Blast Connect | Metrics

Metrics

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What is Blast Factor?

Blast Factor is a holistic swing score between 0 and 100. Blast Factor is a weighted average of the other scored metrics with the following contribution: * On Plane: 15% * Peak Bat Speed: 10% * Attack Angle: 10% * Body Rotation: 15% * Power: 50% Blast Factor is a convenient measuring stick for tracking your overall improvement. It is also a fun way to compare your swing to professionals, other teammates, or friends.

Why is Blast Factor important?

Ultimately, you want to increase your Power through proper sequencing without sacrificing control. Only a well-balanced hitter that has an efficient, connected swing can achieve a high Blast Factor score.

What should Blast Factor be?

The typical Blast Factor score depends on age, strength, bat length and weight, experience level, swing style, and use case (practice swings vs game swings). Analysis from our database provides typical Blast Factor ranges for the following age groups and skill levels for softball: * Professional: 78 - 92 * College: 67 - 83 * Travel Ball 16U - 18U: 56 - 74 * High School Varsity: 45 - 65 * High School Junior Varsity: 35 - 55 * Travel Ball 12U - 14U: 25 - 45 * Recreational: 15 - 35

How do I improve Blast Factor?

Identify the metrics that are limiting your overall Blast Factor, and practice the drills associated with those underlying metrics.

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What is Time to Contact?

Time to Contact is the elapsed time between start of downswing and impact. The start of downswing uses an advanced algorithm to detect when functional forward Bat Speed is initiated and is not triggered by bat waggle early in the swing.

Why is Time to Contact important?

Time to Contact measures the total time it takes to complete your swing. A pro softball fastpitch takes approximately 0.4 seconds from pitcher to home plate. In that time, you must recognize the pitch, decide whether to commit, and execute your swing. The quicker your Time to Contact, the more time you have to recognize and commit to good pitches.

What should Time to Contact be?

The typical Time to Contact depends on age, strength, bat length and weight, experience level, swing style, and use case (practice swings vs game swings). Analysis from our database provides typical Time to Contact ranges for the following age groups and skill levels for softball: * Professional: 0.14 - 0.18 seconds * College: 0.15 - 0.20 seconds * Travel Ball 16U - 18U: 0.15 - 0.21 seconds * High School Varsity: 0.15 - 0.21 seconds * High School Junior Varsity: 0.16 - 0.22 seconds * Travel Ball 12U - 14U: 0.16 - 0.22 seconds * Recreational: 0.18 - 0.25 seconds

How do I improve Time to Contact?

It is more important to focus on developing an efficient swing rather than training directly to Time to Contact. As the Body Rotation ratio and On Plane percentage metrics become more optimized, the Time to Contact will start to drop as the hitter develops a more efficient and Powerful coordinated movement pattern. It is more important to track long-term changes in your Time to Contact metric as different swing profiles have slight changes in their Time to Contact values. Tracking Time to Contact metrics over time will demonstrate improvements in the overall quality of the swing.

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What is Bat Speed?

Bat Speed is the observed speed of the sweet spot of the bat at impact. The sweet spot of the bat is measured six inches from the tip of the bat.

Why is Bat Speed important?

Achieving higher Bat Speeds at the moment of impact results in higher ball exit speeds, which ultimately results in longer hit distances. With the emphasis on exit velocities in MLB, Bat Speed is the most direct metric for correlating to the batted ball exit velocity.

What should Bat Speed be?

The typical Bat Speed depends on age, strength, bat length and weight, experience level, swing style, and use case (practice swings vs game swings). Analysis from our database provides typical Bat Speed ranges for the following age groups and skill levels for softball: * Professional: 63 - 75 mph * College: 58 - 70 mph * Travel Ball 16U - 18U: 54 - 66 mph * High School Varsity: 49 - 63 mph * High School Junior Varsity: 42 - 56 mph * Travel Ball 12U - 14U: 38 - 52 mph * Recreational: 32 - 46 mph

How do I improve Bat Speed?

