BALL EXIT VELOCITY

I started measuring exit velocity with my hitters in 2008. We started including a measurement station in all of our hitting practices in an effort to learn. Generally speaking, it was me sitting on a bucket with a radar gun and a clipboard across from a player hitting the ball off of a tee towards me. It was so early in this revolution that I had a Major League scout in the area ask me a simple question one morning during one of our workouts - “What are you doing?”

The story seems crazy now as data dominates every baseball conversation. Baseball facilities across the country either own or are familiar with brand names such as Trackman, Rapsodo, HitTrax, K Motion, and Blast Motion. The question is no longer whether or not a coach is collecting data, but it’s whether or not a coach can help a player improve his current data.

The next revolution is movement and coaching proper efficient movements. Our 3D Hitting team here at Bardo’s has created a Swing Movement Assessment that we use to guide players into individual protocols for their success. In my lessons and 3D groups, I’m using the 3D Movement drills and protocols, as well as data from HitTrax and a Blast Motion sensor. Gone are the days of just waiting for a kid to grow and get stronger. I’ve got to help him move better and improve now.

I’m sure that same scout would come up to me during a lesson or hitting group now with the same question. My laptop is open next to my phone as I crosscheck Blast Motion data from previous sessions while monitoring HitTrax data. I’m still learning, but I’ve got 10 years of understanding the data to apply. Now, thanks to the 3D Movement Assessment and the coaches here at Bardo’s Diamond Sports, I’ve got even more to share.
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To join a 3D Hitting group, contact our 3D Hitting Coordinator, Conner Reynolds, at conner@bardosdiamondsports.com.