With more technology in the game than ever, coaches and players are looking to see how they use technology to improve their training. This blog will cover how to measure exit velocity in different ways.

Utilizing Hittrax and Hitting Rapsodo

With the right technology, you can get exit velocity measurements and where the ball would go in the field based on the angle you hit the ball. Both Hittrax and Rapsodo Hitting can provide exit velocity for coaches and players.

As we'll get to in the next section, readings with radar guns are accurate when they align with the direction the radar is pointing. Technology like Hittrax and Rapsodo will be able to get accurate readings when you hit the ball on the field of play.

With technology like this, we'd recommend testing exit velocity as close to a game environment. Whether it's with batting practice or a pitching machine. The pitches will be less consistent than front toss or a tee, but you'll be testing much closer to a game-like environment. If you test exit velocities in a game-like environment and an environment like soft toss or a tee, we expect higher numbers off front toss or a tee. Just remember, in-game exit velocities are what's going to matter the most!

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How to Measure Exit Velocity with a Radar Gun

When we are using radar guns to collect exit velocity data, we have to consider that our readings on the radar gun will not be as accurate as if we were using other technologies. This is because a radar gun is not designed to capture velocities in an entire range that we could hit the ball.

The most reliable reading will be a ball that is hit directly to the middle of the cage, in the same direction the radar gun is facing.

This typically means:

• Having a hitter try and hit the ball right up the middle
• Aiming the radar gun right up the middle of the cage

If a hitter pulls the ball or hits it to the opposite field, the reading will be less accurate because the ball is hit away from the direction in which the radar gun is pointed. This is because of cosine error.

Remember that this also includes readings much higher and lower in launch angle than where the radar gun is pointing!

If you're trying to use soft toss for exit velocity testing, you can set up the radar gun behind home plate behind the cage and have the hitter aim to hit the ball right back at the L-screen where the coach is throwing.

How to Measure Exit Velocity with a Tee

When discussing proper testing, we must consider how consistently our athletes can hit the ball in the direction we want. This means we must balance the player's skill level and the athlete's age.

So when should you use a tee over other methods like soft toss or batting practice? Using a tee with younger athletes who may still have trouble hitting a moving ball makes the most sense. This is especially true if you are using a radar gun to test.

If you don't have a target, like the picture above, you can either:

• Have players aim for the L-screen
• Put tape on the L-screen for players to aim at
• Put a string on the L-screen for players to aim at

Coaches can also set up the radar gun behind the L-screen itself and have players aim at that.

If you already have a radar gun like a Pocket Radar, check out Driveline TRAQ, where you can automatically link your account to upload your data to TRAQ. Make TRAQ your one-stop shop for all your baseball data.

Want to improve your exit velocity? You'll need to swing the bat faster and hit the ball square.