Effect of Various Warm-Up Devices on Bat Swing Velocity of College Baseball Players

Abstract

A variety of on-deck implements are available to baseball players to warm-up before their game at bat. Baseball research evaluating warm-up devices indicate that implements that are ± 12% of standard bat weight produce the greatest bat velocities. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of various on-deck implements on bat swing velocity of male college baseball players. METHODS: Twenty-two Division I college baseball players (age = 20.0 ± 1.5 yr, height = 182.6 ± 8.3 cm, body mass = 91.4 ± 11.4 kg) participated in this study. All participants were randomly placed into 10 groups to swing the 10 different warm-up devices over 10 days. The 10 warm-up implements used included: resistance tubing device worn by player while swinging standard baseball bat (33 in, 30 oz), 96 oz on-deck implement, weighted batting gloves (25 oz each) worn while swinging a standard bat, 25 oz weight (added to standard bat), 16 oz donut ring (added to standard bat), 14 oz plastic fins (air resisted device added to standard bat), 34 oz wood bat, 26 oz aluminum bat, 22 oz fungo bat, and a standard 33 in, 30 oz aluminum baseball bat. Each testing session consisted of an active, dynamic warm-up, 5 min of rest, 3 dry swings as hard as possible with the assigned warm-up implement, 2 comfortable dry swings with a standard baseball bat followed by 3 game swings (20 sec rest between swings) while hitting a baseball off of a batting tee with the same standard baseball bat. Bat swing velocity was measured at the testing station with a SETPRO SPRT5A chronograph and recorded in mph. RESULTS: One-way repeated measures MANOVA indicated no significant differences between the 3 simulated game swings after using the same warm-up implement. Therefore, the mean velocity of the 3 trials was used to represent each condition. There were no statistically significant differences in bat swing velocity after using any of the 10 warm-up implements. CONCLUSION: For male college baseball players, results suggest that warm-up implements varying from 22 to 96 oz did not change mean bat swing velocity of a standard 33 in, 30 oz baseball bat. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Based on bat swing velocities recorded with a SETPRO SPRT5A chronograph, players can use any of the 10 warm-up implements in the on-deck circle and maintain their bat speed. Therefore, personal preference as to which warm-up implement to use in the on-deck circle should be advised. ACKNOWLEDGMENT: We would like to thank Chance Reynolds for partially funding this study.