Beach Eye Medical Group | Batter’s Eye
Beach Eye Medical Group, with location in Huntington Beach and Irvine, California, caters to clients who engage in various sporting activities that require healthy eye sight such as baseball.
Baseball is one of America’s favorite sports. Just like any ball sport, it requires a strong sense of hand-eye coordination to be able to predict the trajectory of the ball. In a recent study published by the American Academy of Optometry, researchers analyzed “Batter’s Eye”, or the behavior of a player’s eye when tracking a pitched ball.
Batter’s Eye in Huntington Beach
Coaches often tell their players to “keep your eye on the ball”. But is it really just eye movement that leads to the successful tracking of the ball? Dr. Nicklaus F. Fogt, OD, PhD, FAAO, and Aaron B., Zimmerman, OD, MS, FAAO, of Ohio State University College of Optometry conducted a study to determine the degree to which the eyes and the head are involved in tracking the ball during a pitch. They are looking for new insights as to how baseball players are able to successfully track a ball in the air using their eyes.
The study involves tracking the eye movement of 15 Division I collegiate baseball players. Inertial sensors were mounted on their helmets and movements were tracked using video equipment. The players were asked just to track the balls and not swing at the balls being thrown by a pitching machine. The researchers also want to determine whether there is a difference between eye movements when players are swinging the bat or at the receiving end of the pitch.
The results were quite surprising. While the eye gaze remained with the expected trajectory, the researchers found that the players primarily used their heads to track the ball in the air.
Vision Training in Irvine
The implications of their findings lead to the development of a new training strategy that puts emphasis on head-eye coordination. Drs. Fogt and Zimmerman recognize that players only have a fraction of a second to determine the probable location of a pitched ball. This is why it is important for players to have good eyesight to be able to play their best game. In the future, the researchers recommend comparing ball-tracking performance with hitting success of novice and experienced players to be able to help new players improve their game.
In order to become a great baseball player, clear eyesight and healthy eyes are required. If you or a loved one are avid baseball players living in Huntington Beach or Irvine, drop by the nearest Beach Eye Medical Group office to have your eyes checked. Remember, we cater to both adults and children and we’re more than happy to cater to your entire baseball team.
Our eye experts are board-certified, highly trained professionals ready to help athletes perform at their best by ensuring that their eyes are in optimal health. Make an appointment today by giving us a call.
