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Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: jonprice on January 13, 2011, 10:20:55 PM

Title: Long handle bat
Post by: jonprice on January 13, 2011, 10:20:55 PM: Hi all,

Which handle length helps create more bat speed? Long or short?

Thanks
Title: Re: Long handle bat
Post by: tim2000s on January 13, 2011, 10:34:11 PM: Using v=rw, a longer handle generates a higher velocity. This isn't the whole story though, as norbs will tell you.
Title: Re: Long handle bat
Post by: jonprice on January 14, 2011, 02:23:48 PM: No one else have any comments on this??
Title: Re: Long handle bat
Post by: alexrickyponting on January 14, 2011, 02:29:59 PM: I would have thought that long handle would generate higher bat speed due to increased leverage. could be wrong though
Title: Re: Long handle bat
Post by: tim2000s on January 14, 2011, 03:16:23 PM: Ok, I am now at a keyboard and not on my phone, so here is a bit about it. A long handle creates a larger radius about which the angular velocity is active, so for a given angular velocity, the linear velocity at a point below the pivot is going o be slightly higher due to the inch extra length.

What you also have to take into account is the moment of inertia (MOI) of the bat. This affects the ability to swing the bat at the angular velocity. The greater the MOI, the slower you will be able to swing the bat. Two bats, one long handled and one short handled with the same profile will have different MOI. The LH will have a greater MOI than the SH as the MOI is dependent on mass and distribution of mass over distance. This means that the angular velocity of a LH with the same profile as the SH is going to be slightly lower. The result is that the linear velocity at the point of impact is going to be slightly different.

To achieve the optimum performance, there is a delicate balance. As I said, it's not as straight forward as simply length of bat handle! The basic concept is that it is not the total overall weight of the bat or the length of the handle which determines how fast you can swing a bat, but the way that weight is distributed along the length of the bat.
Title: Re: Long handle bat
Post by: Buzz on January 14, 2011, 03:19:20 PM: Further to what Tim has said - it will also make a difference where you hold the bat on the handle and how long your arms are.

What is more likely to make a significance than the length of the handle is how good your timing is and how "quick" your hands are.
Title: Re: Long handle bat
Post by: jonpinson on January 14, 2011, 03:52:19 PM: I think this may be an example of overthinking.

By the same token I could argue a portly batsman will receive more balls that move into him than a beanpole.

And yeh I will explain it :)
Title: Re: Long handle bat
Post by: jonprice on January 14, 2011, 04:13:46 PM: Thanks guys, thats clears it for me. I have fast hands anyway & will stick to my usual short handle bats.