Effect of a High-Intensity Isometric Potentiating Warm-up on Bat Velocity

Gilmore, SL, Brilla, LR, Suprak, DN, Chalmers, GR, and Dahlquist, DT. Effect of a high-intensity isometric potentiating warm-up on bat velocity. J Strength Cond Res 33(1): 152–158, 2019—This study examined the acute effect of a high-intensity isometric potentiating warm-up on subsequent maximal horizontal bat velocity in experienced female softball players (n = 28). The isometric potentiating warm-up consisted of 3 sets of 5-second maximal voluntary contractions held in the early swing phase position, pulling against an immovable device. As one of the simplest methods to use the postactivation potentiation (PAP) stimulus, the warm-up was designed to acutely enhance muscle performance by inducing PAP. Because optimal recovery duration after a potentiating warm-up can be highly variable, swing trials were conducted at predetermined rest intervals (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 minutes) to identify the recovery time that may have allowed for maximal possible benefits. Bat velocity was measured immediately before bat-ball impact using MaxTRAQ motion analysis software. The results showed that maximal horizontal bat velocity was significantly enhanced 6 minutes after the isometric warm-up protocol (+1.27 m·s(−1), +2.84 mph, +4.93%; p < 0.05). In experienced female softball athletes, a specific isometric warm-up may acutely enhance maximal horizontal bat velocity.