What does Rapsodo tell us?

by Charlie Letourneau, Director of Training & Development at DREAM Team Sports Center

Pitching

Rapsodo pitching is a tool or the coaches to demonstrate what is happening with the player on a pitch-to-pitch basis over an entire session. It enables us to elaborate on consistency based on the release height/angle data, as well as showing a measured approach to determine if our pitches show the same identity, or if they are inconsistent pitch-to-pitch. There are a number of great measurables for the coach to use in the Rapsodo session with the player. These measurables include velocity, spin rate, spin efficiency, break patterns, release point, and tunneling.

The first measurable pattern for the coach to use Rapsodo to assist the player with their coaching is velocity. When we talk about velocity, we do not just mean how hard you can throw it. Instead, we look at speed consistency pitch to pitch. Whether the change up is too close in speed and not effective with the fastball. Or if the fastball is dipping in velocity as the session goes on. Perhaps it could be used to show how an outlier top speed fastball can be an attainable constant with proper mechanics. Velocity is a big indicator on health of the arm so if the velocity is uncharacteristic, it may be a good indicator to stop the session. Moreover, velocity is a way in which the coach can get some instant feedback on a mechanical adjustment made in the session. If the velocity drops undesirably, it may be an indicator that whatever you are trying is netting limited or negative results. Conversely, if there is a desired increase, it means that the adjustment is working and should be expounded upon.

Spin rate is another great measuring tool for the coach to utilize when working with a player. Spin rate is a great indicator in determining if a pitch is going to break in the intended way, if the pitch is doing what it is supposed to, or if an alignment needs to be made to recalibrate the pitch. For example, a pitcher with a high spin rate fastball (2100+RPM) then it is a good indicator that the pitcher should be thrown at the top rail of the of the strike zone. If the pitcher has a lower spin rate, east/west and down are effective locations for the pitch. These are simply good indicators for the coach to work with the pitcher on utilizing the tools most effective in their arsenal, and Rapsodo supplies all of the data to make that happen.

Spin efficiency is the other spin metric that Rapsodo offers. Spin efficiency indicates how effective a pitch will be. Through Rapsodo certification, the instructor is able to assess the efficiency of a pitch in comparison to Rapsodo’s outlines. For instance, a slide should have a spin efficiency of <30% due to the large gyrational spin the pitch generates. Therefore, if the athlete is trying to throw a slider and its efficiency is high, then it is likely they are throwing a curveball, or slurve variation. Spin efficiency is also a great indicator to determine whether a young arm is throwing a four-seam fastball correctly. Younger arms have a more difficult time getting behind a baseball and may ‘cut’ their fastball on release. If this is the case, the fastball will have a lower efficiency rating and the coach can make the appropriate adjustments.

Break patterns is a particularly useful tool to determine the consistency of a pitch and how it correlates to the rest of their arsenal. Break patterns are the metrics of horizontal and vertical break and can help the instructor hone in on how a specific pitch in the arsenal is behaving pitch-to-pitch. For instance, it is important that the breaking pitch is maintaining a consistent break pattern for similarities sake as well as command. Break patterns can be increased/reduced with technique and training adjustments, but it is vital for the pitcher to have a good idea of what their pitches are doing and Rapsodo offers a fantastic tool to achieve that goal.

Another good tool for the instructor to utilize in their training of the pitcher is release points. Release angle and height are extremely important for the pitcher to be constant on. Any deviation from one pitch to another tips the pitch to the hitter. It wont matter how good your breaking ball is if it has a completely different look from the fastball. Rapsodo offers the instructor the ability to demonstrate these release metrics to the player and help them adjust to create an identical release point for all their pitches.

The final metric that Rapsodo is adept at transmitting which ties in to all the other identifiers is tunnelling. While tunnelling is not a new concept to baseball, it has moved to the forefront of effective pitching. Tunnelling is the principle that all pitches look identical to the hitter for as long as possible. The concept is all the pitches are in a tunnel until about 45-feet when they will then identify themselves based on break and speed change. Tunnelling is arguably the most effective tool for a pitcher to have because it keeps the hitter off balance and does not give them a good chance to recognize the pitch. Rapsodo provides 3D visual pitch tracking that shows how the pitch behaves compared to other pitches in the arsenal. Tunnelling is particularly helpful to a coach who is trying to recognize what pitches work in the pitchers particular arsenal and would be a great indicator in assessing the need to add or remove pitches from the repertoire.

