Pocket Radar, Sports Radar Users, Cosine Angle Error

[Westwind]

@ArmWhip

I think you could get a good handle on this by using an iPhone and the Measure app. It measures angles- go out to the rubber, even if isn’t a stadium. Measure the angle toward where the catchers glove would be on a rise then measure the angle up to your imaginary stadium seat. Compare with chart above...

Just picturing it from my kitchen table, I would guess you are losing mph....

 

[BrianTx01]

Sorry for the pseudo-hijack - but how does the gun tell the difference b/w ball speed and bat speed? Is it just reporting the last moving object recorded? I'd love to get a PR for both pitching and hitting (EV), just wondering how to read it when there's a pitched ball, swinging bat, and a batted ball all occurring within a split second.

It will give two speeds on a pitched ball that is hit.

 

[ArmWhip]

@ArmWhip

I think you could get a good handle on this by using an iPhone and the Measure app. It measures angles- go out to the rubber, even if isn’t a stadium. Measure the angle toward where the catchers glove would be on a rise then measure the angle up to your imaginary stadium seat. Compare with chart above...

Just picturing it from my kitchen table, I would guess you are losing mph....

Here is a link to video posted in another thread on DFP in the pitching forum. Look at the trajectory that the ball has in the section between release and the first 20m segment. If you pause it and put a ruler on the screen the upwards angle is clear, it you extend it out to the bleachers behind home plate it is up in the stands. Since ball speed is fastest right out of the hand being up in the stands puts the radar more in line with fastest part of the pitch. Being at ground level is going to put you below the initial ball trajectory.

 

[BrianTx01]

Left and right seem make a difference pretty quickly. Up and down make a big difference in hitting. You have to predict the path of the ball. If you are aiming strait and the ball goes up you will not get a true speed.

 

[uncdrew]

Sorry for the pseudo-hijack - but how does the gun tell the difference b/w ball speed and bat speed? Is it just reporting the last moving object recorded? I'd love to get a PR for both pitching and hitting (EV), just wondering how to read it when there's a pitched ball, swinging bat, and a batted ball all occurring within a split second.

For my 11 year old DD, when she pitches and the batter doesn't hit the ball, the Pocket Radar reads 48-50. When someone hits the ball, it reads in the 60s. So I don't really take any readings for when the batter hits the ball. I just ignore those.

 

[uncdrew]

It will give two speeds on a pitched ball that is hit.

Correct. You'll see it reads 50 (the pitch) and then quickly changes to 60 (the hit). You can go back to the prior reading to get the speed of the pitch before it was hit. Personally, I just ignore the readings when the batter hits it. Plenty of good pitches that aren't swung at to measure.

 

[uncdrew]

Here is a link to video posted in another thread on DFP in the pitching forum. Look at the trajectory that the ball has in the section between release and the first 20m segment. If you pause it and put a ruler on the screen the upwards angle is clear, it you extend it out to the bleachers behind home plate it is up in the stands. Since ball speed is fastest right out of the hand being up in the stands puts the radar more in line with fastest part of the pitch. Being at ground level is going to put you below the initial ball trajectory.

So add 5 mph to all pitcher speeds when standing on the ground. Nice!!!!

 

[Gags]

So add 5 mph to all pitcher speeds when standing on the ground. Nice!!!!

"Grandpa, why do you keep moving the radar gun like that?"
"I'm adjusting for cosine".

 

[Gags]

For my 11 year old DD, when she pitches and the batter doesn't hit the ball, the Pocket Radar reads 48-50.

Our top 3 pitchers (first year 12U - so 11, 11, and 10) are only at 40/41. It's going to be a brutal Spring - maybe we'll save "B" level for next year!

 

[uncdrew]

Our top 3 pitchers (first year 12U - so 11, 11, and 10) are only at 40/41. It's going to be a brutal Spring - maybe we'll save "B" level for next year!

Do the girls have a change-up?

Speed kills, and my DD gets a lot of Ks because of her speed. But the location and changing speeds is really why she succeeds. Her spin is pretty lousy. But we'll get there.