BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE FASTBALL THROWN FROM THE WIND-UP AND THE STRETCH

Authors

Hunter L. Frisk, Lakeland UniversityFollow
Madison J. Blankenship, Lakeland UniversityFollow
Evan M. Martin, Lakeland UniversityFollow
William Ebben, Lakeland UniversityFollow

Category

Athletics

Document Type

Paper

Abstract

This study assessed the biomechanics associated with the fastball thrown in two conditions. Fifteen men pitched from the wind-up and stretch beginning and landing on force platforms. Doppler radar was used to assess ball velocity. A paired samples t-test was used to determine differences in ball velocity, propulsive and landing phase kinetics, as well as time, distance, and subject velocity from the propulsive to landing phase. The stretch produced 5.55% more horizontal ground reaction force, a higher horizontal to vertical force ratio, 35.05% greater vertical rate of force development (RFD) in the propulsive phase, and 8.85% higher horizontal and 24.65% vertical RFD upon landing (p ≤ 0.05). The wind-up produced 39.49% greater horizontal RFD in the propulsive phase (p ≤ 0.05). These variations of the fastball use different mechanisms to achieve similar (p = 0.77) ball velocities.

Recommended Citation

Frisk, Hunter L.; Blankenship, Madison J.; Martin, Evan M.; and Ebben, William (2020) "BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE FASTBALL THROWN FROM THE WIND-UP AND THE STRETCH," ISBS Proceedings Archive: Vol. 38: Iss. 1, Article 21.
Available at: https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol38/iss1/21