
For instance, the previous example of Player A, a 5’9 200 HS Sr, represents a player who is physically mature without much room to add strength [without losing athleticism].
Player B, a 5’10 145 lbs sophomore is a physically underdeveloped player with room to grow.
With Player A being below the metrics curve for year & strength…and Player B above the curve…based on the Strength/Size + Mechanics = Your Metrics formula, what assumptions could we make about each player’s mechanics even before properly evaluating them?
If player B goes from 5’10 145 to a 6’0 170 senior, what effect would that have on his metrics?