Shooting motion in high school, collegiate, and professional men's lacrosse players

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to quantify the kinematics of the lacrosse shot, based on arm dominance and player experience level. Male players (N = 39; 14-30 years; high school [n = 24], collegiate [n = 9], professional [n = 6]), performed overhead shots using dominant and non-dominant sides. Motion was captured using a high-speed, 12-camera optical system and high-speed filming. Body segment rotational velocities and joint angles were determined at key points in the shot cycle from foot contact (0% of shot) to ball release (100% of shot). All players shot with less anterior trunk lean, less transverse shoulder rotation, and slower trunk-shoulder rotational velocities with the non-dominant side than the dominant side (all p < 0.05). Professional players produced crosse angular velocities 21% faster than high school or collegiate players (p < 0.05). Transverse shoulder rotation range of motion on both dominant and non-dominant and trunk rotation sides was highest in the professional players (p < 0.05). These kinematic features enable professional players to produce faster ball speeds than younger players (138 ± 7 km/h vs. 112 ± 15 km/h, respectively; p < 0.05). Less anterior lean or suboptimal rotation sequence could increase proximal shoulder forces that could contribute to injury as in other throwing sports.

Keywords: Crosse; kinematics; throwing; velocity.

Figure 1

Key phases of the lacrosse shot used for this analysis. The stick figure represents the computer model position during these phases, 1a) Crank-back: the wind-up phase in which the shooting shoulder abducts and the trunk turns away from the target as the lead foot makes contact with the ground; 1b) Acceleration: the phase in which angular velocities of the body segments (pelvis, trunk, upper arm about the shoulder) and crosse are increased to prepare for ball release; and 1c) Follow-through; this phase represents the time at which the shooting shoulder crosses over the pelvis and body segment deceleration occurs.

Figure 2

Pelvis, trunk and, shoulder angular velocities of a high school (2a), collegiate (2b) and professional lacrosse player (2c) during a lacrosse shot. All three sample players were attack, and each generated the highest ball speeds among the players from their respective groups.