Today we are going back to the first article published by Gretchen Oliver in what has now become a career of softball research. Oliver, Dwelly and Kwon (2010), Kinematic Motion of the Windmill Softball Pitch examined how the segments of the body move during the windmill softball pitch and to determine whether pitching mechanics differ across skill levels. Seventeen healthy female softball pitchers participated in the study and were divided into three groups based on experience: novice (1 year or less of pitching), intermediate (2–3 years), and advanced (4 or more years or collegiate level). Each participant performed five fastball windmill pitches, and one successful pitch was selected for analysis based on accuracy, velocity, and the athlete’s feedback. Six digital cameras were used to capture three-dimensional motion of the pitch, and 19 reflective markers were placed on anatomical landmarks on the trunk and upper extremity to track movement. Motion data were processed using the Kwon3D motion analysis system. The researchers calculated joint motions, angular velocities, and the contributions of different body segments (trunk, upper arm, forearm, and hand) to ball velocity. Statistical analyses included ANOVA tests, path analysis, and correlation analysis to compare movement patterns across skill levels.
They found:
Ball and Segment Velocity Differences
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Significant differences were found between groups for:
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Ball velocity
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Wrist velocity
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Intermediate and advanced pitchers threw significantly faster than novice pitchers.
Sequential Movement of the Arm Segments
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Intermediate and advanced pitchers showed clear proximal-to-distal sequencing of the arm segments.
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This means movement occurred in order from:
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trunk → upper arm → forearm → hand.
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Novice pitchers did not display this sequencing pattern, indicating less efficient coordination.
Timing of Sequential Motion
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Sequential motion of the arm segments occurred very late in the pitch, only hundreds of a second before ball release.
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The trunk reached its maximum angular velocity near ball release rather than earlier in the motion.
Segment Contributions to Ball Velocity
Segment contributions followed this pattern:
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Hand – largest contributor to ball velocity
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Forearm
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Upper arm
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Trunk
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In the advanced group, the hand contributed about 62% of the final ball velocity.
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Novice pitchers relied more heavily on the upper arm and forearm, indicating less efficient energy transfer.
Coordination Differences by Skill Level
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Advanced and intermediate pitchers accelerated body segments in sequence.
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Novice pitchers showed less coordinated segment timing and less efficient kinetic chain transfer.
Implications: The results show that skilled windmill softball pitchers use a coordinated kinetic chain that transfers energy from larger body segments to smaller segments in sequence. Advanced and intermediate pitchers demonstrated a clear proximal-to-distal pattern where the trunk and upper arm accelerate first, followed by the forearm and finally the hand just before ball release. This sequential pattern allows the distal segments of the arm to reach higher velocities and produce faster pitches. Novice pitchers did not demonstrate this coordinated pattern and instead relied more on the upper arm and forearm, which may limit ball velocity and increase injury risk. The study also showed that the hand contributes the greatest amount to ball velocity, highlighting the importance of distal segment acceleration near release. The authors conclude that pitching performance should not focus only on the shoulder, but on the entire kinetic chain including the trunk and arm segments. Training programs for softball pitchers should emphasize coordination and strength throughout the body to improve velocity and reduce injury risk.
Also…
Softball pitching is an explosive, rotational skill and rotation has to be prioritized in training. I love this post by Northstar Performance Training for some ideas on how to train rotation for more explosiveness.
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