Lacrosse Shot Analysis

674 Words2 Pages

In lacrosse, the overhead shot is the most vital part of the game and the most important skill that an offensive player can have. The goal of the lacrosse shot is to create a scoring attempt with peak speed and accuracy. Each player is different regarding personal technique; however, the basis of each shot remains the same and are interpreted through six phases. The general purpose of this paper is to describe trunk rotation and its impact on power and accuracy which will maximize the potential of a lacrosse shot. The lacrosse shot can be broken down into six phases that include the approach, crank back of the upper body, crank back of the lower body, stick acceleration, stick deceleration, and follow through (Mercer and Nielson, 2014). While …show more content…

Wasser (2016) stated, “The acceleration phase involves increasing angular velocities of the body segments (pelvis, trunk, shoulders) and crosses to prepare for ball release.” The trunk follows a progressive pattern of flexion throughout the throwing motion, thus, influencing the power behind the ball’s trajectory. The turning of a player’s shoulders to align with their hips is what creates the momentum for the ball’s speed and direction upon release. At the beginning of the acceleration phase, as shown in the lacrosse shot analysis, the trunk exits the preparatory stage and enters a phase of rotation. According to Plummer and Oliver (2015), this phase is vastly important because the alterations in action and purpose of involved muscles could be …show more content…

The wrist flexors during this deceleration phase become concentric. The timing of this muscle’s change in purpose and action places the most emphasis on accuracy beyond the arrangement of the hips and shoulders. When discussing the biomechanical factor’s influencing the ball’s trajectory, Macagnone (2016) states, “This phase will vary based on the shot technique performed and player skill level …” This statement emphasizes the diversity in accuracy based on personnel and the skill level. To maximize accuracy when taking a lacrosse shot, the timing of the wrist flexor’s change in motion determines the trajectory of the ball. The trunk plays a major role in accuracy as well because of its support for the upper extremities during ball release and the influence of momentum and force of the ball’s

More about Lacrosse Shot Analysis

Open Document