It is more important to focus on developing a more efficient and Powerful swing rather than training directly to Bat Speed. Bat Speed is a very important metric, but to increase Bat Speed in the appropriate way, the hitter needs to learn to swing more efficiently. By doing so, Bat Speed will improve as it is the result of the improvements in the quality of the swing. As the Body Rotation ratio and On Plane percentage metrics become more optimized, the Bat Speed will start to increase as the hitter develops a more efficient and Powerful coordinated movement pattern. Tracking Bat Speed metrics over time will demonstrate improvements in the overall quality of the swing.

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What is Peak Bat Speed?

Peak Bat Speed is the highest forward speed at the sweet spot of the bat, as measured six inches from the tip of the bat. This may occur at or before the moment of impact.

Why is Peak Bat Speed important?

Achieving your Peak Bat Speed at the moment of impact results in maximum ball exit speed and distance. If your peak speed is not timed with impact that means your swing is inefficient and you are losing Bat Speed at impact that could result in harder hit balls.

What should Peak Bat Speed be?

You should be able to read a pitch and time your swing so that you make contact near your peak speed. Over a session, your Peak Bat Speed should be the same or very close to your Bat Speed at impact.

How do I improve Peak Bat Speed?

If a hitter is consistently attaining Peaking Bat Speed prior to impact, there is either a timing issue or inefficiency in the swing. Timing issues can be corrected by letting the ball travel deeper in the zone. Swing inefficiencies that result in peak speeds prior to impact can generally be fixed by working with the Body Rotation metric. As the Body Rotation metric becomes more optimized, the Peak Bat Speed should be achieved at impact as the hitter develops a more efficient and Powerful swing.

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What is Peak Hand Speed?

Peak Hand Speed is the observed maximum speed as measured on the handle of the bat (measured six inches from the knob of the bat). Peak Hand Speed will occur prior to the moment of impact, very close to the commit time in the swing when the wrists unhinge.

Why is Peak Hand Speed important?

Hand Speed can be an important contribution to overall Bat Speed. The more efficient the swing, the more that Body Rotation will contribute to the overall Hand Speed in an efficient sequencing pattern. Contrarily, in very hand dominated swings, the hands are Powering the bat motion and are disconnected from the Body Rotations. This results in increased variability in Hand Speed as well as in resultant Bat Speed.

What should Peak Hand Speed be?

The typical Peak Hand Speed depends on age, strength, bat length and weight, experience level, and swing style. Analysis from our database provides typical Peak Hand Speed ranges for the following age groups and skill levels for softball: * Professional: 21 - 27 mph * College: 20 - 26 mph * Travel Ball 16U - 18U: 18 - 26 mph * High School Varsity: 16 - 24 mph * High School Junior Varsity: 14 - 22 mph * Travel Ball 12U - 14U: 13 - 21 mph * Recreational: 10 - 18 mph

How do I improve Peak Hand Speed?

It is more important to focus on developing a more efficient and Powerful swing rather than training directly to Hand Speed. Hand Speed is a very important metric, but to increase Hand Speed in the appropriate way, the hitter needs to learn to swing more efficiently. By doing so, Hand Speed will improve as it is the result of the improvements in the quality of the swing. As the Body Rotation ratio and On Plane percentage metrics become more optimized, the Hand Speed will be more natural as the hitter develops a more efficient and Powerful coordinated movement pattern. Tracking Hand Speed metrics over time will demonstrate improvements in the overall quality of the swing.

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What is Attack Angle?

Attack Angle is the angle of the bat's path, at impact, relative to horizontal. A positive value indicates swinging up, and a negative value indicates swinging down, where zero is perfectly level.

Why is Attack Angle important?

