title: Differences in the head movement during baseball batting between skilled players and novices.
abstract: We investigated the pattern of head movement during baseball batting in 8 skilled players and 9 unskilled novices, using a high-speed video camera. The 2 directions of head movement were analyzed as an X-axis (from the home plate to the pitcher's plate) and Z-axis (vertical downward). On the X-axis, peak latency, peak value, the distance from the peak to the value at bat-ball impact, and data variability were compared between the 2 groups. On the Z-axis, peak latency, downward distance, and data variability were analyzed. Peak latency on the X-axis occurred significantly earlier in baseball players than in novices (p < 0.001), and the difference between the minimum peak and impact was significantly larger in the players (p < 0.05). The variability in peak latency on the X-axis was significantly larger in the novices (p < 0.05). The variability in peak value on the Z-axis was also significantly larger in the novices (p < 0.05). Our findings showed that the significant differences in head movement between the 2 groups should help baseball players, beginners, coaches, and strength and conditioning professionals to improve performance, be effectively applied to actual practice, and enhance coaching for batting.
authors: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. nakata@aoni.waseda.jp
authors: Hiroki
authors: H
authors: Nakata
authors: Akito
authors: A
authors: Miura
authors: Michiko
authors: M
authors: Yoshie
authors: Kazutoshi
authors: K
authors: Kudo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology; D001484:Baseball / Q000502:physiology*; D019416:Head Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult