Anderson Bat Q & A

[Tumblebug]

TBug, thank you for the replies to my original set, and all the follow ups. Even more for adding a modicum of intelligent discussion, and lacing it with tremendous wit and humor!

So why does a guy working on the most advanced materiel design projects in the world go back to the Stone Age to make bats? Particularly when the market already has several Ruths and Aarons with (and I may be taking a leap here) much greater resources at their disposal?

You are welcome but I'm actually having fun with the questions.

I am here because I am a yard rat at heart. I played baseball and later I played more softball than should be legal. In 1990 I played 366 softball games. I coached my boys through Little League. There is no place I would rather be than on a diamond either playing or coaching. In 1988, when I got the opportunity to design and field test baseball and softball bats for a living, I jumped on it and never looked back. I am an example of, "Do what you love, the money will follow . . ."

[Tumblebug]

I can only quote anonlookers signature here.....

I have no idea what you're talking about, so here is a bunny with a pancake on it's head.

Maybe if you read it s l o w e r . . .

[jofus]

The small secondary rotation (beta rotation) which happens at the hands begins after the alpha rotation is well under way and includes the shoulders to start, then arms and finally wrists and hands.

I may get ostracized for this.....

but you've obviously never been enlightened by Mr. JoeBad aka Teacherman aka multiple other aliases created to get around numerous bannings.

If so, you would know that the hands start way the rotation way before anything else....

[THE MAD-DOG99]

This is a very interesting discussion but fails to address the primary question concerning the Anderson fastpitch bats.

The bats are not the specific weight advertised. They are approx. 2.8 oz. heavier than listed.

I was given an explanation by the former engineer that it is the swing weight. Considering I graduated with an advanced engineering degree 25 years ago, there must have been a fundamental change in the laws of physics between then and now.

The basic premise of f=ma is understood, and the application of MOI is correct, but the relevance to rotational velocity is flawed in respect to swing weight. In the case of these bats, the knob is weighted. The theory would be correct if the wrists were the only axis of rotation. I have never seen a batter swing only with his/her wrists. To get to the true physics behind a swing, multiple computations must be used due to multiple rotational axis (body rotation, wrist rotation, etc.).

The bottom line is that the bats are very good and comparable to carbon composites due to the additon weight (f=ma). If the batter can maintain bat speed, the heavier the bat, the better.

Point taken. Let me cogitate on how to best answer your implied question. More later . . .

Cogitate...??

Bug , DD hit ball far with bat...DD love bat...Dad love that DD love bat...

Thank you

[Missinit]

TBug,
I can make sense of about half of what your talking about which has made me twice as smart as I was before

Thanks for taking the time to explain things you easily could have ignored and never lost a dime for it.

[Tumblebug]

[

Should I be intellectually accosted by such an enlightened mind, I suppose it would be necessary to concede my position and acquiesce to the reigning authority. In plain talk that simply means: "It is easier to stay out than get out." – Mark Twain

[Tumblebug]

Cogitate...??

Bug , DD hit ball far with bat...DD love bat...Dad love that DD love bat...

Thank you

Bug love that Dad love that DD love bat . . .

[rjd8675309]

T-Bug,

Nice explanation, but the mere inclusion of the term "psychological effect" tells me there is something fishy going on.

[Tumblebug]

T-Bug,

Nice explanation, but the mere inclusion of the term "psychological effect" tells me there is something fishy going on.

Not really, it is simply a case of, "if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck." If it swings like a -9 and it hits like a -9, its probably a -9. We are actually providing a product that improves the hitter's ability to transfer more momentum with no added effort on their part. Because of the attention to the weight distribution included in the design, it swings like a -9. By publishing a swing weight we are telling someone they can swing a bat that they would otherwise never even pick up. In essence what I am telling you is that, if I can get you to swing it with an open mind, I can make you a better hitter.

The "psychological effect" is simply getting you to open your mind to the idea that what is right for you is what feels right to you whether or not it says that on the label.

The caveat here is that if the hitter’s mechanics are bad, it won't help. In that case, I would suggest you save the money you were going to spend on a performance bat and use it for batting lessons.

[black&blue]

The psychological point is interesting. I don't understand a darn thing about the physics of what Bug is writing about but I know my DD loves her 32/22 Techzilla even though it doesn't weigh 22 oz. She knows it's heavier but we don't harp on that fact. There are girls on her team who won't buy one b/c it's heavier than stated but my DD and another girl on her team are having much success with it. And I've finally found a bat that I can hit outfield bombs with in practice.

Oh and about the paint...DD's first Techzilla had a big ol' paint chip near the handle and Anderson replaced it with a new bat. The customer service is superb.