Attack Angle is important for two reasons: 1. Matching the bat path to the pitch path increases the likelihood of contact. Because the pitch is thrown from an elevated mound, it is typically on a downward angle as it crosses the plate. Therefore, a positive Attack Angle provides more opportunity to execute against a variety of pitches, which can vary in height, speed, and angle. 2. A positive Attack Angle will typically get the ball in the air and maximize the ball flight distance. With the emphasis on launch angles in MLB, Attack Angle is the most direct metric for correlating to the batted ball launch angle.

What should Attack Angle be?

The typical Attack Angle depends on age, strength, bat length and weight, experience level, swing style, and use case (practice swings vs game swings). Analysis from our database provides typical Attack Angle ranges for the following age groups and skill levels for softball: * Professional: 3 to 15 deg * College: 2 to 14 deg * Travel Ball 16U - 18U: 0 to 14 deg * High School Varsity: 0 to 14 deg * High School Junior Varsity: -1 to 14 deg * Travel Ball 12U - 14U: -1 to 14 deg * Recreational: -2 to 14 deg

How do I improve Attack Angle?

One of the best ways to improve Attack Angle is to use external focus or coaching cues to help the hitter elevate the ball in the air. This feedback mechanism helps the hitter to more quickly learn how to achieve a positive Attack Angle. Hitters can use an elevated target in a net or at the back of a batting cage to more quickly learn to achieve a positive Attack Angle. Tracking the Attack Angle with the Vertical Bat Angle will help to obtain an efficient and connected bat path that maximizes ball flight distance.

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What is Vertical Bat Angle?

Vertical Bat Angle is the angle of the bat with respect to horizontal at the moment of impact. Vertical Bat Angle is measured in degrees and provides the location of the barrel of the bat relative to the knob of the bat at impact. Vertical Bat Angle will be zero when the barrel of the bat and the knob are parallel to the ground. Vertical Bat Angle will be negative when the barrel of the bat is below the knob of the bat at impact.

Why is Vertical Bat Angle important?

Vertical bat angle is an important metric as it provides advanced insights into how much plate coverage the batter has at impact. Vertical bat angle is also important for understanding adjustability in a hitter's swing as it relates to different pitch types and locations. If the Vertical Bat Angle is close to horizontal, the hitter will have good plate coverage on the outside, however they will have difficulty hitting pitches up and down in the strike zone. If the Vertical Bat Angle is too steep, the hitter will have difficulty with plate coverage in terms of consistently hitting outside pitches. Vertical Bat Angle is an advanced insight as it provides a direct measure of a hitter's ability to adjust to different pitch locations in the strike zone. The most efficient softball swings have a Vertical Bat Angle that is highly correlated to the amount of spinal or torso tilt. In these efficient swings, the hitter will adjust the Vertical Bat Angle by adjusting their posture through their core and upper body early in the swing to produce a bat path that can achieve full coverage throughout the strike zone.

What should Vertical Bat Angle be?

The Vertical Bat Angle in batting practice or games will depend on the location of the pitch. Steeper angles are required for low and inside pitches, while shallower angles are required for high and outside pitches. Younger players tend to have a slightly flatter Vertical Bat Angle primarily due to strength considerations and swing style. Extreme pitch locations, such as low and inside or high and outside, can result in Vertical Bat Angles beyond this typical dynamic range. The typical Vertical Bat Angle depends on age, strength, bat length and weight, experience level, swing style, and use case (practice swings vs game swings). Analysis from our database provides typical Vertical Bat Angle ranges for the following age groups and skill levels for softball: * Professional: -20 to -30 deg * College: -20 to -30 deg * Travel Ball 16U - 18U: -20 to -30 deg * High School Varsity: -20 to -30 deg * High School Junior Varsity: -20 to -30 deg * Travel Ball 12U - 14U: -15 to -25 deg * Recreational: -15 to -25 deg

How do I improve Vertical Bat Angle?

