Assessment of stereopsis in college baseball pitchers and batters

Abstract

Background/purpose: In baseball pitching is a much less visually demanding task than hitting is. We sought to find a stronger relationship between visual function (as measured by stereopsis) and hitting a baseball than between stereopsis and pitching skill. Methods: Multiple parameters including near and distance stereopsis (as a measure of visual function) were measured in 23 returning college baseball players (with a prior year's record). Their level of stereopsis (measured at distance with use of the B-VAT II BVS Binocular Vision Testing System) was compared with their batting statistics (in the case of the 14 position players) or their pitching statistics (for the 9 pitchers). Batting average and slugging percentage were used as measures of hitting skill, and earned run average, “out percentage” (1.000 — Opposing players' batting average) and “strike-out percentage” (frequency of batters struck out) were used as pitching parameters. Results: As a group, visual parameters were excellent in these college athletes. Although the newer test of distance stereopsis correlated with the standard near stereo test (Spearman coefficients), there was no correlation between distance stereopsis and any of the pitching or hitting performance parameters. Conclusions: The nature of the visual demands required of successful baseball hitters may have yet to be determined or are difficult to identify among a population homogeneous for excellent visual function, true for most groups of competitive athletes. In addition, simpler parameters such as plain visual acuity may be the most important factor(s).