Baseball: Pitching

Evaluate pitching mechanics to improve consistency, maximize energy transfer to the ball, and reduce risk for injury. Uplift offers dozens of events and metrics to track baseball pitching across movement flags, peak segment angular velocities, and more.

Example image of a man doing a pitch, front view

Dimensions

Required Inputs for processing:

handedness: the handedness of the pitcher [‘left’, ‘right’]

Variables

Output variables from pitching analysis.

Normative Ranges

See Baseball Pitching Norms for the full 5th–95th percentile reference tables by competition level (Youth, High School, College, Pro).

Generic Outputs

Every capture includes session metadata, standard joint angle/velocity time series, and 3D keypoint positions common to all movements. See Generic Outputs for the full list.

Events

Automated events break down the pitch into phases or periods of interest. Many metrics occur at specific events.

Event	Short Description	Column Name
Initiation	Start of the pitch.	`initiation_frame`
Max Knee Raise	Maximum lead knee height.	`max_knee_raise_frame`
Low Hand	Lowest point of the throwing hand.	`low_hand_frame`
Foot Contact	Front foot contacts the ground.	`foot_contact_frame`
Twist	Maximum rotation of pelvis, trunk, and arm.	`twist_frame`
Peak Pelvis Angular Velocity	Instant of pelvis peak angular velocity.	`peak_pelvis_velocity_frame`
Peak Trunk Angular Velocity	Instant of trunk peak angular velocity.	`peak_trunk_velocity_frame`
Peak Arm Angular Velocity	Instant of upper arm peak angular velocity.	`peak_arm_velocity_frame`
Release	Estimated timing of ball release.	`ball_release_frame`
Wrist Below Hips	Wrist drops below hip height.	`wrist_below_hips_frame`

Kinematic Sequence Metrics

Assess sequencing and speeds for pitch delivery.

Metric	Units	Short Description	Column Name
Kinematic Sequence	N/A	Order of peak segment angular velocities. Correct sequence is pelvis-trunk-arm.	`kinematic_sequence_order`
Peak Pelvis Angular Velocity	deg/s	Max rotational speed of the pelvis.	`peak_pelvis_angular_velocity`
Peak Trunk Angular Velocity	deg/s	Max rotational speed of the trunk.	`peak_trunk_angular_velocity`
Peak Arm Angular Velocity	deg/s	Max rotational speed of the upper arm.	`peak_arm_angular_velocity`
Trunk to Arm Speed Up	ratio	Speed increase ratio from trunk to arm.	`trunk_to_arm_velocity_speedup`
Pelvis to Trunk Speed Up	ratio	Speed increase ratio from pelvis to trunk.	`pelvis_to_trunk_velocity_speedup`

Movement Flag Metrics

Movement flags identify poor or suboptimal mechanics for timing and body positioning during the pitch.

Metric	Short Description	Column Name
Elbow Hike	Elbow is above the shoulder at foot contact.	`elbow_hike`
Arm Drag	Elbow is above the wrist at foot contact (late arm motion).	`arm_drag`
Forearm Flyout	Elbow angle <75° at foot contact and <20° at release.	`forearm_flyout`
Sway	Front knee, head, or body COM crosses behind the rear leg at max knee raise.	`sway`
Hanging Back	Pitcher moves backward after max front knee raise.	`hanging_back`
Closing Front/Back	Trunk tilts more than 20° relative to pelvis between max knee raise and foot contact.	`closing_front_or_back`
Flying Open	Trunk angular velocity peaks before foot contact with X-factor near 0° at foot contact.	`flying_open`
Late Rise	Wrist is below the elbow at foot contact (delayed wrist flip).	`late_rise`
Getting Out In Front	Trunk forward rotation exceeds -20° at foot contact.	`getting_out_in_front`
Knee Collapse	Front knee bends more than 20° between foot contact and release.	`knee_collapse`
High Hand	Wrist does not descend within 10 cm (~4 in) of elbow height during the cocking phase.	`high_hand`
Early Release	Wrist is behind the lead toe at release.	`early_release`

Linear Metrics & More

Show distances, positions, and speeds relevant to pitching.

Metric	Units	Short Description	Column Name
Stride Length	% of height	Stride length as % of athlete height (rear foot at max knee raise to front foot at foot contact).	`stride_length`
Max Trunk COM Velocity	m/s	Peak linear speed of the trunk center of mass.	`max_trunk_com_velocity`
Wrist Position to Lead Toe	in	Wrist fore/aft position relative to lead toe at release (+ = in front).	`wrist_fore_aft_lead_toe_at_release`
Wrist Height at Release	in	Wrist height above mound level at release.	`wrist_height_at_release`
Handedness	N/A	Pitcher handedness [‘right’ or ‘left’].	`handedness`
Time to Release	s	Duration from initiation to ball release.	`time_to_release`

Angular Metrics

These metrics describe joint angles and segment angles relative to global or home plate.

Metric	Units	Short Description	Column Name
Max X Factor	deg	Max hip-shoulder separation before the acceleration phase.	`max_x_factor`
Hip Raise Angle	deg	Max lead hip flexion at max knee raise.	`hip_raise_angle`
Max Layback Angle	deg	Maximum trunk extension angle.	`max_layback_angle`
Arm Slot Angle	deg	Arm abduction angle at release relative to vertical.	`arm_slot_angle`
Arm Slot Type	N/A	Classification of arm slot angle.	`arm_slot_type`
Trunk Lateral Tilt at Foot Contact	deg	Lateral trunk tilt at foot contact.	`trunk_lateral_tilt_at_foot_contact`
Trunk Lateral Tilt at Release	deg	Lateral trunk tilt at release.	`trunk_lateral_tilt_at_ball_release`
Trunk Forward Tilt at Release	deg	Forward trunk tilt at release.	`trunk_forward_tilt_at_ball_release`
Trunk Angle to Plate Coil	deg	Max trunk rotation away from home plate prior to delivery (0° = facing plate).	`trunk_angle_to_plate_coil`
Trunk Angle to Plate Foot Contact	deg	Trunk rotation angle relative to home plate at foot contact.	`trunk_angle_to_plate_foot_contact`
Trunk Angle to Plate Release	deg	Trunk rotation angle relative to home plate at release.	`trunk_angle_to_plate_release`
Pelvis Angle to Plate Coil	deg	Max pelvis rotation away from home plate prior to delivery (0° = facing plate).	`pelvis_angle_to_plate_coil`
Pelvis Angle to Plate Foot Contact	deg	Pelvis rotation angle relative to home plate at foot contact.	`pelvis_angle_to_plate_foot_contact`
Pelvis Angle to Plate Release	deg	Pelvis rotation angle relative to home plate at release.	`pelvis_angle_to_plate_release`

Notes

Kinematic data typically captured at 240Hz for Baseball Pitching
All boolean variables (true/false = 1/0) return -1 if metric unable to be calculated.

Get Started

Resources

Biomechanics

Baseball: Pitching

Dimensions

Variables

Normative Ranges

Generic Outputs

Events

Kinematic Sequence Metrics

Movement Flag Metrics

Linear Metrics & More

Angular Metrics

Notes

​Dimensions

​Variables

​Normative Ranges

​Generic Outputs

​Events

​Kinematic Sequence Metrics

​Movement Flag Metrics

​Linear Metrics & More

​Angular Metrics

​Notes

Dimensions

Variables

Normative Ranges

Generic Outputs

Events

Kinematic Sequence Metrics

Movement Flag Metrics

Linear Metrics & More

Angular Metrics

Notes