Arm Segment Sequencing by Skill Level
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 […]
Review of the Windmill Pitch: Biomechanics and Injuries
Doyle (2004) Review of the Windmill Pitch: Biomechanics and Injuries is a literature review that summarizes research on windmill softball pitching biomechanics and associated injuries. The author searched scientific databases including MEDLINE and MANTIS for studies related to the windmill pitch, biomechanics, shoulder injury, and softball pitching. Articles published between approximately 1980 and 2003 were […]
Pitcher and Catcher ROM and ISO over a College Season
This week we are looking at strength and range of motion measurements of collegiate pitchers and catchers by Oliver et al. (2019). The purpose of this study was to see how playing in a full softball game affects hip and shoulder range of motion (ROM), strength, and lower-body power in college pitchers and catchers. The […]
Lower-Body Mechanics Across Pitch Types
The purpose of the master’s thesis by Haydu (1999) was to examine how the lower body moves and how much force it produces during different types of windmill softball pitches. Five healthy, right-handed collegiate-level female pitchers participated in the study. Each pitcher threw five different pitches: fastball, change-up, dropball, curveball, and riseball. The researchers used […]
Ground Reaction and Shoulder Forces
I wanted to go back to the new articles today with Freisen et al. (2025) looking at ground reaction forces and peak throwing forces. The researchers studied 32 high school softball pitchers to examine whether ground reaction forces (GRFs) produced during the push-off phase of the pitch were related to peak shoulder forces later in […]
Long Term Structural Changes to the Shoulder and Elbow
In a brand-new article, Burton et al. (2025) studied 19 NCAA Division I female collegiate softball players to determine whether repetitive overhead throwing led to long-term structural changes in the shoulder and elbow. Only non-pitchers were included, since pitchers primarily throw underhand. Using ultrasound imaging, the researchers measured the thickness of three structures in both […]
The Softball Pitching Plane
In Cheng et al. (2026) brand new article titled The Softball Pitching Plane (SPP): A Reliable Geometric Descriptor of Arm Trajectory and Its Relationship to Ball Velocity in Adolescent Pitchers, 49 adolescent softball pitchers (middle school and high school aged) to see if the path of the throwing arm during a windmill pitch could be […]
BMI and Hip and Shoulder Range of Motion
This week I wanted to go back a bit to an article that discusses range of motion and body composition. Friesen et al. (2021) studied 147 female softball pitchers ranging from youth to young adult ages to see whether body mass index (BMI) was related to hip and shoulder range of motion. Each athlete’s height […]
Lower Extremity Pain and Shoulder Forces
Oliver et al. (2021) studied 37 NCAA Division I softball pitchers to see whether having lower-extremity pain affected pitching mechanics or shoulder forces. Each pitcher completed a questionnaire asking if they currently experienced pain in the lower body (foot, ankle, leg, or thigh). Based on their answers, pitchers were placed into a pain group (5 […]
Energy Flow and Shoulder Distraction
Oliver et al. (2022) studied 55 NCAA Division I softball pitchers to see whether the amount of energy flowing through the trunk was related to how much force was placed on the shoulder during pitching. Each pitcher threw three full-effort rise-ball pitches while wearing electromagnetic motion-capture sensors that recorded body movement at 100 Hz. A […]