TRAINING TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY

HitTrax

HitTrax allows us to gather batted ball metrics on all of our players, to better understand their strengths and weaknesses. Metrics include exit velocity, launch angle, exit direction and distance.  HitTrax also provides information on the location of the pitch, as well as contact depth, helping us to better understand how well our hitters handle pitches in each specific locations and build drills and approaches accordingly. In addition to the numbers HitTrax provides, the system provides feedback on the results of batted balls and allows us to utilize the gaming module and play simulated games, creating a very competitive environment for our hitters.  Our HitTrax also comes equipped with a camera, which allows each swing to be recorded and viewed for instant feedback on swings.

Blast Motion

The Blast Motion sensor gives us the ability to track our hitters’ swings using real time metrics in both a practice and game setting.  The sensor securely attaches to the knob of the bat, and provides hitters with useful swing metrics like bat speed, attack angle, rotational acceleration, early connection, and vertical bat angle, amongst many others.  These metrics give us valuable insight into specific areas of strength and weakness, and help us to prescribe appropriate drills.  We are able to pair these metrics with batted ball data and video, to create a holistic view picture of our hitters.  The app can be used in real time and give hitters instant feedback as they hit, or in the offline mode which allows us to download swing data later on, working well with large groups or in game swings.

Trackman

Trackman is a great tool for the process of pitch design, which allows us to understand the characteristics of each pitch type and work to alter them based on the optimal profile of that pitch.  Key pitch metrics include velocity, spin rate, spin axis, vertical and horizontal break as well as information about the pitcher’s release point and the location in the strike zone.  Armed with this info, we can help players to better understand how to sequence and tunnel pitches in order to get hitters out. In addition, Trackman captures hitting data as well, including Exit Velocity, Launch Angle and Distance.  We are able to use Trackman for live at bats as well, where the unit will capture pitching and hitting data simultaneously. The unit sits conveniently at the end of our pitching cage and is portable, allowing us to use it anywhere in the facility or out at a field.  

The Trackman unit sits at the end of our pitching cage and can capture data at our convenience
A look at the high level data that Trackman captures for our pitchers.

Pulse

Pulse is a powerful tool that allows us to both monitor workload in our pitchers, as well as gain a better understanding of their throwing characteristics.  The Pulse sensor slides into a compression sleeve that the pitcher wears as he makes all of his daily throws in warmups, catch play, long toss, flat grounds, bullpens, and live game action.  The sensor tracks the amount of torque each throw places on the elbow, and provides workload metrics to give insight into proper methods and amounts of throwing.  In addition to workload, the sensor provides metrics like arm speed and release angle, allowing instant feedback for players as they work to develop their mechanics and their pitches.