We’re extremely excited about some return to normalcy this summer and wanted to take a moment and give you an update on some of the recent and upcoming developments here at RPP. Continue reading “RPP Baseball Mid-Year 2021 Update”
3 Most Common Kinematic Sequence Flaws in Baseball Swings
Having assessed hundreds of hitters at RPP, we have been exposed to all types of athletes and swings. As a part of our hitting assessment, one area we focus on is the player’s kinematic sequence and how energy transfers up the chain. Generally, we look for an efficient transfer of power up the kinetic chain in the following order, pelvis, torso, upper arm and hand. Although we have observed a large variety of different sequences, here are the 3 most common flawed sequences we observe among young hitters on K-vest: Continue reading “3 Most Common Kinematic Sequence Flaws in Baseball Swings”
How to Create a Better Lead Leg Block
Whether we’re talking about throwing velocity on the mound or exit velocity at the plate, improving and better utilizing ground reaction forces with a lead leg block is paramount. Training the lead leg to both produce and accept force will help to create a stable base and facilitate hip and torso rotation up the chain. Continue reading “How to Create a Better Lead Leg Block”
3 Hitting Drills to Pattern an Efficient Baseball Swing
There are many ways to skin a cat, however, often one is the most efficient. Although each player’s swing looks different, great hitters achieve the same goal by putting their body in the best position to hit. Given the complex nature of hitting and its many co-dependent variables, hitting drills that help create efficient movements will make it easier to recreate a consistent motor pattern. Continue reading “3 Hitting Drills to Pattern an Efficient Baseball Swing”
K-Vest Baseball is a Game Changer for Training Ball Players
The world of hitting is changing and it’s changing fast. As new technology is working its way into the world of baseball at break-neck speed, the information becoming available is opening the eyes of both baseball coaches and strength coaches alike and across multiple avenues as well. But once again as in pitching, this extremely explosive sport, leads us back to anatomy and the body’s ability to move through space quickly. So explosive in fact, that we are looking at microsecond movements only measurable by K-vest Baseball motion capture technology. Continue reading “K-Vest Baseball is a Game Changer for Training Ball Players”
RPP Baseball Investing in Qualisys Motion Capture System
(Images: Courtesy of Qualisys Motion Capture)
We are very excited to announce that after many months of research and study we are taking another big step forward in providing the best for our pitchers and ball players. Beginning in late spring, we will be installing a Qualisys biomechanics motion capture system at RPP. Continue reading “RPP Baseball Investing in Qualisys Motion Capture System”
How to Analyze Baseball Swing Mechanics in 12 Steps
Hitting an MLB fastball requires the application of a huge amount of energy in the blink of an eye- roughly 130ms to be exact. That’s about a 1/8th of a second. Only through a coordinated series of contractions involving not only muscles but joints and connective tissue traveling up the kinetic chain into the hands and ultimately the bat/ball can we achieve adequate bat speed and quickness to hit a baseball traveling at speeds north of 90 mph. This article is meant to familiarize many of you with the 2 distinct phases and 12 positions in baseball hitting and baseball swing mechanics that we review when analyzing video. Continue reading “How to Analyze Baseball Swing Mechanics in 12 Steps”
Baseball Hitting Mechanics… How to Address Sway?
In this series of short articles and video analyses, as a part of assessing our hitters, I will be going over different components of baseball hitting mechanics, while Nunzio will help highlight potential issues and correctives both inside and outside the nets. Today’s topic on hitting mechanics is Sway, and it starts at with the stance and set up… Continue reading “Baseball Hitting Mechanics… How to Address Sway?”
How We Assess Hitters at RPP on Day One
As an athlete, you are not able to move efficiently if your body isn’t in a position to do so. Incorporating assessments, strength training and data analytics into how we train players is a bit of an art. Since each and every player is different in every way, the key is to parse through the information and determine which pieces are relevant for each player. Below is a typical testing day for position players at our facility and it’s broken up into several sections:
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- Movement and Strength Assessment
- Video Review and Analysis
- Kinematic Sequence Analysis
- Swing Metrics
- Batted Ball Results
Let’s review these with some specificity… Continue reading “How We Assess Hitters at RPP on Day One”
3 Questions When Analyzing Kinematic Sequence with K-Vest Baseball
HITTING IS HARD! Fortunately, technologies such as K-Vest Baseball, Blast and Rapsodo allow us to measure many metrics and movements, thus, giving the hitter a better chance to succeed. Unless you can understand and incorporate data into your training the value of data would be meaningless. I should also add that it is easy for hitters to get lost in the numbers unless the collective data is properly incorporated into their training.
As an athlete, you are not able to move efficiently if your body isn’t in a position to do so. In terms of timing, if your lower half isn’t in a strong stable position to efficiently transfer energy and allow the upper half to move, then you will have a tough time hitting at any level.
It is important to understand how the lower body is behaving and how it should behave when a player is “on time”. Here are 3 questions to ask when analyzing timing through the Pelvis of a Kinematic Sequence as measured by the K-Vest Baseball: Continue reading “3 Questions When Analyzing Kinematic Sequence with K-Vest Baseball”