Ep 3. Reaction Time

Sport Science is an enlightening show that showcases the science behind some of the most incredible sporting moments. In season 1, episode 3, entitled Reaction Time, Host John Brenkus and his team utilized cutting-edge technology to examine the science behind athletes’ reactions.

Throughout the episode, Brenkus and his team utilized a broad range of scientific tools and techniques to explore how athletes like kickboxers, NBA players, and even martial artists process information and react under pressure.

The episode kicked off by putting NBA all-star Rudy Gay to the test. Gay was tasked with hitting shots with a decreasing difficulty level while wearing strobe glasses. These glasses are designed to reduce an athlete's visual field, creating a significant obstacle.

John and his team were on hand with their innovative science gear to measure Gay's reaction times as he wore the strobe glasses. They found that Gay’s initial reaction time was slower wearing the glasses than without, but after five minutes of practice, he was adapting to the glasses and even improving his reaction time.

The team also compared Gay’s performance to a non-athlete using the same proportionally reducing target method, which demonstrated that athletes, in general, have a quicker reaction time than untrained individuals.

The show then switched gears to explore the martial arts realm, where the team tested the reaction times of Six-time world champion kickboxer Raymond Daniels. Using a series of light boards and precision timing, Brenkus determined Daniels' reaction time was a mere 106 milliseconds from the time his eyes visually processed the object to his body's reaction.

In another scenario, Brenkus tested the reaction times of a regular person, once again confirming that the athlete's reaction times examined in these segments are exceptional.

The next scene of the episode was particularly fascinating as, in a comparative test, the team compares the difference in response time between the sexes. Brenkus carries out the experiment by having four women and four men face off against each other by slapping their hands over a red button. The results showed that the men, on average, had faster reaction times, but these results were not statistically significant.

Another aspect the show focused on was the concept of anticipation and how it can influence reaction time. Brenkus and his team took up a baseball lesson, where he was tasked with hitting pitches from a machine, in what was described as "one of the most challenging tasks for a human." Professional baseball players often depend on their ability to anticipate where the ball is headed, which ultimately affects their reaction time.

The results demonstrated that proper anticipation can lead to highly successful outcomes, and some athletes are better at anticipating pitches than others. Brenkus then interviewed former all-star baseball star Vladimir Guerrero, who noted that it was all about getting a "read" on the pitcher's movements.

Overall, Reaction Time was an engaging episode that delved into the fascinating world of reaction times, anticipation, and the differences between sexes. The use of high-tech gadgets and experiments delivered eye-opening insights into an athlete's mind and body. The science behind these athletes' movements was put in the spotlight, and as a result, fans of the show were given an exclusive look into what it takes to become a top-level athlete.