On-Plane Efficiency is a metric that measures how consistently your arm and wrist action stays on plane with a pitch throughout the swing. Basically, it measures the total percentage of your swing the barrel is on plane with a pitch.
Measurement
This metric is directly measured by a Blast bat sensor and is represented by a percentage number. The higher the percentage, the better.
A higher number indicates you are on plane with a pitch for a longer period of your swing. For example, an OPE of 80% means that throughout your swing from first movement to point of contact, the barrel of your bat is on plane with the pitch 80% of that time.
To calculate On-Plane Efficiency the sensor must measure your swing plane, which is determined by your Vertical Bat Angle. Each swing has a unique plane that’s determined by the vertical bat angle at impact. The sensor works backwards from the point of contact to the point of first movement to determine the swing plane.
The sensor then calculates the amount of time your actual swing was on the calculated ideal swing plane, which results in your OPE percentage number.
Factors that directly impact your OPE scores are your Early Connection (EC) and Connection at impact. Since a high EC score indicates you’re getting on plane early and putting yourself in an optimal position with the ball, players with high EC scores also tend to have high OPE scores. Connection at impact is strongly correlated with VBA, and since VBA is used to determine swing plane, your connection at impact largely impacts your ideal swing plane.
Knowing and understanding your OPE numbers is vital to improving your performance at the plate. It has been shown that having consistently high OPE leads to an increased barrel rate and higher exit velocities.
This makes sense, as a high OPE means the sweet spot of your bat is on plane with the pitch for longer, giving you a greater chance to make contact with the ball and making it easier to transfer the most power from your body to the ball.
If you were to have a 100% On-Plane Efficiency Score, visually the barrel of the bat from your load would swing in a near-perfect ellipse and finish very close to your original starting position.
Summary
“Getting on plane” with a pitch is a phrase heard a lot within the industry. Putting your bat in the best possible position to barrel a pitch is what leads most hitters to find success, and On-Plane Efficiency is one metric that identifies how well a hitter can do this.
Related Links
https://blastmotion.com/blog/swing-quality-an-interview-with-the-blast-biomechanics-team/#gref
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