Integrating Data into Training
Driveline’s Research Approach
Driveline is built around a two-part research approach.
First, we evaluate our training through a review of peer-reviewed sports-science articles. Is there a tested or theoretical foundation for what we wish to implement with athletes?
Second, we do our best to replicate those studies in-house with our athletes to determine if those findings will work for our population of athletes.
Not until a drill or training methodology has met both parts of the two-part test do we include it with our programming.
Brief reviews of the research papers that drive our creative process are available at our Pitching Research webpage.
On-going Driveline Research Projects
Spin Rate
Investigating whether there is a relationship between grip strength and fastball spin rate. Using Trackman to collect spin rate data. Comparing the differences in spin rate between collegiate and professional pitchers.
Investigating whether fastball spin rate is dependent on velocity.
Motus Sleeve
Examining the difference in stress of throwing regulation baseballs compared to weighted baseballs.
Examining the stress of pulldowns compared to pitching off of a mound.
Examining the difference in stress between flat ground work and mound work
Long Toss
Examining the stress levels on the elbow, using the Motus sleeve, when throwing long toss.
Data will be collected on athletes throwing regulation and weighted baseballs.
Relevant research paper: Biomechanical Comparison of Baseball Pitching and Long-Toss: Implications for Training and Rehabilitation
Pitching-Ground Reaction Force
Examining the relationship between front and back leg force in a Rocker drill with Kistler force plates.
Hitting-Ground Reaction Force
Examining ground force production with Kistler Force plates
Hitting-Weighted Bats
Examining the long-term results of using overload and underload bats in training
Vertical Jump Force Production
Using our Tendo Unit we are examining the average & peak, power and velocity of our athletes in two and one leg vertical jumps. We are collecting the data to see if there are differences between professional athletes playing levels.
We are also examining whether there are relationships between peak/average measurements and throwing velocity.
Relevant research paper: Anthrompometric and Performance Comparisons in Professional Baseball Players
Broad and Lateral to Medial Jumps
Examining the differences between professional and collegiate pitchers with two and one leg broad jumps as well as lateral to medial jumps.
Examining the correlation between the distances jump and throwing velocity in pulldowns and mound velocity.
Relevant research paper: Correlation of Throwing Velocity to the Results of Lower-Body Field Tests in Male College Baseball Players
Vision and Gaze research
Comparing hitters of different playing levels (professional and collegiate) to see if there are difference in gaze and pitch tracking.
Grip Strength
Examining the differences in grip strength between collegiate and professional hitters and pitchers.
Investigating whether there is a relationship between grip strength and velocity.
Investigating whether there is a relationship between grip strength and hitting metrics such as average or peak exit velocity.
Relevant research paper: Anthrompometric and Performance Comparisons in Professional Baseball Players
Contributing Factors for Increased Bat Swing Velocity
Bar Velocity and Throwing Velocity
Investigate whether there is a relationship between velocity and power output in the bench press and throwing velocity. Post warm-up athletes bench press with set weights of 45lbs, 70lbs and 95lbs. We are collecting all data using Push band (linear position transducer) and Tendo unit.
Relevant research paper: Relationship between throwing velocity, muscle power, and bar velocity during bench press in elite handball players
Previous Driveline Research Projects
Comparison of Elbow Torques Between Pulldowns and Pitching
Recreating ASMI’s study by comparing 5 oz pitches from the mound to pulldowns with 5 oz
Comparing Overload vs Underload Weighted Ball Stress on the Arm
Comparing elbow stress of 3-7 oz balls when doing running throws
Bullpens, Tracking Elbow Torque, and mStress
What we’ve learned after collecting data on 70 bullpens
Analyzing Lower Half Pitching Mechanics Using Force Plates
Looking at force production and direction of the lower half when throwing
Fastballs vs Offspeed Pitches: Comparative and Relative Elbow Stress
Comparing the stress of fastballs, curveballs, sliders, and changeups on the elbow
Training Hitters with Overload and Underload Implements
The research foundation of training hitters with over/underload implements.
Does Arm Speed in Pitchers Matter?
Looking closer at the relationship between arm speed and velocity
Weighted Baseball Research And The Data Supporting Their Use
Covering the ASMI weighted ball study and reviewing our own findings
Reviewing what we know about creating and analyzing spin rate of pitchers
Spin Rate Part II: Spin Axis & Useful Spin
Explaining why some pitches get great break and others don’t
Rapsodo, Trackman, and Pitch Tracking Technologies – Where We Stand
Our in house validation study of Rapsodo and Trackman
Looking at the effectiveness of our MaxVelo program when compared to a control and basic test groups.
Elbow Stress, Motus Sleeve, and Velocity
Giving context to Motus data on the mound while examining the relationship between elbow stress and velocity
Vertical Jump and it’s relation to Pitching Velocity
Examining a number of athletes vertical jump metrics to see how it related to pulldown and mound velocity.
Back/Front Leg Force Production
Using Neulog force plates, examining the relationship between back and front leg force and throwing velocity during a rocker throw.
Measuring Readiness of Baseball Pitchers Using Omegawave and HRV
Examining our programming using Omegawave to measure athlete recovery
Using the Motus sensor the examine the claims that the Bauerfeind EpiTrain Powerguard reduces UCL stress for pitchers.
Trackman use at Driveline Baseball – How we Validate our Equipment
Find out what sports science really is. Validation and lots of math. See how we validated the readings of spin, release height and extension of our in-house Trackman unit.
Post-Activation Potential with Weighted Baseballs
Examining whether pitchers can see immediate gains from throwing over/under weight baseballs.
Forward Dynamics Research
1.Challenges with Typical Biomechanical Analysis of Pitching
Going over the important missing piece of biomechanical analysis
2.A More Forward Approach to Understanding Pitching Biomechanics
Going from Inverse to Forward analysis of biomechanics
3.How Muscles Work and Protect a Pitcher
Reviewing how muscles can protect a pitchers UCL
4.Forward Dynamic Simulations of Pitching Mechanics
How we validated and adjusted our model for Forward Dynamics analysis
(NEW) 5. Computed Muscle Control Analysis of Pitching Mechanics
A more detailed look at how individual muscles affect the distribution of the overall peak valgus torque from pitching.