Wrist Position vs. Pelvis at Release

Technical Details

Variable Type: Discrete Metric
Data Type: Float
Units: % of height
Aggregation: mean
Precision: 0
Timing: At ball release event, using keypoints rotated to the pitch direction
Calculation: Wrist position relative to the pelvis midpoint, normalized by athlete height

Direction	Reference	Column Name
Forward (fore/aft)	Positive = in front of the pelvis	`wrist_forward_position_vs_pelvis`
Up (vertical)	Positive = above the pelvis	`wrist_up_position_vs_pelvis`
Side (lateral)	Positive = throwing side of the pelvis	`wrist_side_position_vs_pelvis`

These three metrics describe where the throwing wrist is positioned relative to the pelvis midpoint at the instant of ball release:

Forward — how far in front of (or behind) the pelvis the wrist is, along the pitch direction. Optimal direction: higher is better.
Up — how far above (or below) the pelvis the wrist is. Because softball pitches are released underhand, this value is typically negative. Optimal direction: middle — moderate values are optimal.
Side — how far toward the throwing side (or glove side) of the pelvis the wrist is. Optimal direction: middle — moderate values are optimal.

Together, these three values describe the full 3D release point of the pitch relative to the athlete’s base.