Rapsodo is a ball-tracking technology that blends radar tracking with optical tracking of ball movement. Rapsodo was introduced in 2015 in closed beta testing and became available for widespread use in 2016.
There are three units available; a 2.0 hitting unit, a 2.0 pitching unit, and a 3.0 pitching and hitting unit, which records data simultaneously.
Rapsodo Pitching 2.0 Unit
Rapsodo Hitting 2.0 Unit
Rapsodo Hitting 3.0 Unit
Measurement
To measure ball movement from batted balls or pitches thrown, Rapsodo measures the spin rate and axis of the ball to calculate pitch trajectory.
Therefore, Rapsodo does not capture the entire flight of the ball but rather uses images of the ball captured over a specific distance to predict the total trajectory of the baseball.
Other tracking technologies like Trackman use the inverse method of Rapsodo and directly capture the entire flight path of the ball to measure movement. This is important to remember -when comparing data from different technologies as Rapsodo’s movement data points may be less precise.
Variables Measured/Applications
Pitching:
Pitch characteristics that Rapsodo pitching can identify are velocity, spin rate, spin efficiency, spin direction, movement, gyro degree, and various release point metrics.
The purpose of using Rapsodo pitching is to measure and evaluate a player’s arsenal of pitches and to determine whether adjustments need to be made.
For example, a pitcher can use Rapsodo to make adjustments in release point or grip by analyzing the pitch’s horizontal movement, spin efficiency, or spin rate to determine if he is achieving the desired pitch shape.
Hitting
In addition, Rapsodo hitting provides position players with the ability to collect data and evaluate batted ball metrics.
Ball movement characteristics that Rapsodo hitting can identify are launch angle, exit velocity, spin rate, spin direction, hit direction, and estimated distance.
Set-Up
The Rapsodo hitting and pitching units pair with a tablet so that coaches can receive and provide instantaneous feedback during any practice session in a user-friendly way. Rapsodo units can be found in bullpen sessions or batting practice, as they must be positioned between the mound and home plate for accurate measurement results.
The 2.0 pitching unit should be placed 15.5 feet from home plate facing the pitcher’s mound.
The 2.0 hitting unit should be placed 14 feet from home plate facing the plate.
The 3.0 unit should be placed 17 feet from the front of home plate.
Summary
Rapsodo hitting and pitching units are effective technologies that provides data that can be used to assist in batting or pitching development.
The relatively cheap price tag compared to other technologies like Trackman makes it a cost-effective option for teams on a budget and the effectiveness of the unit has enabled it to be a very popular development tool.
Related Links:
https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/2016/11/rapsodo-trackman-pitch-tracking-technologies-stand/
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