Effects of baseball bat mass and position of center of gravity on batting

The important characteristics to consider when analyzing a baseball bat swing include the centre of gravity, moment of inertia, and the length and mass of the bat. The present study investigated the effects of the mass and centre of gravity of a swung baseball bat. The knob of an experimental bat was equipped with accelerometers to measure the three linear and three angular components of acceleration applied to the bat when swung by trained baseball players. These six components of acceleration were measured using the experimental bat for 25 combinations of mass and centre of gravity. The mass and centre of gravity of the bat were found to affect both linear and angular acceleration during the swing. Thus, bat features relative to individual players must also be considered when analyzing the swing of a baseball bat. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.