The baseball remains unchanged across age groups. This study investigated how ball size impacts throwing patterns to establish if youth players might benefit from using more appropriately sized balls. Throwing patterns for 79 participants (11 ± 2 years; 1.48 ± 0.18 m; 44.1 ± 16.2 kg) were video recorded for three different ball conditions: standard (ST), scaled (SC), and preferred (PR). Each ball was thrown three times into a target net set at 3 m, and a composite score for each was determined. 82.3% of participants preferred a ball smaller than ST, however, their preferred ball choice was not influenced by hand size (−2 Log likelihood = 233.676, χ2(1) = 2.44, p = .118). Total score was significantly higher for the PR compared to the ST ball (p = .015), and there was a notable main effect of ball size on the throw's stride component (p = .026). Ball size influenced throwing pattern, with the PR ball scoring highest amongst all three conditions. Since 82.3% of participants preferred a ball smaller than ST, there appears to be a strong case for using smaller balls for youth baseball. Doing so could prove advantageous to performance, and reduce the incidence of overuse injuries.

Billy Lozowski

Anthony Fava

Jason Zaremski

Gretchen Oliver

Journal of Sports Sciences

《体育科学杂志》在发表高标准文章方面享有国际声誉，并被 MEDLINE 和 CLARIVATE ANALYTICS 列入名单。它发表关于运动和运动科学各个方面的研究，包括解剖学、生物化学、生物力学、性能分析、生理学、心理学、运动医学和健康，以及教练和人才识别、人体测量学等跨学科视角。期刊是关于人文科学的，广泛定义并应用于运动和锻炼。除了人类对运动反应的实验工作外，涵盖的主题将包括人类对技术的反应，例如运动器材和运动设施的设计、训练、选择、性能预测或修改、压力减轻或表现等方面的研究。考虑出版的手稿包括那些涉及运动的原始调查、体育技术创新的验证或与体育科学研究相关的主题的综合评论。

The Journal of Sports Sciences is an internationally renowned journal known for publishing high-quality research articles and is indexed by MEDLINE and CLARIVATE ANALYTICS. It covers various aspects of sports and exercise science, including anatomy, biochemistry, biomechanics, performance analysis, physiology, psychology, sports medicine, and health, while also addressing interdisciplinary perspectives such as coaching, talent identification, and anthropometry. The journal's themes are broad, encompassing the application of humanities in sports and exercise. In addition to experimental work on human responses to exercise, it also focuses on human responses to technology, such as the design, training, selection, performance prediction, or modification of sports equipment and facilities, as well as stress reduction and performance enhancement. Manuscripts considered for publication include original investigations related to sports, validations of sports technology innovations, and comprehensive reviews on topics relevant to sports science research.

《Journal of Sports Sciences》是一份享有国际声誉的期刊，以发表高标准的研究文章而闻名，并被MEDLINE和CLARIVATE ANALYTICS收录。该期刊涵盖运动和运动科学的各个方面，包括解剖学、生物化学、生物力学、性能分析、生理学、心理学、运动医学和健康等领域，同时也关注教练和人才识别、人体测量学等跨学科的视角。期刊的主题广泛，涉及人文科学在运动和锻炼中的应用。除了人类对运动反应的实验研究外，期刊还关注人类对技术的反应，例如运动器材和设施的设计、训练、选择、性能预测或改进、压力减轻和表现等方面的研究。考虑出版的手稿包括与运动相关的原始调查、体育技术创新的验证以及与体育科学研究相关的综合评论。

Category	Quartile
医学	2
医学, 运动科学	3

Optimising a baseball’s dimensions for improved throwing patterns in youth players

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
SPORT SCIENCES	2