Can we hit the Home run?
To hit a home run, bat speed, launch angle, and ball spin are crucial factors. Let's examine the conditions conducive to hitting a home run from both a physical and data perspective.
Bat Speed Bat speed has the most significant impact on distance. To increase bat speed, it's essential to increase the speed of the bat's head. According to data, to achieve a bat speed of 160 km/h, a minimum head speed of 130 km/h is required.
Launch Angle The ideal launch angle for a home run is between 20 and 35 degrees from the horizontal plane. More detailed data suggests that, considering air resistance, 39-41 degrees is the optimal angle.
Point of Contact The point of contact that yields the greatest distance is hitting 6mm below the center of the ball with a 19-degree upward swing. This creates an appropriate amount of backspin, generating lift and increasing distance.
Backspin While adequate backspin increases distance, excessive contact with the bottom of the ball can reduce bat speed, so caution is necessary.
Upward Swing An upward swing is essential for increasing distance. However, the upward swing here refers to a state where only the moment of impact is upward.
Moment of Impact When hitting a hardball, the contact between the ball and bat lasts only 0.5 milliseconds (0.0005 seconds). Therefore, it is physically impossible to consciously push after impact.
Effective Hitting from Data
Bat speed: Top-tier MLB players consistently hit balls at speeds ranging from 180 to 190 km/h.
Swing speed: Strong hitters have swing speeds around 135 km/h. For example, MLB slugger Mark McGwire's swing speed is said to exceed 140 km/h.
Coefficient of restitution: The ball's coefficient of restitution also affects distance. Even a slight change in the coefficient of restitution can significantly impact distance.
Environmental factors: Temperature and altitude also affect distance. A 30-degree increase in temperature reduces air density by about 12%, and an increase in altitude of 305 meters reduces air density by 3%. The lower the air density, the less air resistance and the easier it is to hit for distance.