THE LAUNCH WINDOW HYPOTHESIS AND THE SPEED-ACCURACY TRADE-OFF IN BASEBALL THROWING.
The speed-accuracy trade-off in throwing has been well described, but its cause is poorly understood. The popular impulse-variability hypothesis lacks relevance to throwing, while the launch window hypothesis has explanatory potential but has not been empirically tested. The current study therefore aimed to quantify the speed-accuracy trade-off and launch window during a throwing task at two different speeds. Nine elite junior baseball players (M age=19.6 yr.; M height=1.80 m; M weight=75.5 kg) threw 10 fastballs at 80 and 100% of maximal throwing speed (MTS) toward a 7 cm target from a distance of 20 m. A 3D motion analysis system measured ball speed and trajectory. A speed-accuracy trade-off occurred, mediated by increased vertical error. This can be attributed to the launch window, which was significantly smaller, particularly its vertical component, during 100% MTS. Maximal throwing speed correlated negatively with launch window size. The launch window hypothesis explained the observed speed-accuracy trade-off, providing a framework within which aspects of technique can be identified and altered to improve performance.
1 Exercise, Health, and Performance, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney.
Jonathan
J
Freeston
1 Exercise, Health, and Performance, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney.
Rene E D
RE
Ferdinands
1 Exercise, Health, and Performance, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney.
Kieron
K
Rooney
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001484:Baseball / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult