Using a Sensor-Embedded Baseball to Identify Finger Characteristics Related to Spin Rate and Pitching Velocity in Pitchers

Previous investigations have shown a positive relationship between baseball pitching velocity and the kinetic chain involved in pitching motion. However, no study has examined the influence of finger characteristics on pitching velocity and rate of spin via a sensor-embedded baseball. Twenty-one pit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2024-05, Vol.24 (11), p.3523
Main Authors: Yeh, Ming-Chia, Yang, Wen-Wen, Hung, Yu-Hsuan, Liu, Ya-Chen, Kung, Jung-Tang, Ma, Hsi-Pin, Liu, Chiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Athletic Performance - physiology
Baseball
Baseball - physiology
Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology
Fingers & toes
Fingers - physiology
Humans
Male
pinch strength
Pitchers (Baseball)
pitching finger force
Professional baseball
rate of force development
Sensors
Taiwan
Velocity
Young Adult
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Summary:Previous investigations have shown a positive relationship between baseball pitching velocity and the kinetic chain involved in pitching motion. However, no study has examined the influence of finger characteristics on pitching velocity and rate of spin via a sensor-embedded baseball. Twenty-one pitchers volunteered and were recruited for this study. An experimental baseball embedded with a force sensor and an inertial measurement unit was designed for pitching performance measurement. Finger length and strength were measured as dependent variables. Spin rate and velocity were independent variables. Pearson product-moment correlations (r) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) determined the relationship between finger characteristics and pitching performance. Finger length discrepancy, two-point pinch strength, index finger RFD (rate of force development), middle finger impulse, and force discrepancy had significant correlations with spin rate (r = 0.500~0.576, ≤ 0.05). Finger length discrepancy, two-point pinch, three-point pinch strength, index and middle finger RFD, middle finger impulse, and force combination had significant correlations with fastball pitching velocity (r = 0.491~0.584, ≤ 0.05). Finger length discrepancy, finger pinch strength, and pitching finger force including maximal force and RFD may be factors that impact fastball spin rate and fastball pitching velocity.
ISSN:1424-8220
1424-8220
DOI:10.3390/s24113523