1. Dan McKinney
HHP 364

2.  “Some marketing materials say that handle flex improves performance because the
"whip action" allows the bat to uncoil and release energy stored during the swing and
increases the bat speed at the moment of impact” (Russell, 2007).
 “Marketing materials for stiff handled bats claim that stiffer handles allow the
trampoline effect in the barrel to be more effective thus improving batted-ball speed”
(Russell,2007).
Easton Claims:
“It’s trying to improve the way the handles of its bats flex to increase the size of
the sweet spot—the area on the barrel that delivers the most power—so hitters can rap
singles and doubles even if they don’t make solid contact” (Greene, 2004).
 Louisville Slugger Claims:
“Louisville Slugger’s 2009 line is built with stiffer handles and larger sweet spots
in mind. The TPX material says that a stiff handle creates more barrel flex, thus
increasing the “trampoline effect” and creating more energy transfer” (Conrad, 2008).

3. VIDEO!
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/flexible-
handled-baseball-
bats/a451f321d19ee1ce2e7ba451f321d19ee1ce2e7b-
320627409871?q=flexible%20baseball%20bats&FROM=
LKVR5&GT1=LKVR5&FORM=LKVR

4.  Velocity: The rate of speed calculated in Miles Per Hour.
 Coefficient of Restitution/Trampoline Effect: The
coefficient of restitution is a measure of the elasticity of
the collision between ball and bat. Elasticity is a measure
of how much bounce there is, or in other words, how
much of the kinetic energy of the colliding objects before
the collision remains as kinetic energy of the objects
after the collision. Louisville Slugger Strategy
 Whipping Action: Handle flex allows energy stored in the
whip action during the swing to be released at impact in
order to provide a greater batted-ball speed. Easton
Strategy
 Hitting: The sequential unlocking of body parts to
maximize bat speed at the point of contact.

5.  Ha: The most flexible handled bat (65), will
create the highest exit velocity of a batted
ball off of a stationary hitting tee!
 Ho: There is no significant difference of the
exit velocity from different flexible handled
bats.

6.  Flexible rating of 3 different Easton Aluminum
Collegiate Baseball Bats
 The flexibility of bat handles range from 65-100.
 100= Stiffest handle
 65= Maximum flexibility
 Test was administered using a 65, 90, and 100
flexible handled rating
Dependent Variable
 Exit velocity speed of a baseball off of a stationary
hitting tee
 5 swings per participant with each bat (65, 90,
100)
 8 total participants
 120 total swings

7.  Participants
 8 MSU-Billings University Baseball Players
 College aged Freshman-Seniors
 18-24 years old
 Randomly Assigned
 Trained Collegiate Baseball Athletes

8. Apparatus/Materials
 Stalker Radar Gun- Used to see velocity/speed of
the baseball
 5 Wilson A1001-Red Cushioned Cork Center:
Premium Leather (Brand New Pearls)
 ATEC Tee- Standardized and Stationary
 Batting Cage/Net- Located in Lower Gym: MSU-
Billings Campus
 8 Participants

9. Instruments Continued…… Easton Aluminum Bats
 Model-Length-Ounces-Barrel Diameter-Flex
Yellow BSV2 33 in 30 oz. 2 5/8 in
Red BZN1 33 in 30 oz. 2 5/8 in
Green BV2 33 in 30 oz. 2 5/8 in
Yellow: Flex- 65 Flexible Handle Rating
Red :Flex- 90 Flexible Handle Rating
Green: Flex- 100 Flexible Handle Rating

11. Procedures
Participant- Parallel to the tee and perpendicular
to the net.
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/baseball-hitting-instructional-videos-tee-
drill/6d2a55979e1869998a216d2a55979e1869998a21-
309014495480?q=baseball%20tee&FROM=LKVR5&GT1=LKVR5&FORM=LKVR34

12. Procedures Continued….
 Participants randomly selected. 8 total participants
 Tee placed in front of net
 Each participant hit 5 Pearls with each bat
 KEY/Instruction: Hit the ball as hard as possible
directly into the net and directly at the radar gun
 The exit velocity of the baseball was recorded after
each swing in miles per hour.

13.  True Experimental Design-Groups were randomly
formed, and all subjects were equivalent at the
beginning of the research.
 Randomized Groups
R T O
 ANOVA- Analysis of Variance: Test that allows the
evaluation of the null hypothesis between two or
more group means.

14. 0
10
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
yellow
green
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Subjects
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0
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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Yellow Bat (65 Flex) Mean: 84.1 MPH
Red Bat (90 Flex) Mean: 84.4 MPH
Green Bat (100 Flex) Mean: 85.4 MPH

15.  F Value= 0.15
 P Value=0.86
 DF (Degree of Freedom) between groups=2
 Error= 14
 Critical Value=3.74
 No Significant Difference!
 86% Chance
 Ultimately have to Accept Null Hypothesis
◦ .15<3.74 Critical F Value
◦ Pg-405: Statistical Tables

16.  History-Fatigue of Participants
 Health of each bat- Dents and overuse
 Health of Athletes- Rehab?
 Expectations of Athlete/Researcher

17.  Money Talks- Maybe it is the operator and
not the tool!
 Thesis Ideas