All players should understand what their typical Vertical Bat Angle is for a middle-middle (mid-height and middle of plate) pitch. The best way to accomplish this is with tee work with the tee setup in the middle of the plate at an approximate height near the hitter's belt line. Once the hitter is able to achieve consistency with this constrained task, they should then focus on adjustability in the swing by hitting different tee locations, such as high and outside and low and inside. Monitoring of the Vertical Bat Angle for these tasks will demonstrate how well they adjust Vertical Bat Angle to these different pitch locations. Using the Vertical Bat Angle metric in batting cage practice and live pitch practice is a further extension of training which demonstrates the hitter's ability to adjust Vertical Bat Angle appropriately on a pitch to pitch basis. Repetitions with these drills that leverage increasing variation in pitch location will result in a much more dynamic swing which allows the hitter to adjust appropriately to different pitch types and square up on the ball much more consistently.

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What is Power?

The average Power generated during the swing is found from the effective mass of the bat, the Bat Speed at impact, and the average acceleration during the downswing. Power is measured in Watts. Higher Power is achieved when a hitter is able to swing a heavier bat and accelerate it to higher speeds.

Why is Power important?

More bat weight and more Bat Speed will help you launch the ball further, which in turn leads to more successful at-bats.

What should Power be?

The typical Power value depends on age, strength, bat length and weight, experience level, swing style, and use case (practice swings vs game swings). Analysis from our database provides typical Power ranges for the following age groups and skill levels for softball: * Professional: 3,400 - 4,600 Watts * College: 2,500 - 4,000 Watts * Travel Ball 16U - 18U: 2,150 - 3,350 Watts * High School Varsity: 1,650 - 2,850 Watts * High School Junior Varsity: 1,250 - 2,450 Watts * Travel Ball 12U - 14U: 800 - 2,200 Watts * Recreational: 600 - 2,050 Watts

How do I improve Power?

The ability to achieve high Power values requires an efficient, connected swing which maximizes Bat Speed by the body creating the initial speed and then transferring it out to the arms and finally to the bat. As such, it is important to work on Body Rotation, On Plane, and Vertical Bat Angle metrics through their suggested drills. As these metrics become optimized, a hitter should expect to see higher Power values as a result of a more Powerful, connected swing.

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What is On Plane?

The On Plane metric measures the percentage of your swing that the sweet spot of the bat is considered to be On Plane. The reference plane is defined at the moment of impact. The percentage of your swing On Plane is determined by the amount of speed generated within that reference plane.

Why is On Plane important?

An efficient swing gets On Plane early and stays On Plane as it approaches impact. In an efficient swing, the hitter wants to build as much forward Bat Speed On Plane as possible, to maximize functional Bat Speed at impact. Swinging the bat On Plane is one of the most important skills necessary to becoming a high level hitter. It is also one of the most variable swing components when comparing hitters. An efficient swing is one in which the hitter gets the barrel On Plane very early and deep in the swing path, which allows them to better optimize acceleration of the barrel through the strike zone. Changes in swing plane are the direct result of changes in arm and wrist kinematics relative to the Body Rotations. The better the hitter is at minimizing these variable arm/wrist degrees of freedom, the longer the hitter's bat will be On Plane. In a connected swing, the hitter will read the pitch early and make adjustments through the core and body instead of the arms and wrist in order to align the swing plane with the pitch location.

What should On Plane be?

In an ideal world, the hitter wants to maximize their On Plane percentage. The higher this percentage value, the better, as that requires less conscious and active control from the hitter during the dynamic downswing. There is a high correlation between the hitter's setup posture and the On Plane percentage metric. A hitter that has more body tilt towards the plate will tend to be On Plane longer than someone who stands more upright at the beginning of the swing and drops the barrel down into the swing plane as the swing progresses. A good functional swing will have an average On Plane percentage starting at 60% or higher. A typical dynamic range for On Plane percentage will be 55%-65%. For the On Plane metric, moving the value higher is desired and directly indicative of a more connected swing.

How do I improve On Plane?

