A pitcher injury risk assessment study analyzing composite, titanium, aluminum and wood softball bat performance

Abstract

Over the past few years, there has been a significant increase in the performance of softball bats from the Olympics down to the recreational level. It is theorized that the introduction of composite-based material bats has been the largest contributor to the increase in batted-ball performance, which directly corresponds to a decrease in available pitcher reaction time that can lead to an increase in injury potential. To test this theory, a controlled field-test study comparing all of the different bat model types currently available was conducted. The performance of ten bat model types; two composite-based, two titanium-based, two aluminum-based multi-wall, two aluminum-based single-wall and two wood-based bats were measured using 1686 N/0.64 cm (379 lbs/0.25”) compression softballs in order to calculate available pitcher reaction times when using a specific bat model type. Over 1000 Batted-ball velocity measurements were analyzed using two calibrated radar devices and five experienced test subjects. The results of this study indicate that when titanium-based or composite-based softball bat performance results are compared to published safety studies in the sports of softball and baseball, available pitcher reaction times are unsafe, which can lead to a higher injury risk potential. The significance of this research is to provide experimental field-test data on the possible safety risks to pitchers that can be used to reduce the injury potential and promote safety awareness in the sport of softball.

Keywords:

• Pitcher reaction time
• batted-ball velocity
• composite softball bats
• player safety
• softball

The authors would like to thank Bomani Sports Research, Inc. for providing the funding for this study. Bomani Sports Research, Inc. is an independent sports equipment company dedicated to the safety of the sport of softball.