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Finger forces in fastball baseball pitching.

Hiroshi Kinoshita1, Satoshi Obata2, Daiki Nasu3

  • 1Department of Health & Nutrition, Osaka Aoyama University, Osaka, Japan.

Human Movement Science
|May 14, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Researchers quantified finger forces during baseball pitching using an instrumented baseball. This study reveals peak forces from the index and middle fingers, crucial for understanding fastball mechanics and injury prevention.

Keywords:
Ball speedBaseballGripResultant forceShear forceSpin

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Sports Science
  • Baseball Pitching Analysis

Background:

  • Finger forces are critical in baseball pitching but previously unquantified.
  • Lack of biomechanical technology hindered previous force measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the forces imparted by individual fingers onto a baseball during a fastball pitch.
  • To provide fundamental biomechanical information on pitching forces.

Main Methods:

  • Development of an instrumented baseball with a tri-axial force transducer.
  • Data collection from 11 pitchers throwing four-seam fastballs.
  • Measurement of ball reaction forces from the index, middle, ring fingers, and thumb.

Main Results:

  • Index and middle fingers generated ~97N peak forces, with a bimodal pattern.
  • Ring finger and thumb produced ~50N and ~83N peak forces, respectively.
  • Shear forces from index and middle fingers contributed to backspin, with peak forces exceeding 80% of maximum finger strength.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides the first quantification of finger forces in baseball pitching.
  • Understanding these forces is vital for enhancing pitching performance and preventing injuries.
  • Strengthening distal muscles is recommended for pitchers.