Rotational medicine ball throw relationship to throwing velocity, bat speed and exit velocity

Rotational medicine ball (6#) throw showed a moderate, statistically significant relationship to throwing velocity, bat speed and exit velocity (off a tee) in college (division 3) baseball players. 

The average velocities were:

MB throw - 25.3 mph

Bat speed - 73.8 (measured with blast motion sensor)

Exit velocity - 83.6

Pitching velocity - 81.9

Article Summary:

The document is a research study titled "Rotational Medicine Ball Throw Velocity Relates to NCAA Division III College Baseball Player Bat Swing, Batted Baseball, and Pitching Velocity." The study aims to determine the relationship between rotational medicine ball throw velocity (RMBTV) and bat swing velocity, batted baseball velocity, and pitching velocity in collegiate baseball players.

The study involved 35 NCAA Division III players, including 15 pitchers and 23 hitters. The players participated in various whole-body power tests, including the two-legged standing broad jump for distance, lateral-to-medial jump for distance, and RMBTV. The researchers measured the correlational relationship strength between these tests and bat swing velocity, batted baseball velocity, and pitching velocity.

Results showed that moderate relationships were observed between bat swing velocity and RMBTV, pitching velocity and RMBTV, and batted baseball velocity and RMBTV. However, no significant relationships were found between the two-legged standing broad jump for distance or the lateral-to-medial jump for distance tests and bat swing velocity or pitching velocity.

Based on these findings, the researchers suggest that RMBTV may be a more reliable indicator of bat swing velocity, batted baseball velocity, and pitching velocity in collegiate baseball players. They also propose that further studies should explore whether coordination developed during RMBTV movements can help prevent shoulder and elbow injuries in baseball players.

Link to abstract

Taniyama, Daiki; Matsuno, Jun; Yoshida, Kei; Pyle, Brandon; Nyland, John. Rotational Medicine Ball Throw Velocity Relates to NCAA Division III College Baseball Player Bat Swing, Batted Baseball, and Pitching Velocity. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 35(12):p 3414-3419, December 2021. | DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004148