Spin Rate

Rocketech1 · Apr 20, 2015

Woody123 - one thing you need to be careful about when using the RevFire is that it only measure the rate of spin per second and NOT the DIRECTION of the spin (e.g. 12/6) or the LOCATION of the pitch which is very important in developing the correct movement. For example, your DD's curveball could have bullet spin and still register 20rps but have very little movement because it's not 3/9 spin.

The other interesting thing about the RevFire is that a change-up might register similar rps as the fastball but it obviously takes longer for a change-up to reach the catchers glove. That reading threw me off the first time my DD threw her flip change and it registered 17rps on the RevFire.

Lastly, while I like the RevFire, after using it for about a month, DD pitched in a tournament and was very wild especially the first two games. She was wondering if the weight of the RevFire softball might be different even though the company states otherwise on the specs. I chalked it up to her just having a bad day but she hasn't used it since. Need to weigh both balls tonight to see if there is a weight difference (or maybe noticeable seam or leather difference?). By the way, she normally practices with the Worth Dream Seam.

jdavitsky · Apr 20, 2015

Do you have any more info on the ball in and thing while watching tv? If you can point me to the details that would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Jason

WOODY123 said:
So about 3 weeks ago I started putting a ball in her hand every time she sat down to watch TV (read this trick in an old post). Last weekends tournament she was throwing harder than usual and had a record high 73% ball to strike ratio, so thought I would get the rev fire out today. she was throwing 48 - 51mph with a spin of 14 -15 RPS. She says she can fell her fingers pulling on the seams much better. For 3 years we have been talking about making the ball spin and she figures it out watching TV.... Our goal for the season was to get to 50MPH with a spin of 14, and 70% strike ratio (not how many times she actually hits her spot, this is more like 40% -50%), we are still early in the season so I think we are going to need some new goals.

My question is what is a good goal for spin rate for an 11 year old with decent mechanics?

WOODY123 · Apr 20, 2015

Rocketech1 said:
Woody123 - one thing you need to be careful about when using the RevFire is that it only measure the rate of spin per second and NOT the DIRECTION of the spin (e.g. 12/6) or the LOCATION of the pitch which is very important in developing the correct movement. For example, your DD's curveball could have bullet spin and still register 20rps but have very little movement because it's not 3/9 spin.

The other interesting thing about the RevFire is that a change-up might register similar rps as the fastball but it obviously takes longer for a change-up to reach the catchers glove. That reading threw me off the first time my DD threw her flip change and it registered 17rps on the RevFire.

Lastly, while I like the RevFire, after using it for about a month, DD pitched in a tournament and was very wild especially the first two games. She was wondering if the weight of the RevFire softball might be different even though the company states otherwise on the specs. I chalked it up to her just having a bad day but she hasn't used it since. Need to weigh both balls tonight to see if there is a weight difference (or maybe noticeable seam or leather difference?). By the way, she normally practices with the Worth Dream Seam.

Rocketech, Thanks for the insight on the RPS. We bring out the RevFire about once a month to keep track of our progress and it is usually only for about 15-20 pitches towards the end of our practice. I hadn't really thought about the difference in the ball, but now that I think about it, she threw like 5 wild pitches in a row the last time we used it before she dialed it in. I will have to ask her about it the next time we use it. Thanks for sharing.

WOODY123 · Apr 20, 2015

jdavitsky said:
Do you have any more info on the ball in and thing while watching tv? If you can point me to the details that would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Jason

Jason - We just use a regular ball (one with good seams) and have her spin it. It is kind of like doing finger snaps you are just focusing on pulling the seams to make the ball spin as fast as you can. She snaps the ball up about a foot or so and catches it in her hand after awhile they can do it without looking at the ball. It helps build strong fingers and it got her more comfortable with holding the ball looser and spinning it harder.

ComoJoe · May 19, 2015

I bought the RevFire three years ago for my DD mostly because I love new gadgets, but quickly came to realize the importance of spin. She was just in her 2nd year of 10u at the time when we purchased it and was hitting 15's and 16's. We end every pitching session, for the past three years, with the RevFire balls and track her numbers. Also take a picture of her and the RevFire after she breaks her previous record (the smile on her face when she hits a new high is priceless). We work a ton on spin drills and use it during those drills also so she has a number to beat. I have always said "Inspect what you Expect" The RevFire allows us to get a really good number and something to beat or work towards. Her numbers are crazy good and I give the RevFire a lot of the credit, plus her long fingers and natural spin she has always had.

Rick Pauly · Aug 31, 2015

Does anyone have a RevFire for sale? If so please PM me as I need an extra one for some testing I am doing.
It appears that RevFire no longer sells their traditional meter but is going to a phone app....but that product is not quite out on the market yet.

riseball · Aug 31, 2015

Would love to help but I will give up my Rev-Fire when you pry it from my cold dead hands! Even then Jake already has dibs.

GoCaboNow · Aug 31, 2015

DD usually does the Revfire about once a month with her PC. She just turned 10. Her comp team is going 12u this fall so we have been doing long toss and working on a CU since the end of LL allstars, about a month ago, trying to get used to 40'. Last time she did the Revfire, about a month ago, was at the 35' setting and she was consistently 50mph/15 rps. PC only has a 12" ball. After working her tail off the last month she was tested and was 47mph, with 18rps at
40'. Anyone care to interpret that or does rps naturally go up from 35 to 40'?

DD was bummed out for the 47 speed but PC was happy with 18 spin, I just don't know what to make of it?

Rick Pauly · Aug 31, 2015

GoCaboNow said:
DD usually does the Revfire about once a month with her PC. She just turned 10. Her comp team is going 12u this fall so we have been doing long toss and working on a CU since the end of LL allstars, about a month ago, trying to get used to 40'. Last time she did the Revfire, about a month ago, was at the 35' setting and she was consistently 50mph/15 rps. PC only has a 12" ball. After working her tail off the last month she was tested and was 47mph, with 18rps at
40'. Anyone care to interpret that or does rps naturally go up from 35 to 40'?

DD was bummed out for the 47 speed but PC was happy with 18 spin, I just don't know what to make of it?

It is not abnormal for speeds to drop if a pitcher is spending most of their time on movement/spins. Speed is like any other facet of pitching....it needs to be specifically worked on.
A second thought...often a pitcher first moving from an 11" ball to 12" ball and moving from 35' to 40' may compromise their mechanics....maybe costing speed.

I am a huge proponent of the RevFire for spin rates....but you really need to verify your distances for speed accuracy. Distance variations as simple as where the catcher is set up or where is the ball caught can make a difference in the speed measure.

The measurement of the spin rate happens long before the ball reaches the catcher so the 35' vs 40' difference does not affect the meter reading.

An 18 RPS spin rate for a new 12U is pretty good.....keep up the good work and put a little speed component into your practices.

WillyT812 · Aug 31, 2015

Idle thought. It's hard to compare spin rates without bringing in spin axis into the discussion. One of my girls was hitting 22rps on the RevFire but her axis was close to a bullet spin. Depending on the pitch you've got to factor in axis when trying to understand effectiveness of spin rates. Truthfully though, after you've seen and caught enough girls who can really pitch you'll never need a RevFire. You can hear the seams gripping the air, you can see the movement from one plane to another. A six-to-twelve drop ball coming in at 18-20rps will beat a 1-to-7 drop ball spinning at 22 plus.

Spin Rate

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