DATA RESEARCH PROJECT

Data Research Project

Table of Contents

Chapter I4

Introduction4

Statement of the Problem5

Purpose of the Study6

Justification for the Study7

Hvpotheses.

Chapter II9

Literature Review9

Situational Hitting12

Pitch Count and Location versus Velocity12

Differences in Pitches13

The Science of Hitting13

Hitting14

Ground Reaction Forces18

Mental Preparation and Kinematics19

Pitch Location and Ball Contact19

Opposite Field Hitting20

Teaching Interpretations21

Information Processing21

Spatial and Temporal Components23

Signal/Noise Detection26

Functional and Optional Processes28

Anticipation29

Chapter III31

Research Methodology31

Subjects31

Research Design and Statistical Analyses32

Data Analysis32

Chapter IV67

Results And Discussion67

Introduction67

Results67

Hypothesis One69

Chapter V72

Summary72

References73

Chapter I

Introduction

Ted Williams who in 1941 had a batting average of 406 and is arguably the best hitter in the history of baseball has described hitting a baseball as the most difficult single skill in all sports (Williams & Underwood. 1982). Since the 1940's increases in players' size muscular strength coordination flexibility bat speed and other attributes have played an integral part in the development seen among players today. However the question remains regarding these attributes and their relationship with hitting success. Many experts in the field today believe baseball players are faced with four dimensions involved in hitting a baseball. We do know that successful hitting in major league baseball today requires the ability to be able to: 1) visually track release point from a pitchers hand: 2) recognize rotation on the baseball as to whether the pitch is a fastball. Curveball slider. Change-up split-finger fastball etc.; 3) recognizes location as to whether the pitch will cross somewhere in the strike zone: and? 4) decide whether to swing at the ball or not swing at the ball. Knowing or predicting the swing response allows the hitter to determine when to initiate the swing so that the bat arrives over the plate at the same time the ball does (Schmidt & Sherwood? 1982).

With a pitched ball traveling at a speed of 89 miles per hour from a distance of 60 feet 6 inches away from the plate. A hitter has only about 460 milliseconds to decide and execute a swing response (Schmidt. 1991). The bat itself is only in motion for 160 milliseconds (Hubbard & Seng? 1954) and the neurological impulses which trigger the swing must occur about 170 milliseconds before the bat motion starts (Slater-HammeL 1960). The remaining 130 milliseconds are dedicated to decisions about other important factors such as making the swing arrive on time. on plane and in rhythm (Ward. 1995 presentation at Mid-America Baseball Camp). Therefore the neurological signal to trigger the action must be given 330 milliseconds before the ball arrives at the plate (Schmidt. 1991). All decisions about whether or not to swing at the ball must be made in the first 130 milliseconds. that is well before the ball has traveled halfway to the plate (Schmidt. 1991). Considering these facts it is no surprise that baseball players are faced with an enormously difficult task in trying to hit a round ball with the curved surface of a bat. Although in recent years in major league baseball with the increase in batting averages number of runs batted in and number of home runs one might guess that hitters are raising to the challenge ...