A BIOMECHANICAL COMPARISON OF THE CROSSOVER STEP AND JAB STEP TECHNIQUES IN THE PUSHOFF OF BASE STEALING STARTS IN BASEBALL

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the crossover step (CS) and jab step (JS) start techniques in baseball base stealing. Fourteen varsity fielders participated in the study. An automatic motion capture system and synchronized force platforms were used to analyze the two start techniques, performed at full effort by each individual. No statistical difference was found in the start time (duration of the start phase) between the two techniques. However, the start velocity (forward velocity of the body CG at the end of right leg push-off phase) was significantly larger in JS than in CS. It was found that the difference in the start velocity between the two step techniques comes from the difference in the forward impulse generated by the left leg push-off.