Baseball Bat NOS™

The SpeedChain® Neuromuscular Over-speed Device (NOS™) was developed to improve bat speed and swing efficiency by using variable resistance during the swing. The NOS™ provides a feel that is unlike weighted bat sleeves, donut bat weights, and other on-deck devices that are the same weight through the swing. Most devices are heavy during bat acceleration - heavy through the hitting zone - and heavy during bat deceleration. Because of its unique design, the NOS™ feels lighter at acceleration - has maximum weight through the hitting zone – and feels lighter during deceleration.

• An implement that can Improve bat speed and inefficiency
• Offers a means to develop balance, tempo, and rhythm while improving swing plane
• An outstanding device to enhance bat lag, swing, and impact position
• A tremendous implicit learning tool

The SpeedChains® Baseball NOS™ (Neuromuscular Over Speed) is a training aid to improve the movement patterns of the baseball swing and increase bat speed. Swinging the Baseball NOS™ develops balance, tempo, and rhythm while improving the swing-plane. It is a tremendous tool for preparing the body to make powerful swings with an efficient sequence. It is sport-specific with a greater chance of carry-over to the plate based on the concept of dynamic correspondence.

With its use influenced by hitting instructor Perry Husband, training with the Baseball NOS™ offers a means to develop increased lag while improving the swing and impact position. The device design allows it to be swung in both directions to promote body symmetry to counter the imbalances often encountered with the directional nature of the sport.

The Baseball NOS™ was created to increase speed and maximize power using the Dynamic Systems Theory. It provides a balance of over-speed and specificity training through practicing maximal effort swings to stimulate the neurological system. The Baseball NOS™ offers opportunities for self- organization while promoting differential learning to improve the baseball swing unique to the hitter. The Baseball NOS™ provides a means for increased bat speed based on laws of physics - centripetal force and pendulum effect. The design of the Baseball NOS™ adds a chain and weight to the end of a shaft forming an additional pendulum in the swing. As the swing progresses, the weight of the added pendulum rotates around the end of the shaft extending the swing radius and increasing club velocity. The accommodation of the faster swing requires the recruitment of more efficient motor units to facilitate the swing resulting in an enhanced neurological pathway. Repeated swings myelinate the pathway ingraining it as a permanent movement pattern. Continued use of the device reinforces the neural adaptation discouraging regression to the slower movement pattern.

Using the Baseball NOS™ encourages a well-executed swing that causes the pendulums to function sequentially in synchronized movement and not chaotically. As the rhythm and tempo of pendulums are executed in sequence the swing becomes effortless. It provides an excellent tool for discovery learning to generate bat speed in a continuous athletic motion that is controlled and well-sequenced with ball impact.

The Baseball NOS™ is an ideal device for implicit learning. It provides a means to find the proper wrist release point to maximize bat speed at impact resulting in greater bat speed. It is an excellent tool to practice the sequencing skills with the repetitions necessary to create and myelinate the neural pathways necessary for a fast swing movement pattern.

The device is constructed with a steel shaft and rubber grip. The shaft connects to a 10" light twist chain attached to a ball serving as an end weight. The NOS™ is lighter than most bats with an approximate weight of 400g; it has the capacity for adding two 50g chain weights (included) for a maximum weight of approximately 500g. The device has a length of 25.5" at rest and extends to 34.5" when swung due to centrifugal force extending the chain and end weight. At full length, it is longer than most bats, but not too long to impede swings or inhibit training due to the physics of centripetal forces. The physical properties of this device provide a means for focused training to deliver the bat more quickly to the ball, producing more bat speed, resulting in more distance. Each session with the Baseball NOS™ should be short, starting with low-intensity swings with each swing having increased speed until the maximum effort is reached. After achieving maximum effort swings with the NOS™, swings should be blended with swings of a regular bat to ensure carryover. The Baseball NOS™ should only be used after the normal pre-activity warm-up is complete but never when the hitter is fatigued.

Following is a video of the NOS™ used as a warm-up and timing device courtesy of Perry Husband.