How does a baseball player master their swing? A simple answer would be “proper coaching,” but sometimes it takes a little more than verbal advice for players to properly identify their strengths and weaknesses on the field. This is why executives at InMotion Systems LLC, developed the HitTrax data capture and simulation system.
HitTrax is the first and only baseball simulator in the market. It offers players personalized statistics helping them become more in-tune with their playing techniques when practicing in an indoor training environment. It does this by transforming any batting cage into a hi-tech analytics and stats center enabling players to enhance their hitting and pitching techniques before stepping onto the field.
“HitTrax captures and displays real-time player data in order to provide immediate feedback to greatly enhance training, as well as provide valuable metrics and reports for improving player performance,” said Tom Stepsis, Director of Marketing at InMotion Systems.
Now every baseball and softball player has the ability to achieve perfection at the plate, especially with the system’s latest addition: a new high-speed video capture option, called the VCAM (Video Capture and Analysis Module).
“What this means is that for the first time, coaches are able to capture real time video of a batter and analyze the measured outcome of their swing, all within one system,” said Stepsis.
Coaches are able to use the HitTrax VCAM to place two videos side by side in order to visually compare and contrast a player’s technique. “Coaches can show players what their swing mechanics looked like during an ideal at-bat compared to a soft grounder to shortstop,” said Stepsis.
Similar in concept to a golf simulator, the HitTrax system is able to track hits from live pitching, pitching machines, soft toss and even a hit off of a batting tee. Ball speeds exceeding 110 mph can be recorded and, most importantly, players of all ages and skill levels can enhance their training techniques from utilizing the system.
In order to provide accurate metrics and detailed player reports, infrared technology is positioned within a white rectangular vertical structure (as seen pictured above) adjacent to the batter. A touchscreen monitor is positioned outside the batting cage allowing the batter to see where their ball was hit in an actual stadium setting. Users are able to choose to play in a little league, college or professional stadium, depending on their desired level of play.
The HitTrax system allows hitters and coaches to analyze the exit ball velocity, distance of a hit, the launch angle and elevation, strike zone analysis and much more. Pitchers can also enhance their skills by monitoring their pitch velocity, percentage of strikes, pitch location and performance trends, to name a few.
“The immediate feedback produced by the HitTrax system enables coaches to help their players train as they play,” said Stepsis. “We also feel that HitTrax is a great way to introduce advanced metrics to younger age groups.”
Another innovative feature is the way HitTrax stores and utilizes its data. All of the players’ statistics are immediately uploaded to the cloud and then used to create national leaderboards on the HitTrax StatsCenter website. The leaderboards are publically available here. Stepsis explained that the national and regional leaderboards are segmented by age group and are designed to promote players and the facilities in which they train.
Back in the batting cage, the HitTrax system also offers percentile rankings for all players. “For example, if you are in the 16U age group, you can see how you stack up against everyone in that group that uses HitTrax,” said Stepsis. “On the leaderboard we only list the top 25 from each age group in each region. With the percentile rankings, even if you are not in the top 25 you can still find your rank and whether you are in the 50th or 75th percentile for your age group.”
Players can track their improvements and performance trends after each session or over any time period. Statistics that are recorded during sessions can also be immediately printed and emailed to players in order to increase their engagement and analytical knowledge about the sport and their playing capabilities.
For facilities, housing this technology in batting cages provides numerous benefits. Stepsis explained that while HitTrax was designed for training, the system also offers a gaming mode that calls balls and strikes and has virtual fielders that will turn realistic plays such as double plays and sacrifice flies. Simulated games, home run derby contests, tournaments, hitting leagues and Quality Hit contests can be implemented by facilities and coaches in order to keep players active all year long.
“A lot of our customers hold HitTrax hitting leagues, which are a lot more engaging and realistic than the antiquated method where batters try to hit the ball through a hula-hoop on the wall. HitTrax is more along the lines of a current day gaming console,” said Stepsis.
In January 2014, the HitTrax simulator won the ‘Best of Show’ award at the American Baseball Coaches Association Conference (ABCA) 2014. The ABCA is a trade show held every year where American baseball and softball coaches gather to get a first glimpse of new products, equipment and apparel that will soon enter the market.
“The ABCA offers vendors the opportunity to apply for the Best of Show award,” said Stepsis. “It’s a great way to get your product out to market and where a group of industry experts evaluate the technologies showcased to determine who receives the award. The value of HitTrax’s analytics was immediately recognized and how it can greatly improve a player’s performance.”
The HitTrax system officially launched in 2013 and currently has more than 16 thousand registered users throughout North America. The University of Notre Dame was the first collegiate team to implement HitTrax, setting the trend for other universities, high schools, athletic facilities and professional league teams to utilize it across the country.