Visual abilities distinguish pitchers from hitters in professional baseball.

dc.contributor.author

Klemish, David

dc.contributor.author

Ramger, Benjamin

dc.contributor.author

Vittetoe, Kelly

dc.contributor.author

Reiter, Jerome P

dc.contributor.author

Tokdar, Surya T

dc.contributor.author

Appelbaum, Lawrence Gregory

dc.date.accessioned

2020-06-01T16:20:43Z

dc.date.available

2020-06-01T16:20:43Z

dc.date.issued

2018-01

dc.date.updated

2020-06-01T16:20:43Z

dc.description.abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the possibility that differences in sensorimotor abilities exist between hitters and pitchers in a large cohort of baseball players of varying levels of experience. Secondary data analysis was performed on 9 sensorimotor tasks comprising the Nike Sensory Station assessment battery. Bayesian hierarchical regression modelling was applied to test for differences between pitchers and hitters in data from 566 baseball players (112 high school, 85 college, 369 professional) collected at 20 testing centres. Explanatory variables including height, handedness, eye dominance, concussion history, and player position were modelled along with age curves using basis regression splines. Regression analyses revealed better performance for hitters relative to pitchers at the professional level in the visual clarity and depth perception tasks, but these differences did not exist at the high school or college levels. No significant differences were observed in the other 7 measures of sensorimotor capabilities included in the test battery, and no systematic biases were found between the testing centres. These findings, indicating that professional-level hitters have better visual acuity and depth perception than professional-level pitchers, affirm the notion that highly experienced athletes have differing perceptual skills. Findings are discussed in relation to deliberate practice theory.

dc.identifier.issn

0264-0414

dc.identifier.issn

1466-447X

dc.identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/20735

dc.language

eng

dc.publisher

Informa UK Limited

dc.relation.ispartof

Journal of sports sciences

dc.relation.isversionof

10.1080/02640414.2017.1288296

dc.subject

Humans

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Bayes Theorem

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Depth Perception

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Task Performance and Analysis

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Motor Skills

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Age Factors

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Visual Acuity

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Baseball

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Adolescent

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Adult

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Male

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Athletic Performance

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Young Adult

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Sensorimotor Cortex

dc.title

Visual abilities distinguish pitchers from hitters in professional baseball.

dc.type

Journal article

duke.contributor.orcid

Reiter, Jerome P|0000-0002-8374-3832

duke.contributor.orcid

Tokdar, Surya T|0000-0001-5162-1155

duke.contributor.orcid

Appelbaum, Lawrence Gregory|0000-0002-3184-6725

pubs.begin-page

171

pubs.end-page

179

pubs.issue

2

pubs.organisational-group

School of Medicine

pubs.organisational-group

Psychology and Neuroscience

pubs.organisational-group

Duke Science & Society

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Duke Institute for Brain Sciences

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Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Brain Stimulation and Neurophysiology

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Duke

pubs.organisational-group

Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

pubs.organisational-group

Initiatives

pubs.organisational-group

Institutes and Provost's Academic Units

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University Institutes and Centers

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Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

pubs.organisational-group

Clinical Science Departments

pubs.organisational-group

Statistical Science

pubs.organisational-group

Duke Population Research Institute

pubs.organisational-group

Center for Child and Family Policy

pubs.organisational-group

Duke Population Research Center

pubs.organisational-group

Sanford School of Public Policy

pubs.publication-status

Published

pubs.volume

36

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