Scientific Proof – Relationship Between Players Physique And Bat Swing Velocity Of College Softball Players
To determine the relationship of various physiological characteristics to bat swing velocity, twenty female NCAA Division I softball players volunteered to be studied. All subjects were tested for height; body mass, lean body mass, body fat, and percent body fat; grip strength; and vertical jump using a vertical jump apparatus to assess leg power. Instantaneous their bat velocity and batted-ball velocity were measured. Subjects were instructed to hit balls between a zone set up on the softball field while batted-ball velocity was measured by a radar gun set up behind home plate. Statistical analysis indicated significant moderate positive relationship between bat velocity and body mass. These data suggest that significant relationships do exist between body composition and bat velocity, but one cannot interpret this to mean a cause and affect relationship.
