Biomechanics of Shooting a Lacrosse Ball

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Lacrosse Shooting- Biomechanics and Anatomy Biomechanics of the body is essential in shooting a lacrosse ball. The shot speed and power of the ball traveling from the lacrosse stick and into the net are referred to as “CRACKING THE WHIP”. This is the ability to create momentum using large heavy body segments and then passing it along to smaller segments. In conserving momentum through the system, you’re creating the maximum speed output. Three key biomechanics lower body mechanics, creating torque and turning it into speed and snapping the stick. Whether shooting the ball left handed or right handed, you want lead knee extension. This causes friction with the lower body against the ground, which will press back with equal force and you are essentially, transferring energy from the ground up through your body and into the core of your body which then spreads to your shoulders and arms. The stabilizing muscles used behind shooting a lacrosse stick, are your shoulders and arms. The further an object is from its axis of rotation, the further its linear speed. If the center of your back is the axis of rotation, the further your hold your stick out and whip it forward will cause the release of the ball to travel faster. The arms with the stick in hand act as a series of levers which propels the ball forward. Your feet causing friction with the ground allows you to twist your body and transfer the energy from linear momentum to rotational momentum. This allows your body to coil and transfer more kinetic energy into the shot. Force is produced from planting leg on ground. By twisting pelvis before rotating shoulders, the torso is condensed then stretched like a coil. By rotating your shoulders and stretching your arms when taking a shot, the coil is released and stick is whipped for a “loaded” shot. You conserve this momentum through your hips which in turn transfers up

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