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Where does 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?