The Truth About Hand Speed: It Starts in Your Brain
New video — this one's got math in it. Bear with me.
Hey everyone —
New YouTube video is up and I want to talk about it here because this one has some content I want to make sure lands.
I took the hand-brain connection concept from the last video and added a section I've been sitting on for a while — the actual numbers behind what an efficient at-bat is worth.
At 80 miles per hour:
- A hitter with an average swing path has to commit at 0.22 seconds into the pitch flight. The ball is still 26 feet from the plate.
- A hitter with an efficient, short path can wait until 0.30 seconds. The ball is 17 feet away.
That's 9 feet and 0.08 seconds of extra information.
In those 9 feet: breaking balls start breaking. Changeups reveal their speed. Location becomes readable.
The early committer is guessing from the pitcher's side of the field. The efficient hitter is reading from the hitter's side.
I also addressed the coaches in the room on this one. Because I know the pushback: "but mechanics matter." They do. But not the way most people teach them. Mechanics matter because they buy you time. That's their job.
Two questions for the community:
- Have you ever felt the difference between a swing where you were guessing vs. one where you actually saw it? What did it feel like?
- Has anyone ever given you the "mechanics first" approach and had it actually work in games (not just the cage)?
Drop your answers below. This is worth talking about.
Link to the video: https://youtu.be/6P_CQiw6gSQ?si=_mJ6JbNBrsDsy7Pm
Coach Bill