Rapsodo

[Tatonka]

Looking for someone with real world experience with this tool from the pitching perspective. How valuable did you find the data, how often and for how long (# of pitches tracked) did you use it? Was the data easily interpreted by the average (college age) player and/or Coach or was their a longer learning curve involved? Would it make sense or be a waste of time to utilize it on a random/when available type of basis?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Vertigo]

Looking for someone with real world experience with this tool from the pitching perspective. How valuable did you find the data, how often and for how long (# of pitches tracked) did you use it? Was the data easily interpreted by the average (college age) player and/or Coach or was their a longer learning curve involved? Would it make sense or be a waste of time to utilize it on a random/when available type of basis?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I have only seen it used with my ds during his pitching lessons (baseball). I know it is used for SB as well but have no personal experience with it. The data is extremely helpful to see pitch rotation, velocity, spin rate, etc. My son’s PC will extract my ds’ info and send it to dh to review to see if progress is being made. He will only utilize it once every few weeks as ds is currently doing velocity training. When ds does a bullpen session it is only for maybe 20 pitches or less during a lesson. The Rapsodo site helps to explain the data obtained and what it shows.

I don’t think it would be an economical purchase for one player by a parent. First, it’s extremely expensive. Second, unless you are a PC and know how to help a pitcher improve ball rotation and spin rate, I’m not sure how it would be beneficial. You can get velocity readings from a much less expensive tool.

 

[LEsoftballdad]

Looking for someone with real world experience with this tool from the pitching perspective. How valuable did you find the data, how often and for how long (# of pitches tracked) did you use it? Was the data easily interpreted by the average (college age) player and/or Coach or was their a longer learning curve involved? Would it make sense or be a waste of time to utilize it on a random/when available type of basis?

Thanks in advance for your help!

We have used it a few times at various camps. As @Vertigo said, it does a lot, but it's also very expensive. I think Dick's sells it for $4,000. For the record, my daughter hates it. She always tightens up when using it because I think it makes her nervous.

 

[Rick M]

Here’s a screenshot of the data set

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DonnyS]

Looking for someone with real world experience with this tool from the pitching perspective. How valuable did you find the data, how often and for how long (# of pitches tracked) did you use it? Was the data easily interpreted by the average (college age) player and/or Coach or was their a longer learning curve involved? Would it make sense or be a waste of time to utilize it on a random/when available type of basis?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Nobody had one in my immediate area so I bit the bullet and purchased one. I will give you my $0.02...

1) We find the data helpful. At the time I bought it, we were not really focused on DD velocity, but really wanted feedback on her spin. We tried the pitch tracker ball, but didn't find that it worked that well. The app will give spin direction, spin efficient, total spin as well as vertical break and horizontal break. I am good enough to catch DD pitching (barely), but have no ability to give any meaningful real time feedback as to what adjustments to make. With this she can immediately see her spin rate, direction and efficiency and make some adjustments. It also gives a visual representation of what the pitch is doing between the rubber and the plate, which is nice. However, the data is most helpful when we meet with her coach and work a bull pen session. She throws a pitch, we see what it does, check Rapsodo, make adjustments, and see what is working/not working.

2) Data is easy to interpret. There are a lot of videos online. Admittedly I knew someone who had one and has used it for years. If I had questions, I would just call her.

3) Does it make sense...that's a harder question. It is expensive! And you have to buy a subscription on top of the unit. It is a little bit of a pain to set it up and take it down if you don't have dedicated space. Not that it's hard, but one more thing to do with limited time. We do not use it as often as I would like or as I thought we would. We would use it several times a week at first, but once HS ball started and travel for TB picked up, we rarely used it. We've used it for several of the girls on our TB team and some that we know on other teams. I would say that most of the girls could take it or leave it. Some coaches as well. I do think using it intermittently (random/when available) would be beneficial. We do the same with the hitting version (that someone else owns).

