Patented SmartPitch recently released a new Pitcher Extension feature, explained in several posts here.
We are developing a future Batter's Decision Time to Swing feature.
A pitcher's effectiveness depends on multiple factors, not just speed. Increased Pitcher Extension is one. Pitch location, pitch selection, changing speeds, changing arm slots, and timing between pitches are some of the others.
SmartPitch's future Ball Path Overlay with Batter's Decision Time to Swing is another pro pitcher training tool to help improve pitcher effectiveness.
Here's a preliminary mock-up of this powerful feature that we are now testing and developing. We explain here step-by-step how to use this upcoming SmartPitch data-packed graphic.
SmartPitch analyzes the first 4 or 5 frames of the video image of each pitch.
Using its patented hundreds of proprietary physics, math and geometry equations, SmartPitch precisely determines speed, exit velocity, launch angle, distance and Pitcher Extension.
This new feature will display a chart of the path of each pitch over these 4 or 5 frames.
It will also display the location of the rubber, on the right in the diagram, and the Pitcher Extension and Release Point.
This example shows the ball paths of 4 pitches overlaid for comparison. Two are fastballs, marked FB 65.5 STRIKE and FB 70.9 STRIKE.
The other two are curveballs, marked CRV 60.8 Dirt and CRV 59.1.
SmartPitch provides the speed automatically, the user provides the other descriptive text.
The color-coded bar chart in the lower right displays the key timing elements determining how the batter can identify and react to these pitches.
The total length of the bar, 554 milliseconds, is how long it takes for the ball to travel from the pitcher's fingertips, the Release Point, to the front of home plate where the bat can meet the ball.
The left box is the relatively constant amount of time the body needs to swing the bat, 225 milliseconds.
The right box is the relatively constant amount of time the eye and brain need to detect and process the image of the moving ball after it leaves the pitcher's fingertips
That leaves two variable factors which are the only elements the pitcher and batter can control: (A) How long before the paths of fastballs and offspeed pitches diverge, which the pitcher controls and (B) How long the batter has to decide whether to swing and where to align the bat.
THE PITCHER CAN INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS BY MAKING FASTBALLS AND OFFSPEED PITCHES FOLLOW A VERY SIMILAR PATH FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
SmartPitch will provide this pro level feature to help pitchers train and measure their progress in delaying ball path divergence. The goal is to force the batter to wait as long as possible before he can decide whether the pitch headed toward him is a fastball or offspeed pitch. These two different types of pitches will cross the plate at very different heights.
This is a feature previously only available in tools costing thousands of dollars, another reason SmartPitch is "The affordable future of speed measurement" and so much #betterthanradar.
Comments