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Sitting on a fastball
R Cañal-Bruland1, M A Filius, R R D Oudejans
1a MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam , the Netherlands.
Journal of Motor Behavior
|November 27, 2014
Summary
Baseball batters miss change-up pitches because they initiate movements too early, anticipating a faster fastball. This study confirms the "sitting on a fastball" strategy negatively impacts performance against slower pitches.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Human Motor Control
Background:
- Baseball batters often struggle with change-up pitches.
- A common but unproven strategy is
- sitting on a fastball,
- anticipating high-velocity pitches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biomechanical basis of why batters miss change-up pitches.
- To provide the first experimental evidence for the
- sitting on a fastball
- strategy in baseball.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of movement patterns in highly talented baseball batters.
- Comparison of kinematic data during at-bats involving randomly presented fastballs and change-ups.
Main Results:
- Batters failing to hit change-ups exhibited movement initiation patterns similar to those used for fastballs.
- Movement initiation was not adjusted for the slower velocity of change-ups, leading to misses.
Conclusions:
- The study provides the first behavioral evidence that the
- sitting on a fastball
- strategy exists.
- This strategy leads to premature movement initiation, impairing performance against change-up pitches.
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