4) you didn't ask, but I'll ask...would I buy it again? Probably. I wish we had time to use it more, but we do not. But the feedback we get when we do is helpful. Some coaches may be good enough to see spin and make adjustments, I am not. They human eye is pretty easily fooled. I would often hear coaches say "good job" on a pitch that I thought was just okay and vice versa. Harder to ignore numbers. I rationalized the cost as follows: over 4 years it is less per month than I spend on any of the kid activities. Plus I assume I can sell it and get at least some of my money back. I also assume more and more colleges are going to use them both for their athletes and as part of the recruiting process (I have no direct knowledge if that is true or not).

Overall, it's been a fun tool to have, but certainly not something that is needed. And given the cost, it is probably a purchase that is best made by and for an organization like a team or facility. Feel free to send me a PM if you have any other questions or if something above is not clear.

 

[Tatonka]

I have only seen it used with my ds during his pitching lessons (baseball). I know it is used for SB as well but have no personal experience with it. The data is extremely helpful to see pitch rotation, velocity, spin rate, etc. My son’s PC will extract my ds’ info and send it to dh to review to see if progress is being made. He will only utilize it once every few weeks as ds is currently doing velocity training. When ds does a bullpen session it is only for maybe 20 pitches or less during a lesson. The Rapsodo site helps to explain the data obtained and what it shows.

I don’t think it would be an economical purchase for one player by a parent. First, it’s extremely expensive. Second, unless you are a PC and know how to help a pitcher improve ball rotation and spin rate, I’m not sure how it would be beneficial. You can get velocity readings from a much less expensive tool.

I recall you posting something similar before and in fact was thinking of the part about your son using it for baseball when I posted the question. Thank you.

Edit to add: Not wanting to use it for velocity at all, I've had a Pocket Radar for awhile. DD (and her sister catching her) have gotten pretty good at recognizing spin and yaw. Again, this was something drilled into them by Java back in the day. The Diamond Kinetics pitch trackeer was sorta meh and honestly probably didn't get a fair shake here.

 

[Tatonka]

We have used it a few times at various camps. As @Vertigo said, it does a lot, but it's also very expensive. I think Dick's sells it for $4,000. For the record, my daughter hates it. She always tightens up when using it because I think it makes her nervous.

It is costly for sure...I'd have to sell a fe old gloves and forgo buying new bats for a few years!! As a Financial Advisor it wouldn't pass my cost/benefit analysis (for sure at this point in my kids career)!

Had to laugh though...I used to have to sneak up on my DD with the Pocket Radar to get a decent read...she's tighten up, get nervous and throw worm burners or nothing but change ups when she knew she was being clocked. She got over that thankfully!

 

[Tatonka]

Here’s a screenshot of the data set

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I like the data, the way it's all laid out and the support that seems to be available on their website. Softball is definitely in the shadow of baseball (per the norm with much of this stuff) but at least it's there. Being able to compare and get some averages from a pitching session is valuable.

 

[LEsoftballdad]

It is costly for sure...I'd have to sell a fe old gloves and forgo buying new bats for a few years!! As a Financial Advisor it wouldn't pass my cost/benefit analysis (for sure at this point in my kids career)!

Had to laugh though...I used to have to sneak up on my DD with the Pocket Radar to get a decent read...she's tighten up, get nervous and throw worm burners or nothing but change ups when she knew she was being clocked. She got over that thankfully!

In my real life, I'm a CFP, so I get where you're coming from. I have the Diamond Kinetic ball, as well. I don't trust the speed from that ball, but I do feel it's good for showing spin. The problem we have with it is the ball doesn't have the best seams. My daughter is a snob for SB-12 softballs.

 

[Tatonka]

In my real life, I'm a CFP, so I get where you're coming from. I have the Diamond Kinetic ball, as well. I don't trust the speed from that ball, but I do feel it's good for showing spin. The problem we have with it is the ball doesn't have the best seams. My daughter is a snob for SB-12 softballs.

I know, I saw that you posted that before. This should probably be in the Off-Topic thread, I just crossed my 40th year in the biz.