time of impact, impulse & impulsive force

[helmi_tarmizi]

hello everyone!!!

i would like to know why a baseball player should swing his bat (follow-through) after hitting the ball?

Is there any reason according to physics concept? What is the purposes?

~thanks

[studiot]

This doesn't only affect baseball, it applies to all bat and ball sports.

I can think of at least four reasons, others may add more.

Two affect the quality of the strike and two affect the batsman.

 

The first reason is that it is easier and more reliable to carry through a smooth path that does not end at the ball, ie it starts with the backswing point and carries on towards a point beyond the strike point.

This path should be such that the bat is travelling at the best speed and in the most appropriate direction for the strike.

The second reason is that attempts to change this path can result in 'jerky' action that diverts energy away from the optimum hit. The batsman may even attempt to pull up too soon thereby reducing the power of the strike.

Note that some bat ball sports require wrist action as well as arm action. Timing of this is easier with a full swing.

 

In some sports the batsman needs to immediately (rapidly) recover his 'ready' position.

You will find that the follow through includes an optimum path to this.

 

Finally the batsman doesn't want to hurt himself.

Checking a travelling weight will result in reactions within his body, and contiually doing this may cause injury.