All players should understand what their typical On Plane percentage is for a middle-middle (mid-height and middle of plate) pitch. The best way to accomplish this is with tee work with the tee setup in the middle of the plate at an approximate height near the hitter's belt line. In this use case, the hitter should focus on achieving On Plane percentages of 55% or higher. The best types of drills for improving On Plane percentage are connection drills, which reinforce rotational patterns between the body and hand paths. This often involves constraint drills where the barrel of the bat is constrained to move with the upper body, such as with the back shoulder or back of the neck during the swing. There are also training aids that connect the arms to the Body Rotations during the swing, which help with this. As the hitter is able to consistently achieve a high On Plane percentage of 55% or higher, they should introduce variability in pitch location into their training program. The goal is to maintain these On Plane percentage values while learning to adjust to pitch locations by altering core and torso movement patterns. Monitoring Vertical Bat Angle with the hitter's On Plane percentage is very valuable from a feedback perspective.

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What is Body Rotation?

In a softball swing, the resultant Bat Speed is a combination of both body and bat rotations. Blast uses an advanced algorithm model that allows us to measure the contributions of both body and bat rotations from the sensor attached to the bat. This allows the ability to analyze connection in the swing by comparing the contributions of both body and bat rotations once the hitter has committed to the swing by unhinging their wrists. The Body Rotation is expressed as the ratio of Body Rotation to total rotation during this time.

Why is Body Rotation important?

The Body Rotation ratio provides an objective swing metric that provides advanced insights into the hitter's rotational movement patterns. An efficient swing has connection between the body and bat rotational movement patterns. The ability to assess disconnection in the swing is very important from a player development and training standpoint. Disconnection occurs when there is either too much Body Rotation or too much bat rotation. A swing that has the appropriate relative contributions of body and bat rotations is an efficient and Powerful swing that maintains proper sequencing. An efficient softball swing is one in which the body creates the initial movements, which is then transferred to the arms and out to the bat, thereby maximizing Bat Speed through this proximal-to-distal kinematic sequencing movement pattern.

What should Body Rotation be?

Most players should have an average Body Rotation ratio of 45%, with a typical dynamic range of 40%-50%. A value that is consistently outside this range typically indicates a deficiency in the hitter's kinematic sequencing pattern. Variation in Body Rotation ratio from the efficient average of 45% and outside of the typical dynamic range of 40%-50% can result from extreme pitch locations. Pitch locations such as low and inside or high and outside require more adjustability in the swing. The more disconnection that is found in the hitter's swing between the body and bat rotational patterns, the more variation that will be observed in the Body Rotation ratio.

How do I improve Body Rotation?

All players should understand what their typical Body Rotation ratio is for a middle-middle (mid-height and middle of plate) pitch. The best way to accomplish this is with tee work with the tee setup in the middle of the plate at an approximate height near the hitter's belt line. In this use case, the hitter should focus on achieving an average efficient Body Rotation ratio of 45%, with consistent Body Rotation ratios between 40%-50%. Once the hitter is able to achieve consistency with this constrained task, they should then focus on adjustability in the swing by hitting different tee locations, such as high and outside and low and inside. Monitoring of the Body Rotation ratio for these tasks will demonstrate how well they maintain connection in their swing for these different pitch locations. Using the Body Rotation ratio metric in batting cage practice and live pitch practice is a further extension of training which demonstrates the level of consistency in the hitter's rotational movement patterns on a pitch to pitch basis. If the hitter is consistently achieving Body Rotation ratios that are < 40%, this typically indicates that they have a disconnection in their swing as there is not enough Body Rotation and they are too hand dependent as they are unhinging their wrists and committing to the swing too early. Connection drills should be used to achieve a more effective Body Rotation ratio. If the hitter is consistently achieving Body Rotation ratios that are > 50%, this typically indicates that they have a disconnection in their swing as there is not enough bat rotation during the latter half of the swing as they are not fully unhinging their wrists into impact. This indicates that they are not maintaining their wrist hinge angle late in the swing. Hinge angle drills that maintain the angle between the bat and forearm should be used to achieve a more effective Body Rotation ratio.