Coordination of Elbow, Shoulder, and Trunk Movements in the Backswing Phase of Baseball Pitching to Throw a Fastball

Background: Baseball pitchers adopt a backswing motion to accelerate forward swing of the arm and project ball. However, knowledge about movement for delivering fast pitch has not been accumulated enough. Objective: This study aimed identify kinematic parameters associated with differences in speed pitches capture joint kinematics throwing phase. Methodology: Based on quasi-experimental design, fifteen male college students various levels baseball experience pitched at their maximum, 40%, 60%, 80% full ball speed. A system sampled data 250 Hz, three-dimensional were acquired shoulder elbow movements, upper-trunk rotation, Correlation analysis between was conducted, relative timings these calculated. Results: The showed significant correlation peak phase (r = 0.75), which velocity flexion −0.81), abduction external rotation −0.86) upper trunk’s 0.75). Conclusions: producing higher ball’s its abrupt transition release feature achieved by temporal coordination movements rotation.