Baseball vs. Football

Baseball - Throwing Mechanics

Biomechanical Comparison Between Baseball Pitching and Football Passing

Fleisig GS, Excamilla RF, Andrews JR, Matsuo T, Satterwhite Y, Barrentine SW. Kinematic and kinetic comparison between baseball pitching and football passing. Journal of Applied Biomechanics 12(2):207-224, 1996.

Methods

It is believed that cross-training of baseball pitching and football passing may be advantageous for a thrower. The idea is that quarterbacks may increase arm velocity while pitchers may increase strength. To verify this idea, the throwing motions of 26 high school (n=13) and college (n=13) quarterbacks, and 26 high school (n=13) and college (n=13) pitchers were studied. Throwing motions were recorded using four synchronized, high-speed (200 Hz) infrared cameras and digitized to form a three-dimensional model. The digitized data was compared over several kinetic (forces and torques), kinematic (angles and velocities), and temporal (timing) parameters.

Results

The study showed that greater rotational velocities of the arm and trunk were observed in the pitching motion. Specifically, pitchers had greater elbow extension, shoulder internal rotation, and pelvis and upper torso angular velocities during arm acceleration. The quarterbacks’ inability to generate higher rotational velocities is due to the greater mass of the football. In compensation for their slower arm rotation, quarterbacks begin rotating their shoulders sooner, and achieve maximum external rotation of the shoulder earlier in their motion. Another mechanical adjustment made for the heavier football is displayed in the greater elbow flexion and shoulder horizontal adduction used by the quarterback during arm cocking and ball release. This phenomenon is known as “leading with the elbow.”

Despite the quarterbacks’ greater shoulder external rotation at foot contact, pitchers achieve greater external rotation during arm cocking. Pitchers also achieve maximum pelvis, upper torso, elbow extension, and shoulder internal rotation velocities sooner than quarterbacks. Quarterbacks usually take shorter strides early in the motion and stand more erect during the throw. This limits the contribution of the trunk and lower extremities to increase rotational velocities during the throwing motion.

Pitchers also display greater upper torso angular velocities during the arm deceleration phase, along with more trunk and knee flexion. This complete follow-through motion is critical for pitchers to slow down their rapidly moving arms. Even with this contribution from the trunk and lower extremities, pitchers display greater elbow and shoulder compressive forces than quarterbacks.

The activity of cross-training of baseball pitching and football passing should be practiced with caution as the differences in mechanics, as well as shoulder and elbow kinetic parameters may affect the risk of arm injury. Those throwers who play as both quarterbacks and pitchers should participate in a year-round conditioning program that prepares them for both activities.