Anthropometric and physiological factors affecting batted ball speed of adolescent baseball players

Authors

Peter J. Sinclair, The University of SydneyFollow
Matthew Hollings, The University of SydneyFollow
Stephen Smith, NSW Institute of SportFollow
Sean Hardy, Cricket NSWFollow
Shane CasselFollow
Jonathan L. Freeston, The University of SydneyFollow

Category

Implement sports

Document Type

Paper

Abstract

Fifty-seven junior baseball players performed eight swings off a tee to record ball exit speed, as well as tests of grip strength, standing broad jump, lateral-to-medial (LM) jumps, chin-ups and chest pass with a medicine ball. The height, weight and age of each participant was also recorded. All anthropometric and physiological tests were significantly positively correlated with ball speed (p < 0.05). Collinearity between variables meant that only chest pass (R² = 0.70, p = 0.000), body mass (ΔR² = 0.03, Δp = 0.021) and LM jump (ΔR² = 0.04, Δp = 0.005) made independent contributions to a stepwise linear regression. These findings corroborate the expectation that upper body power is a major determinant of batting speed, with leg power adding an additional, independent contribution to performance.

Recommended Citation

Sinclair, Peter J.; Hollings, Matthew; Smith, Stephen; Hardy, Sean; Cassel, Shane; and Freeston, Jonathan L. (2019) "Anthropometric and physiological factors affecting batted ball speed of adolescent baseball players," ISBS Proceedings Archive: Vol. 37: Iss. 1, Article 55.
Available at: https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol37/iss1/55