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[tim2000s]

Sitting on the train on the way home, I was pondering ping and coefficient of restitution tests. It occurred to me that it would be interesting to conduct an experiment to compare rebound of various bats and see the impact of knocking in and age.

What I intend to do is rig up and experiment using a jig to hold a bat in a constant position and drop some form of spherical object onto it from a height of one metre. I will then judge the rebound based on measuring the height of the bounce off the bat using a video camera.

The intention is to test two similar bats, one knocked in and one not, and see what the effect on rebound is.

This will then provide a relative comparison of the effects of knocking in. I'm also thinking that cnc made bats should be used to provide consistency of production.

What do you guys think?

[Joe]

Do scuffed and not scuffed also.

[tushar sehgal]

sounds interesting, would like to see it, although holding the bat in position would be tricky. I am assuming you don't want the bat to move at all..

[tim2000s]

Nothing like a vice or g-clamp to do that.

[Tom]

University of Warwickshire did a similar test firing ball bearings onto pieces of willow. I'll try to find a video as it may help you with setting up.

[tim2000s]

I'm going old school physics gcse approach, using gravity to provide acceleration and the classic move a trapdoor out of the way to ensure consistent drop.

Nowt high tech like firing ball bearings!

[S Taylor3]

Interesting idea, one I have considered myself. I see no problem with your plan, except in making sure the ball dropped in exactly the same place each time. I suppose too that if using a cricket ball you would have to try and arrange for the seam to not hit the blade as it may give an odd result.

I thought about doing it for a range of bats but gave up as it gets a bit complicated when testing bats with middles in different places.

[Talisman]

Thread of the week....

[Ayrtek Cricket]

Could you use a bola ball to ensure the seam doesn't interfere with bouncebackability?

[SkipperJ]

Tim,

There's a whole area of expertise called Design of Experiments (or DOE). You can get useful results without testing every combination of factors.

Google it, and if you need any help setting up your experiments and with statistical analysis of the data, I'd be happy to help:) 

(Results are analysed using a method called Analysis of Variance or ANOVA)

[Johnny]

Ideally though, you'd want to test the same bat twice.

Regardless of knocking in, I would expect that 2 CNC'd bats from the same grade of willow might still perform differently - or am I totally wrong? Have batmakers nailed it to the point where they can take care of natural variations in the willow??

[S Taylor3]

Could you use a bola ball to ensure the seam doesn't interfere with bouncebackability?

I think that would make sense as long as a bat behaves the same with a machine ball as it would leather.

Quick question Tim but as there is some debate over where the middle of a bat actually lies, would you calculate the middle or choose an arbitrary point on both bats?

[S Taylor3]

Ideally though, you'd want to test the same bat twice.

Regardless of knocking in, I would expect that 2 CNC'd bats from the same grade of willow might still perform differently - or am I totally wrong? Have batmakers nailed it to the point where they can take care of natural variations in the willow??

Another good point that factored in to me giving up. If only it were something man-made and consistent!

[Canners]

i dont think this test will produce definite results, you may gauge a general result say if you tested 10 knocked in bats and 10 bats that arent knocked in but the the fact is one bat may just be better than an another due to many factors

[Canners]

Ideally though, you'd want to test the same bat twice.

Regardless of knocking in, I would expect that 2 CNC'd bats from the same grade of willow might still perform differently - or am I totally wrong? Have batmakers nailed it to the point where they can take care of natural variations in the willow??

spot on mate