In conclusion, Rapsodo offers the instructor a multitude of different measurables they can use to assist the pitcher in becoming the best version of themselves. It is a good tool to streamline pitches, create consistent patterns, add, or remove unnecessary pitches, and enable the pitcher to develop a consistent plan to attack hitters based on the data provided by Rapsodo.

Hitting

Rapsodo hitting is a visual tool to assist the instructor in working with a hitter. It offers a large range of measurable data that the certified instructor is able to utilize in their coaching of the hitter. Rapsodo hitting offers instantaneous feedback in both data and visual demonstration for the coach and the hitter. There are a variety of different areas Rapsodo hitting provides information in including exit velocity, launch angle, distance and direction metrics, spin rate, as well as a percentage of well executed hits. Finally, Rapsodo hitting is a fantastic tool to assist the coach and the player see progress from session to session over an extended period of time.

Firstly, Rapsodo hitting offers instant exit velocity feedback on swings. The instructor should be striving for high exit velocity every swing. The general rule of thumb is the higher exit velocity, the more likely a hit is the outcome. Exit velocity is a good tool to determine if the changes and adjustments made by the instructor are effective. It is also a good indicator of where the hitter is contacting the ball. Higher exit velocities come from hitting the ball in front of the front knee and not from inside the body itself.

Another great metric that Rapsodo hitting offers the instructor as a teaching tool is launch angle. Launch angle is one of the buzz words frequently used by analysts in baseball and it is important to understand what it means. Launch angle is often misinterpreted as getting under the ball. Instead, launch angle defines the optimal angles to hit the baseball out of the ballpark. This does not mean every hitter should be striving for a high launch angle, but demonstrates the optimal angle to succeed. Optimal launch angles are between 20 and 30 degrees for the baseball to be hit the furthest. Of course, other variables have to be met in order for the ball to leave the yard, but training hitters to drive the baseball between these angles creates good patterns for success. Rapsodo hitting offers instant input on launch angle after contact.

Distance and direction metrics tie into launch angle for Rapsodo hitting. These data sets are simply where the ball went off the bat and how far. For the instructor, these metrics offer the chance to demonstrate how different contact points affect the flight of the ball and creating a good consistent contact pattern in front of the front knee of the body. Rapsodo hitting offers ball flight in 3D to show where the ball would have landed on a regular sized baseball field.

Spin rate is another good metric offered by Rapsodo hitting. With spin rate and hitting, it is important to find a happy medium for ideal distances. Too low a spin rate and you will lose distance generated, and too high will have the same result. For hitting, the ideal spin rate targets are between 1500-2500 spin rate. Hitting the ball between these two numbers will generate the most distance on the flight of the ball. For the instructor, spin rate is a good indicator of where the bat is connecting with the ball in hitting. Too close to the center reduces spin rate, increases velocity but decreases distance. Too far from the center, lowers exit velocity, raises spin rate, and lowers distance. Contact just below the center will net the furthest distances for the hitter.

The final effective tool Rapsodo hitting provides for the instructor and the hitter for ideal development and growth is hit execution. Rapsodo hitting offers a large array of numbers in relation to hitting included expected batting average, slugging, and hard hit %. For the purposes of instruction, hard hit % is the most effective tool for teaching. Hard hit % tracks the entire session and indicates how the player has performed. Hard hit % is a great tool to help demonstrate consistency in a session and to evaluate how effective the hitter has been in adopting the new material or if the material is effective in their development.

In summary, Rapsodo hitting offers a large array of effective tools for the coach to instruct the hitter. It is important to use these tools as a demonstration to the effects of contact points, swing patterns, and most importantly, effectiveness of methods of instruction. Rapsodo hitting is a fantastic platform for the coach to develop the hitter over a long period, or over a single session.