Diversity and independence of stride strategies in collegiate baseball batters A descriptive study
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to quantify the diversity of stride motions in collegiate baseball batters (n = 95) and establish normative data for hitting mechanics. Maximum-effort batting tasks from a tee were analyzed using a 3D motion capture system and force plates. Stride motion was defined by three components: stride width, stride direction, and peak foot height. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between these components and batting performance metrics, including bat head speed, center of gravity (COG) kinematics, and peak ground reaction force (GRF). The results showed no significant correlation among the three stride components, indicating they are independent strategic parameters. Stride width showed a weak but significant positive correlation with bat head speed (r = .328, p < .001), suggesting it functions as a modulator for swing velocity. Conversely, neither peak foot height nor stride direction correlated with bat head speed, although they were significantly associated with COG kinematics (vertical displacement, r = -.64) and GRF characteristics (mediolateral force, r = .455), respectively. In conclusion, no single "ideal" stride motion was identified among elite collegiate batters. The lack of strong correlations between stride mechanics and swing speed supports the concepts of motor redundancy and equifinality in batting. These findings suggest that elite batters can achieve high swing speeds using diverse stride strategies by optimizing subsequent kinetic chains, implying that coaches should accommodate individual stride styles rather than enforcing a rigid form.
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