Examining Changes in Bat Swing Kinematics in Different Areas of the Strike Zone in Collegiate Baseball Players

Charles C. Williams, Paul T. Donahue, Samuel J. Wilson, J. Grant Mouser, Christopher M. Hill, Lauren A. Luginsland, Jacob R. Gdovin, Chip Wade, John C. Garner

Abstract


Background: According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) there are over 34,000 athletes who compete in baseball at the collegiate level. These individuals spend countless hours training to improve their ability at bat performance by use of a batting tee and their position preference. However, during a game situation an athlete may swing a bat through their strike zone depending on the pitch thrown by an opposing pitcher. Objective: The aim of this investigation was to examine changes in swing kinematics throughout an individual’s strike zone in collegiate baseball players. Variables of interest included resultant velocity at ball contact (RVBC) and the angle of the bat at ball contact (BABC). Methodology: A series of markers were placed on the tee and bat to record swing kinematic variables of interest. Participants completed a brief two-minute on-deck warm-up protocol before being counterbalanced into completing 15 swing trials in various regions of their respective strike zone. A ten-minute washout period was completed followed by another 15 swing trials throughout their strike zone until there was a total of 45 swing trials, having 5 swing trials completed in each of the nine regions of the strike zone. Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance were used to examine swing kinematic variables of interest. Significant differences were found in RVBC along with significant differences in BABC (p<.05). Conclusions: Knowledge of this information can allow both athlete and sport coach to identify areas of weakness when addressing their hitting performance in preparation for an at bat situation during a game.

Keywords


Sports, Velocity, Performance, Baseball, Biomechanics

Full Text:

PDF

References


Bonnechere, B., Jansen, B., Salvia, P., Bouzahouene, H., Omelina, L., Moiseev, F., . . . Jan, S. V. S. (2014). Validity and reliability of the Kinect within functional assessment activities: comparison with standard stereophotogrammetry. Gait & posture, 39(1), 593-598. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2013.09.018

DeRenne, C., Morgan, C., Hetzler, R. K., & Taura, B. T. (2008). National and state youth baseball coaching requirements: a state case study. The Sport Journal, 11(2).

Escamilla, R. F., Fleisig, G. S., DeRenne, C., Taylor, M. K., Moorman, C. T., Imamura, R., . . . Andrews, J. R. (2009a). A comparison of age level on baseball hitting kinematics. Journal of applied biomechanics, 25(3), 210-218. doi:https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.25.3.210

Escamilla, R. F., Fleisig, G. S., DeRenne, C., Taylor, M. K., Moorman, C. T., Imamura, R., . . . Andrews, J. R. (2009b). Effects of bat grip on baseball hitting kinematics. Journal of applied biomechanics, 25(3), 203-209. doi:https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.25.3.203

Fleisig, G., Zheng, N., Stodden, D., & Andrews, J. (2002). Relationship between bat mass properties and bat velocity. Sports Engineering, 5(1), 1-8. doi:https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1460-2687.2002.00096.x

Mcintyre, D. R., & Pfautsch, E. W. (1982). A kinematic analysis of the baseball batting swings involved in opposite-field and same-field hitting. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 53(3), 206-213. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.1982.10609341

Messier, S. P., & Owen, M. G. (1984). Bat dynamics of female fast pitch softball batters. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 55(2), 141-145. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.1984.10608390

Messier, S. P., & Owen, M. G. (1985). Ground reaction forces and selected lower extremity kinematics during batting. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 17(2), 221-222. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.1985.10608448

Milanovich, M., & Nesbit, S. M. (2014). A three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic study of the college-level female softball swing. Journal of sports science & medicine, 13(1), 180.

National Collegiate Athletic Association. (2018). Estimated probability of competing in college athletics. (2018). Retrieved from http://NCAA.org

Paronto, J. (2014). NCAA Baseball: 2015 and 2016 Rules. In: The National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, IN.

Race, D. E. (1961). A cinematographic and mechanical analysis of the external movements involved in hitting a baseball effectively. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, 32(3), 394-404. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10671188.1961.10613161

Scott, M. G. (1942). Analysis of human motion: A textbook in kinesiology: Ardent Media.

Shaffer, B., Jobe, F. W., Pink, M., & Perry, J. (1993). Baseball batting. An electromyographic study. Clinical orthopaedics and related research(292), 285-293.

Tsushima, H., Morris, M. E., & McGinley, J. (2003). Test-retest reliability and inter-tester reliability of kinematic data from a three-dimensional gait analysis system. Journal of the Japanese Physical Therapy Association, 6(1), 9-17. doi:https://doi.org/10.1298/jjpta.6.9

Welch, C. M., Banks, S. A., Cook, F. F., & Draovitch, P. (1995). Hitting a baseball: A biomechanical description. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 22(5), 193-201. doi:10.2519/jospt.1995.22.5.193

Williams, C. C., Gdovin, J. R., Wilson, S. J., Cazas-Moreno, V. L., Eason, J. D., Hoke, E. L., . . . Garner, J. C. (2019). The Effects of Various Weighted Implements on Baseball Swing Kinematics in Collegiate Baseball Players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 33(5), 1347-1353. doi:10.1519/jsc.0000000000002020




DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575//aiac.ijkss.v.8n.2p.1

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2013-2024 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD.

International Journal of Kinesiology and Sports Science

You may require to add the 'aiac.org.au' domain to your e-mail 'safe list’ If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox'. Otherwise, you may check your 'Spam mail' or 'junk mail' folders.