X Factor Technology Articles
April Featured Articles:
Part 3: Depth Without Definition: The Flawed Foundation of Statcast’s Contact Point Data
Statcast’s newest metric, contact depth, is being treated like the Rosetta Stone of hitting. Analysts are quoting how many inches in front or behind the plate hitters make contact, as if that number alone explains power output or approach efficiency.
It doesn’t.
Part 2: The Statcast Illusion: When Data Becomes Anecdote
Baseball’s latest analytical advancement, Statcast’s new contact-point data, promises to revolutionize how we evaluate hitters. But how that data is interpreted is just as important as the data itself.
Part 1: Why Statcast’s New Contact Point Data is Only Half the Story
Baseball’s understanding of hitting may have evolved… sort of.
In a recent article on MLB.com, Shohei Ohtani contact point Statcast analysis author David Adler discusses how Statcast’s new contact point and depth data, set to debut on Opening Day….
Ted Williams and the Myth of Modern Swing Theory: Why Clean Rotation is Overlooked
Elite hitters often demonstrate movements that are compensatory in nature. The scissor kick, for example, is a common feature in many high-level swings, but it isn’t necessarily an inhibitor to performance. Plenty of great hitters use it while still….
The Physics of Athletic Swings: Why Baseball Is Different
Have you ever noticed how a tennis player leaps into the air when serving or how some golfers push upward just before striking the ball, momentarily reducing their connection to the ground?
Preparedness: Anticipation Without Predetermination, an Open Gaze, and Mental Relaxation in Interception Sports
Preparedness—anticipation without predetermination, an open gaze, and mental relaxation. This is the foundation of elite performance in any sport that requires an athlete to intercept an external stimulus.
Does Practicing the Wrong Way Really Improve Hitting? A Critical Examination of Skill Acquisition Claims
A recent study investigated whether introducing movement variability in hitting practice enhances perception-action coupling and improves swing decision-making.
Subconscious Mastery in Hitting: Intent Over Instruction
In this GIF, we observe a toddler effortlessly executing a swing that achieves both bat-ball intersection and an intent-driven outcome. This seemingly simple act reveals a sophisticated process….
From a Vague Instinct to a Deliberate Science: Everything You Need to Know About Batter Swing Timing Explained
This article examines batter timing independent of the load sync process. While syncing a batter’s preparatory moves with a specific point in the….
Misconceptions About Early Barrel Entry and Bat Speed in Hitting Dynamics Part I
There is a widespread misconception of viewing the bat swing two-dimensionally, which is a gross oversimplification of the more complex motion occurring during bat swings.
Misconceptions About Early Barrel Entry and Bat Speed in Hitting Dynamics Part II
In my previous article, I discussed common misconceptions about early barrel entry and its impact on swing dynamics. In this follow-up, I want to delve into a critical, yet often overlooked, factor….
The Missteps of Mimicking Great Swings
Hitting a baseball is hailed as the most challenging feat in sports. Hitting the ball well demands a blend of mechanics, timing, and intent. While we can observe certain mechanical similarities among great hitters
The Perils of Isolated Basic Swing Time Metrics
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, ….
There Is Another Way — A Smarter Solution
Mookie Betts took extended batting practice off a high velocity pitching machine. Said he’s taken around 300-400 swings. Asked if he was trying to hack his way out of his slump:
‘If there’s another way, please let me know”
Misconceptions of Power: The Hidden Pitfalls of Hard-Hit Balls and the Overemphasis on Forward Contact Points
In the StatCast era, bat speed and exit velocity have become the most celebrated metrics of hitting, often viewed as the ultimate indicators of offensive success. The assumption is simple: the higher the bat speed, the harder a ball is hit, therefore, ….
The Relationship Between Decision Timing and Swing Biomechanics in Baseball
There is a widespread belief that mechanical perfection is the key to batting success. Traditional swing training focuses heavily on biomechanics—the assumption being that if a player’s swing mechanics are “high-level”, contact with the ball will naturally follow. However, this belief is an oversimplification….
How to Prevent Flying Open or Over Rotation in baseball and Softball Swings Without Special Drills
Over rotating or flying open in baseball and softball bat swings. There is a lot of discussion about over rotating the hips, chest and shoulders during bat swings. Over rotation of the hips or “flying open” negatively affects swing direction, so there are a lot of drills designed to prevent this.
Ken Griffey jr., The Golden Ratio and The Perfect Batting Stance
Baseball, at its core, is deeply rooted in biomechanics. Balance, force, and repeatability is critical for successful hitting. By analyzing the stance and swing of Ken Griffey Jr., a remarkable synchronicity emerges between his technique and the principles of the golden ratio, a mathematical constant prevalent in nature.
Part 1: Vision Strategies for Baseball/Softball Batters
In the early to mid-2000’s, I was training the son of Seattle Mariners vision specialist, Dr. Doug Nikaitani. In exchange for batting lessons for his son, Dr. Nikaitani trained me on vision strategies and a condensed education on vision.
Part 2: Seeing Beyond Mechanics: Vision Insights
My training with Dr. Nikaitani not only helped me learn about vision strategies but also taught me to recognize signs of vision deficiencies that can inhibit batters. This was something I had great interest in and had invested a lot of time and research on, already.
Part 3: Exploring Vision Struggles in Baseball
In 2003, while working with a Tampa Bay Rays hitter whom I had been coaching since 1998, I had developed an intimate understanding of his swing. Through an examination of game video he sent me, I noticed that he was struggling to judge pitches effectively.
The Myth of the Pendulum: Insights into Barrel Acceleration in Baseball Swings
Barrel Acceleration: In this series of frames, we can observe the acceleration of Yordan Alveraz’s swing along three common points of contact: Outside, middle, and inside. To qualitatively assess the rate of barrel acceleration, we must first establish a fixed point from which to measure from. That point is the front edge of home plate, in this scenario.
The Benefits and Implementation of Cue-Based Errorless Training
Batting practice in baseball serves a critical role in the development and refinement of a player’s ability to time a swing to hit a pitched ball. This practice, whether conducted with live pitchers or pitching machines, is rooted in the cognitive process of perception and action coupling, and encoding memory, whereby the batter develops references for future swing decisions.
How a Commonly Used “Classical” Swing Timing Cue Was Perfected and Modernized Through Technology, But Still Eludes MLB organizations’ Belief Systems
Cito Gaston, hitting coach Gene Tenace, and first base coach Dwayne Murphy, had been working with Bautista all season to improve his timing at the plate after noticing that he was consistently late, especially against good velocity.
Revisiting Jeff Cirillo's Hitting Mechanics: A Journey from Slump to Resurgence
In the fall of 2004, I was searching for my next career advancing opportunity after having created a prospect for the Ray’s out of a player I’d discovered and developed, Matt Fields. It arrived in the form of then ex-Major Leaguer, Jeff Cirillo.
At the time, I was performing the batting training duties at a clinic for select, elite baseball players with Omar Vizquel as the fielding coach