The baseball swing and pitching delivery are fluid, sequential motion involving two distinct but connected components working in tandem: The Linear Engine, or energy source directed along the X axis and The Rotational Engine, or energy concentrator aligned with the Y axis.
Global Coordinates and Anatomical Planes:
In standard Cartesian geometry, the three dimensions are represented by the X, Y and Z coordinate axes. For hitting analysis, those axes (directions) are defined as shown below: The X axis points from the catcher to the pitcher. The hitter’s body as viewed along the X axis shows the sagittal plane (looking from the side).
The Y axis points up from the ground. The hitter’s body, as viewed along the Y axis shows the transverse plane (looking down from above).
The Z axis points from the right-hand batter’s box to the left hand batter’s box (side to side). The hitter’s body as viewed along the Z axis shows the frontal plane (looking from the front).
Figure 1.13 Global Coordinates computer image X, Y, Z.
Global Coordinates (Pitching):
In standard Cartesian geometry, the three dimensions are represented by the X, Y and Z coordinate axes. For pitching analysis, those axes (directions) are defined as follows:
The X axis points from the mound towards home plate. The pitcher’s body as viewed along the X axis at peak leg lift shows the Sagittal plane (looking from the left or right side).
The Y axis points up from the ground. The pitcher’s body, as viewed along the Y axis shows the Transverse plane (looking down from above).
The Z axis points from the 1st base to 3rd base (side to side). The pitcher’s body as viewed along the Z axis at peak leg lift shows the Frontal plane (looking from the front or back).
Figure 1.18 Global Coordinates computer image X, Y, Z.
Anatomical Planes:
Figure 1.19 The Cardinal anatomical planes: sagittal, frontal and transverse.
In addition to the anatomical planes, we will also use terms for direction of movement or direction of body segment orientation relative to the body. These are called the anatomical reference directions. For example, Anterior is the direction in front of the body while Posterior is the direction behind the body. These terms are defined in Figure 1.20
Figure 1.20 The anatomical reference directions (indicated by arrows).
There are also anatomical axes that are occasionally used in place of the global coordinate axes when we wish to describe rotation relative to the body rather than rotation relative to the playing field. These are defined in Figure 1.21.
Figure 1.21 The mediolateral, anteroposterior and superoinferior anatomical axes.