Biomechanical Transformation of Softball Batting Technique: The Effects of Mental Fatigue on Athlete Performance

Tono Haryono, Tian Kurniawan, Agus Rusdiana, Iwa Ikhwan Hiidayat, Angga Muhammad Syahid

Abstract


This study aims to analyze the effect of mental fatigue on biomechanical variables of batting technique in softball. Good batting technique requires precise movement coordination, reaction speed, and high mental concentration. However, mental fatigue, which often occurs due to intensive cognitive activity or excessive mental load, is thought to affect biomechanical performance. This includes changes in joint angles, body rotation speed, and batted ball speed, which directly affect the effectiveness of batting in softball. This study involved 15 softball players from the Bumi Asri club with an average age of 20 ± 0.6 years. Data collection was carried out using a three-dimensional motion analysis device, ball speed radar, and heart rate sensor. Subjects will undergo a 15-minute warm-up session, followed by an intensive cognitive task designed to trigger mental fatigue. Biomechanical variables will be measured before and after mental fatigue, including analysis of changes in joint angles, body rotation speed, and batted ball speed. The data obtained will be analyzed using a paired sample t-test to evaluate significant differences. This study is expected to provide an important contribution in understanding the impact of mental fatigue on sports biomechanics, especially softball batting technique. In addition, the results of this study can be a basis for coaches to design more effective training strategies, so that athletes can maintain optimal performance even in challenging mental conditions.

Keywords


batting; kinematics; mental fatigue; softball; sports biomechanics.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/jtikor.v10i1.84273

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