CHARACTERISTIC GROUND REACTION FORCES IN SOFTBALL PITCHING

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ground reaction forces of pushing leg and landing leg during softball pitching with windmill style fastball. Four female elite fastpitch softball pitchers served as subjects. A Peak high-speed camera (120Hz) was synchronized with a force plate (600Hz) to collect the parameters of lower extremity during pitching. Results indicated that the higher impulse of pushing leg and the peak slope of landing leg improve softball pitching performance. In addition, the peak ground reaction forces appeared before the human neuromuscular system responded to modify these forces. The greater ground reaction forces created during the landing phase putting a heavy load on lower extremity. It was suggested that the improvement of lower extremities strength would reduce the injury and improve softball pitching performance.