Author(s): CHEN, Y.T., LIU, Y.T., Institution: NATIONAL TAIWAN NORMAL UNIVERSITY, Country: TAIWAN, Abstract-ID: 1429

INTRODUCTION:
Batting is a primary means of scoring in fast-pitch softball and a complex, time-constrained motor skill. Because the ball’s flight time to home plate is extremely short, batters must accurately perceive the ball’s trajectory, arrival location, and timing to hit it. A successful swing requires coordinated whole-body movement and effective force transmission from the body through the bat to the ball to enhance post-impact ball velocity and flight distance. This study examined the role of lead-foot movement adjustments in regulating batting timing and their influence on hitting performance.
METHODS:
Eight collegiate female softball players were recruited. Two collegiate pitchers delivered 10 fastballs and 10 change-ups in a randomized order. High-speed cameras recorded both pitchers’ and batters’ movements. The videos were analyzed using Simi Motion to identify key temporal events, including pitcher movement onset, ball release, and five batting events from lead-foot lift to ball contact. The trajectories of the bat tip and the ball were digitized to derive their velocities. Linear mixed models and Pearson product–moment correlations were used for statistical analyses, with the significance level set at α = .05.
RESULTS:
Fastball speeds ranged from 85–80 km/h, and change-ups from 76–65 km/h. Linear mixed model analysis showed significant differences between fastball and change-up in Release–Swing and Swing–Impact duration (ps < .001). By examining the timing of batting movement events for each batter, it was found that only one batter’s landing occurred after ball release, and only this batter showed a significant negative correlation between Release–Weighting and Weighting–Swing, r(15) = −.651, p < .005. Trials were categorized as pre- or post-release landing. The maximum post-impact ball velocity was significantly higher in the post-release landing condition than in the pre-release landing condition (p < .001).
CONCLUSION:
The findings indicated that batters adjusted their swing onset in response to ball speed. However, only one participant demonstrated a functional adjustment by landing the lead foot after ball release, a movement coordinated with swing timing and associated with higher batted-ball velocity. These findings indicate that the lead-foot action is not merely preparatory for force production but also plays a functional role in regulating movement timing. Accordingly, training design should emphasize the adaptability of lead-foot movements and preserve perception–action coupling, rather than repeatedly practicing fixed movement patterns, to enhance batting adaptability and performance.