by ssarge » Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:22 am
Judd:
Not sure what modifications have recently been made to the testing proceedure itself (if any), but the ASA test has been the ASTM f2219 test. Which basically fires a ball at 110 mph against a stationary bat held in a vice-like device. Exit speed can not exceed 98mph.
Since the ball has a .47 COR (coefficient of restitution), the exit speed "should" be 47% of 110mph, or approximately 52mph. The delta between 52mph and 98mph is basically the trampoline effect of the bat.
As you can quickly deduce, this is NOT a real-world test. No one has any idea how trampoline effect is enhanced if hitters can cause a bat / ball collision greater than 110mph. And many can, given 60-70mph pitches, and 60+ mph swing speeds. I take that back - the bat companies know. I don't believe that ASA does.
I believe - with no evidence other than my gut - that some bat manufacturers engineer their product to get as close as possible to 98mph exit speeds at collision speeds LESS than 110mph. This helps the "average" female player, facing slower pitching and generating less bat speed. I believe other manufacturers put their design and engineering efforts into bats which create a really strong trampoiline effect at collision speeds above 110mph. This helps the elite player. These bats might have slightly smaller sweet spots, feel kind of "dead" to hitters with lesser bat speeds, etc. But the elite hitters will use them to great effect.
Also worth noting: the f2219 test does not really differentiate between a balanced bat and an end-loaded bat. At least I don't see how it could. Another reason it is not a "real world" test.
Regards,
Scott
Last edited by
ssarge on Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:55 am, edited 3 times in total.