Arm length and pitch speed in softball

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between arm length and pitch speed in softball, particularly in the context of the Women's College World Series. It is established that longer arms can contribute to higher circular speeds during pitching due to angular motion, although shorter arms may allow for quicker acceleration. The effectiveness of a pitch is also influenced by the 'whiplash' effect, leg motion, and body twist during the windup. A specific example is given of a Texas pitcher with a high strikeout rate, emphasizing the importance of pitch variety and placement over sheer speed.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of angular motion in sports
  • Familiarity with pitching mechanics in fastpitch softball
  • Knowledge of biomechanics related to arm and leg movements
  • Basic principles of physics as they apply to sports
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the physics of angular motion in sports, focusing on softball pitching techniques
  • Explore the biomechanics of pitching, specifically the role of arm length and body mechanics
  • Study the impact of leg motion on pitch velocity and accuracy
  • Analyze performance metrics of top collegiate softball pitchers, including strikeout rates and pitch variety
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for softball coaches, players looking to improve their pitching technique, sports scientists, and anyone interested in the biomechanics of athletic performance.

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The big event of the softball season, the Women's College World Series, begins Thursday. One aspect I find interesting is that many of the dominant pitchers are very tall. Many of you are probably familiar with the underhand delivery of fastpitch softball, which implicates angular motion. The question is, does longer arm length lead to faster pitches (all else equal)? As I non-physicist, I have explored various sports-related writings and consulted with physicists to address this topic. What I've come up with, for now, is displayed on my college softball blog:

http://collegesoftball.blogspot.com/2006/05/one-thing-that-cannot-have-escaped.html

Any comments, corrections, clarifications, etc., are welcome. Just add them below. Thanks!
 
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That's mighty interesting. For the same angular speed, the longer arm would indeed have a higher circular speed. Intuitively, though, and from having some experience in the matter, it seems that a shorter arm can accelerate faster. A very large factor is also how much of a 'whiplash' effect the pitcher uses.
 
Not only longer arms, but longer legs, which allows a pitcher to step more forwards when pitching. While flipping channels, I just happened to catch the pitcher for Texas, and she apparently has the highest average number of strikeouts per 7 innings. She was tall and moderately thin. I'm not sure if she throws the fastest, or just has more variety of pitches and good placement. The windup is a bit over 360 degrees, and the leg motion and body twist seem to add to the delivered velocity.
 
I'm not too sure how others do it. What worked best for me was to step forward and across with my left foot, timed so that it planted exactly when my hand was passing my hip. At that point, my lower body would be facing about 80 degrees to the right of the target, with my upper body still facing toward it. I would then violently stop my upper arm as it was vertical, and use my bicep to further accelerate my forearm to about a 45 degree downward angle, at which point I would release the ball.
It seems pretty weird in print, but it was effective.