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Cage Sessions: Building a Hitting Approach with Rapsodo

Rapsodo enables the hitter and instructor to really dial in the ins and outs of their swing. Rapsodo’s data driven technology transmits many of the key ingredients to help the hitter be successful such as exit velocity, launch angle, and spin rate. All of these data sets allow the coach to formulate an effective training session in the cage that can be translated to the game. Furthermore, according to Rapsodo, “Our hitting tool lets you know more than just that you hit the back of the cage. Get insight into how each batted ball would perform in a fame, and transform your batting practices into data-driven, interactive hitting sessions” (Rapsodo, 2023).

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A Letter of Learning from Coach Charlie

“Control what you can control” (Shannin Hislop). He wasn’t the first to say it, and none of you have ever heard of him, but when I heard those words come out of his mouth in 2010 it changed my life. Before that, my passion for baseball and my desire to be the best clouded my ability to do so. I was in my own way, trying to reinvent the wheel to get the edge, so angry at everything. Then I heard those words, like a switch turning on a light, those words altered my reality on how to have success in the game and how to be a better man.

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How to Measure Hitting Success

Measured Hitting Instruction

According to the publication Popular Science, "Hitting a baseball is the hardest skill to pull off in sports" as it is (scientifically speaking) "a unique blend of physics and neuroscience [which] makes the skill astronomically difficult." Now, take the hardest skill in sports and apply that with youth baseball players; it takes time, practice, and understanding of how to break down & teach to a young player what to do to be a good hitter.

At DREAM Team Baseball, we use "old school" hitting fundamental techniques and combine them with "new school" optical technology (with Rapsodo Hitting Technology) including measuring Exit Speed, Total Spin, Spin Access, Launch Angle, and Exit Direction. One may say that gathering this intelligence is going "over the top," but what Rapsodo data does show is what happens when a player makes contact with the ball (which is obviously the result of their bat path and overall hitting mechanics). More than anything, this helps pinpoint simple adjustments that can be made and then see results (when adjustments are made) of better back spin (which produces line drives as opposed to top spin which produces ground balls). This is just one application of using software to get feedback from this type of swing analysis. With all of this intelligence, we can track and make necessary adjustments, but again there's a balance of using the "new school" software with traditional (old school) hitting fundamentals. From a development standpoint, the main question (as instructors) is "why would you guess when you can assess (with measurements)?" DREAM Baseball will incorporate these measurements into hitting fundamentals and (by putting it all together) make every hitting session a learning session and overall produce greater results.

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Unveiling the Power of the Pitcher-Catcher Relationships

Baseball is a sport that thrives on teamwork, strategy, and precision. At the heart of this dynamic game is the powerful relationship between the pitcher and the catcher. Often referred to as the battery, the pitcher and catcher work in perfect harmony, communicating and executing strategies to outsmart opposing hitters. In this blog post, we delve into the importance of the pitcher-catcher relationship and how it impacts the game of baseball.

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Unbreakable Resilience: The Key to Success in the Game of Baseball

In the game of baseball, resilience is an invaluable trait that separates the good from the great. It is the ability to bounce back from failure, overcome challenges, and persevere through adversity. Resilience is not only a key component of success on the diamond but also an essential quality that shapes players' character and influences their lives beyond the game. In this blog post, we will delve into how resilience ties into the game of baseball and why it is a fundamental attribute for players aiming for greatness.

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Developing Mental Focus in Youth Baseball

Baseball is a game of skill and strategy that demands a high level of concentration from players. Whether you're a pitcher, batter, or fielder, staying focused can help you to make better decisions, stay more consistent, and ultimately improve your overall performance. We'll explore how staying focused can help improve baseball performance and why it is essential for players to master this skill. The side that isn’t always talked about is how we can improve these important traits off the field while staying focused is a key element in achieving success, whether it is in life or in sports like baseball. Being able to maintain concentration for extended periods of time can help you perform better, increase productivity, and achieve your goals faster. In this blog, we'll explore some effective ways to improve staying focused and why it is essential for both life and baseball players.

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Catchers Core Skills: Throwing

Receiving and blocking are two key tools for catchers in baseball, but as we know throwing is a crucial aspect of the game that cannot be overlooked. A catcher’s ability to throw accurately and quickly can make all the difference in a game. Learning the importance of throwing and how to correctly throw from the catcher's position will be the main points in this blog, we will explore the importance of throwing as a catcher, and why practicing and perfecting this skill is essential for any successful catcher.

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Catchers Core Skills: Blocking

As a catcher in baseball, blocking is one of the most essential skills you can have. In fact, it is considered one of the most important defensive skills in the game. It requires a great deal of practice and dedication to master, but it is an invaluable tool that can make a significant difference in the outcome of a game. In this blog, we will discuss the importance of learning how to block as a catcher and the benefits that come with it.

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