I was watching Frank Thomas do his ritual in the on-deck circle and that's when this thought hit me, which lead to this discussion; In the great debate over whether or not to use Weighted Baseballs I was wondering if anyone has ever looked at it in this sense.

When you watch a batter in the on deck circle they tend to swing either their bat with a donut on it, or a heavier bat or even a piece of rod cast iron in some cases. They use the same stance and swing that they do when they are at bat, just like how you are supposed to use the same mechanics when one throws a weighted ball. Then when they go up to the plate they are using their normal weighted bat.

How is this any different then when a Pitcher uses a weighted ball prior to either starting a game or in between innings which I know a few do?

Just looking for some thoughts on the subject.

Well I know the college I'm at got rid of weighted bats, for this very reason:

3.6 "Otsuji, Abe, and Kino****a (2002) and Southard and Groomer (2003) studied the effect of swinging with a weighted bat on normal-bat velocity. As would be predicted, the weighted-bat had a negative effect in that it slowed the velocity of the normal bat swing despite subjects reporting the normal bat feeling lighter and being swung faster. In accord with the principle of specificity of neuromuscular patterning, Southard and Groomer also observed that the swing pattern with the normal bat was altered significantly after using an overweight bat."

Swinging a weighted bat in the on deck circle does slow the swing down slightly, however the psychological effect of feeling quicker is probably more important than the actual physical effect.

There are a few pitchers who use weighted balls to help warm up, but I don't know of any studies that have shown any effect one way or the other. Once again there may be a positive psychological effect.

Using a weighted bat or weighted ball as part of an overload/underload training program is a very different proposition.

Edgar Martinez used one pretty extensively and always had a donut during batting batting practices and the on deck circle. It didn't seem to effect him or his career.

Martinez continues to marvel teammates with his abilities with the bat. Teammate Paul Sorrento recently bet Martinez he could not hit a home run during batting practice with the weighted donut still on the bat. Martinez hit the next pitch over the fence.

There should be a clip somewhere on the net of him using it during a cage session as well.

quote:

Originally posted by CADad:
Swinging a weighted bat in the on deck circle does slow the swing down slightly, however the psychological effect of feeling quicker is probably more important than the actual physical effect.

The study cited above, which I find convincing, contradicts this.

Anybody got a copy of that study? I can't find the complete version online

has anyone tryed the bat from triple threat? The bat enables you to load both ends of the bat to keep it balanced? As a teaching tool I like what I see so far.

Otsuji and co. study is in Perceptual Motor Skills, 94(1), p. 119-126

Southard is in Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 74(3), p. 270-276

I have never seen a weighted bat slow down some of the greatest hitters of all time. I wouldn't put too much stock in a study by scientist's who've probably never laced up a pair of cleats, nor swung a bat. The muscle thing is true according to professional medical people, but not to players who do it day in and day out. The feeling of the light bat, where some have said it feels like a toothpick, is mentally what a hitter needs to stay quick.

painguy,
Exactly how does the study contradict what I said? Did they study hitter's averages over a long period with and without swinging a weighted bat? I doubt it very much.

If you had actually played any competitive baseball you'd know that confidence is the most important thing in hitting. If swinging a weighted bat makes a hitter feel more confident that is far more important than losing a little bit of bat speed.