NOVEMBER 28, 2012 BOSTON, MASwingRite, LLC releases Home Run Hitter: New technology will replace ba t weights

SwingRite is introducing the Home Run Hitter which will replace traditional batt ing donuts and weighted bats as warm-up tools. These traditional devices reduce batters abilities at the plate, while the Home Run Hitter increases bat speed and power, reduces fatigue, and encourages correct swing mechanics. The Home Run Hitter is customized to the batters personal bat length and weight. It has been proven that swinging heavy devices prior to an at-bat actually fatigu es and tires out the fast-twitch muscle fibers you ll be using momentarily at th e plate, according to Coop DeRenne, a physical-education professor at the Univers ity of Hawaii also known as the guru of the on-deck ritual. Advocates of the Home Run Hitter include: Jason Romano, 12-year veteran of MLB a nd Nippon Professional Baseball League; Jim Lefebvre, 1965 NL Rookie of the Year (see accompanying photo with Kate Whitney, SwingRite president); Allen Rowin, c oordinator of player development for the Astros; and Dale Sveum, batting coach f or the Milwaukee Brewers. The Home Run Hitter is adjustable to batters of any strength since it has nine d ifferent settings for varying velocities. With a few twists the batter can calib rate it for swings from 54-101 MPH. As the batter uses the tool, they are able t o hear its unique click that designates the impact position of the ball, correct t heir swing, see their swing speed increase, and adjust the bat as they improve. A common misconception is that swinging a weighted bat in the on-deck circle wil l make the hitters bat feel lighter at the plate creating more bat speed. However , Increaseor even decreasethe weight of your bat between 10% and 13%, and you decre ase bat speed from three to five miles per hour, says DeRenne. The batter should m imic in his warm-up what he will do in the gamethe same weight, the same motion." A study was conducted using various bat types, standard, aluminum, fungo, and on e with a donut, to measure the maximum velocity of a batter after warming up and taking three practice swings. It was found that adding a donut ring, or any othe r weight-altering device, actually slows bat speed and can negatively alter swin g mechanics. (Joe Baur) The Home Run Hitter teaches the batter where any mechanical flaws in their swing may be using the unique click sound made at the point of impact. It helps players to understand how to direct the swing in order to maximize efficient bat speed, a ccording to Ty van Burkleo, hitting coach for the Houston Astros, who uses the H ome Run Hitter with his team. SwingRite, LLC is located in the Greater Boston area in Massachusetts. They are the producers of such products as the SwingRite golf training aid and the SwingR ite Home Run Hitter. Their products are 100% Made in the USA and come with an un conditional, money-back guarantee. Visit their website at www.swingrite.com.