The Blast Motion sensor provides for two different types of angles at contact. One is the attack angle (AA, side view) and the other is the vertical bat angle (VBA, front view). Both are extremely relevant to the swing as it moves through space, but with different attributes, characteristics and implications. This article is about the attack angle, a topic with a dearth of information out there. Continue reading “Baseball Attack Angles and Pitch Descent Angles… Any Relation? YES!”
In this multi-part series on hitting, we’re going to break down hitting into several components, perhaps in ways you haven’t seen before. Today we’re going to start with the baseball swing plane and tell you about the two highly relevant things you should know. Continue reading “Two Important Topics about Your Baseball Swing Plane”
If you don’t own a Blast Motion baseball sensor, you should. We’ve been using Blast sensors for quite some time now and we are very impressed. Frankly they are very easy to use and they don’t require calibration prior to hitting. The only shortfall we discovered early on was how all the metrics related to each other, which actually prompted this internal write-up. Blast reports 3 swing quality scores, Plane, Connection and Rotation, which they also refer to as PCR. Their scores (20-80) are based on relative measurements of similar age groups and skill levels. The sensor provides 10 pre-contact metrics categorized as follows:
Continue reading “A Review of Blast Motion Baseball and Its Swing Metrics”
We’ve all heard it, “pitching wins games”. Well, some pitchers are about to win a lot more games. For eons, pitching coaches have talked about mechanics, command and control. Then came velocity and threw out all the old adages and wrecked the house. Today, it seems like everyone wants velo first, and then everything else as well. I am here to say that things are about to change again! The advent of equipment like the Rapsodo Pitching camera and all the talk about baseball spin axis and spin rate is changing the game and doing it fast. Continue reading “Baseball Spin Axis, Spin Rate, Spin Efficiency Explained”
For eons hitting coaches have focused on mechanics, bat position, elbow position, among other topics related to hitting. As technology has weaved its way into many aspects of the game, it’s now apparent that there are two fundamental topics on baseball swing that are essential in developing a player’s ultimate potential at the plate: Continue reading “Two Fundamental Topics on the Baseball Swing”
Our Summer Throwing Program has many components, including pitch design. For pitchers looking for more than just velo, we incorporate a Pitch Design component in the program to help improve their overall movement pattern. The program not only teaches you the science and data analytics that go into pitch design but also how to implement it on the mound. Continue reading “Summer Throwing Program; A Look at Pitch Design”
How to throw harder… It’s the one thing that seems to be the most sought after, yet few know how to deliver it effectively. There are many different threads that need to be weaved into a safe and effective program to help you throw a baseball harder.
Today, we’re going to review several requirements on how to throw harder. They fall into several buckets, including a comprehensive upfront assessment (from physical to mechanical), a well-designed strength training program, a proper ramp-up, a well designed throwing program (in sync with strength program), and proper warm-up routines and recovery protocols. Continue reading “How to Throw Harder”
If you haven’t noticed by now, we spend a lot of time getting our athletes to be more powerful. When it comes to pitchers this brings up the obvious topic of velocity. While we don’t hang our hats on the “V” word exclusively, we do realize whether we like it or not, throwing gas is what gets the attention of most high school players searching for a great learning institution (education), fame and/or fortune.
Continue reading “Inconsistent Velocity and the Killer Trifecta”
Not all throwing and hitting motions are created equal. Some guys rely more on strength, some guys elasticity (facial tissue) and some are simply genetic “outliers” (there’s that fascia again). But close analysis, in not only numerous studies but also from my own experience at the facility, reveals that there is one common denominator why hard throwers create effortless velocity and command, as well as power hitters creating high exit velos behind the plate.
With baseball season quickly approaching, we are beginning to see everyone’s idea of what a great in-season baseball workout is being posted all over the internet. While some of these are quite good, unfortunately others are either too heavy on volume and intensity or are so light the athlete is better off taking the day off. I always tell my athletes that once the season begins, what we are really doing is managing a controlled fall. In other words, playing sports technically makes athletes better at playing their sport, but it does not make them stronger or even able to maintain specific training adaptations as the season progresses.
In my opinion, baseball players can and should be training hard in season, as long as throwing and exercise selection are taken into consideration and they’re training in the correct strength-zones. Enter velocity-based training (VBT) for in-season baseball workouts. Continue reading “In-season Baseball Workouts with Velocity-Based Training”
