Release Point

The release point is the location in space, and the instant in time, at which a ball or implement leaves the hand. It is a key event in pitching, throwing, basketball shooting, volleyball serving, and track and field throws such as shot put, discus, and javelin.

At release, the motion of the object is largely set by its velocity, angle, height, and spin. After that moment, the athlete can no longer change the object's flight path, aside from external factors such as air resistance and wind.

What Coaches Look At

• Release height relative to the ground or the athlete's body
• Horizontal position, such as how far in front of the body the ball is released
• Release angle and the direction of the arm at release
• Consistency of release position from repetition to repetition
• Body position at release, such as trunk tilt, front-leg position, and head position

In baseball, consistent release points are often discussed as one part of pitch command and making different pitch types harder to tell apart. In basketball, release height and timing affect a shot's arc and how easily it can be contested. In throwing events, release height, angle, and speed are the main factors determining distance.

Filming and Observing It

• The ball usually leaves the hand within a very small number of frames, so use the highest available frame rateFrame Rate (FPS)The number of individual frames or images captured per second in a video recording., ideally 240 fps
• Use a fast shutter speedShutter SpeedThe camera setting that controls exposure time and visible motion blur. to reduce motion blurMotion BlurStreaking of a moving subject in a video frame caused by movement during that frame's exposure. on the hand and ball
• Use a side view to see release height and forward position, and a front or rear view to see arm slot and side-to-side position
• Keep the camera fixed so release positions can be compared across repetitions

Common Pitfalls

• At low frame rates, the true release can fall between frames
• Motion blur can make the hand and ball appear to separate earlier or later than they do
• Moving the camera between clips makes release positions impossible to compare
• Focusing only on release can miss problems earlier in the motion that cause it

Frame-by-frame reviewFrame-by-Frame AnalysisReviewing video one frame at a time to identify key positions, events, and timing. and side-by-side comparisonSide-by-Side ComparisonViewing two video clips next to each other, often synchronized, to compare technique or progress. of several repetitions can make inconsistent release positions much easier to see.