Transcript

Why are advanced swing time metrics important and why isn’t the basic swing time metric you’re getting from blast motion or diamond kinetics enough?

To answer this question, we’ll start by comparing the basic swing time metrics captured by blast motion and xFactor technology, and then to the advanced time domain metrics that only xFactor provides.

Basic swing time metrics capture only a partial view of the swing, measuring the time from initial bat movement to impact. They overlook critical pre swing delays and reaction times, which are essential for understanding of batter’s full timing profile- from decision to swing, through collision with the ball, a clear, objective picture of where time is consumed within the swing, offering meaningful baselines and actionable insights.

In this analysis, we’ll compare the basic swing time metrics from Blast Motion and xFactor technology to the more advanced xFactor metrics, which offer a fuller measurement of a batter’s true swing time, to accurately capture this timing.

The xFactor swing time calculator uses a patented cue system, issuing synchronized stride and Swing Alert™ that prompt batters to respond as they would in a game scenario. This process ensures each swing reflects a realistic, reactive response, as baseball is an interception sport, where swings are driven by the precise moment the ball enters the batter space. Unlike in golf where swings are self-initiated by replicating this in game timing, xFactor’s approach provides a more accurate view of a batter swing dynamics.

Let’s examine the basic swing time captures from The xFactor swing time device. This capture method is the same as it would be with a blast motion device. All bat swing systems capture basic swing time by setting a forward motion threshold that triggers the device. Once the motion sensor is paired with its system, it remains in a dormant state until an abrupt forward motion of the bat initiates data capture. When the bat makes contact with the ball, the sensor stops recording and a swing time is displayed.

On our graphic user interface, we see the first batter whose swing includes a hitch before the forward launch of his bat. His swing time recorded at 132 milliseconds, is very quick, even with the latent hitch in his load coming in below the Major League average.

Next, we’ll examine the second batters basic swing time capture of 150 milliseconds. This swing time is slower than the first batters time of 132 milliseconds but aligns with the Major League average. In a side-by-side comparison of the two hitter swing captures considering only the basic swing time captures, it appears that the first batter has a quicker swing than the second batter. However, as we introduced the exclusive metrics from The xFactor Swing time calculator, we’ll see that this isn’t actually the case. This example illustrates why the basic swing time metric can be misleading and incomplete, and why The xFactor swing time calculator provides 3 distinct time domain metrics for a comprehensive view of swing time.

Let’s view their swings side by side. The Swing Alert™ tones for both batters are aligned, ensuring each receives the GO signal simultaneously. In regular speed, there isn’t a noticeable difference in their swing times, but their swing time captures favor the first hitter, the hitter on the left of your screen.

Let’s return to our metrics display now featuring two metrics exclusive to The xFactor Swing time calculator. First is our proprietary Swing delay™ metric. Swing delay represents any time consumed after the hitter decides to swing but before the forward motion activates the motion. Sensor. This includes reaction time. Any latent bat movements like wags, hitches, soft motions, leaks or drops, elements that the basic swing time metric doesn’t capture. Then we have the Time to Impact metric, a comprehensive measure of the swing event covering the entire process from the hitters decision to swing through to contact with the ball. This combined metric is composed of both swing time and Swing Delay™, providing a complete swing time assessment. I’ll discuss this and our two time domain. Metrics as we continue.

Once again, we’ll observe the two batters side by side, but this time in slow motion. This is the same video clip we viewed previously, with the Swing Alert™ tone synched and you will notice there is a disparity between their swing launch and collision with the ball. The reason for the disparity between the two hitters’ collision with the ball resides in their Swing Delay™ times. The first hitter with the hitch in his load, a latent back move occurring after he sent the go message to his body swing resulted in a Swing Delay™ of 317 milliseconds. This Swing Delay™ is twice as long as the second batter’s basic swing time, whose Swing Delay™ is only 185 milliseconds. His Swing Delay™ is shorter than the average human reaction time of 200 to 250 milliseconds, resulting in a very quick direct swing.

Returning to the first batter’s basic swing time of 132 milliseconds. While this may appear very quick, the speed results from his body’s forward transition incorporated into his swing launch, effectively shortening his swing distance. This transition allowed him to achieve a faster swing time, but it presents a misleading view of his overall swing performance. Without examining additional metrics like Swing Delay™ and Time to Impact, this adjustment in the swing path will remain undetected, revealing what initially appears to be an attribute as a swing flaw, because shortening his swing distance quickens his mechanical swing time but reduces the force and impact of his swing.

This example underscores the importance of capturing all relevant metrics for a complete and accurate analysis, as the isolated swing time metric alone cannot reveal the full complexities of the batter’s swing dynamics.

Additionally, while the hitch in his load doesn’t affect swing distance, it does consume time that goes unmeasured by the basic swing time metric. This delay doesn’t appear in the captured swing time, further illustrating the potential for misinterpretation when relying solely on this single metric. Together, the forward transition and hitch highlight the limitations of using a single metric and reinforce why a comprehensive set of metrics is essential to capture the true dynamics of a batter’s swing.

So how do the swing time and Swing Delay™ metrics impact the hitters overall swing time? Their Time to Impact metric? The first hitter with the hitch produced the best swing time capture of 132 milliseconds. His Swing Delay™, however, was 317 milliseconds, resulting in a time to impact of 449 milliseconds. The second hitter swing time of 150 milliseconds combined with his exceptional Swing Delay™ time of 185 milliseconds resulted in a Time to Impact of 335 milliseconds.

Now let’s see how the basic swing time metric and the more complete Time to Impact metric compared to a 90 mile an hour pitch released from 55 feet away. If we were only able to compare and analyze the basic swing time metric from Blast Motion, Diamond Kinetics or The xFactor Swing Time Calculator, the results would simply reflect when the swing needs to start without considering when the brain must send the go message. The basic metric also provides no guidance on where corrections can be made or where time is consumed, often imperceptible to the eye, these detailed, separate metrics reveal opportunities for improvement, where even tenths of a second significantly impact at hitters overall swing time.

Based solely on the basic swing time metric, player one with his 132-millisecond swing time, we perceived he would have to begin swinging when the ball is 16.54 feet away from the point of impact.

Player 2 with his 150-millisecond swing time would have to begin his swing with the ball 18.79 feet away.

Now we’ll include the Swing Delay™ metric, allowing us to observe their true Times to Impact, and the distances these hitters would have to make their swing decision, then send the go messages to their bodies, in order to collide with the ball at the point of impact.

The first hitter with his Time to Impact of 449 milliseconds would have to initiate his swing against a 90 mile an hour pitch released at 55 feet from the point of impact when the ball was 56.25 feet away, which is actually before it was released.

The second hitter, with his Time to Impact of 335 milliseconds, would initiate his swing against the same 90 mile an hour pitch at 41.97 feet away from the point of impact.

So, to answer the question “why are advanced swing time metrics important, and why isn’t the basic swing time metric you’re getting from Blast Motion or Diamond Kinetics enough”? Advanced swing time metrics go beyond simply measuring the time from bat movement to impact. The basic swing time metric overlooks crucial elements such as reaction time, Swing Delay™, and adjustments made after the decision to swing, factors that are essential to understanding of batters’ complete timing profile, such as their launch quickness, or, LQ, and what composes that. Without these advanced metrics, we’re left with an incomplete picture that fails to account for hidden delays and timing adjustments within the swing, limiting our ability to pinpoint precise areas for improvement.

In our example, although the first batter swing time appears faster, the second batter’s efficient response time means he could handle 90 mph pitching comfortably, while the first batter would not be able to catch up.