Kinematic Pitching Lab

Spin Rate vs Vertical Break: “Spin rate” has been a hyped up metric for some time now. When MLB introduced statcast for the first time in 2015, one of the first metrics the new doppler radar system began to measure was spin rate. Since then, coaches, players, and analytical teams have tried to find a way to correlate spin rate to success on the mound. Unfortunately, without much consistent data spin rate can really only be used to understand a player's potential.

Vertical Break is a more efficient metric to look at when trying to see how your pitches play against hitters. As we all know a pitch delivered to home plate doesn’t actually “rise”, but some pitchers are able to create the illusion that the ball is rising. That illusion is called Vertical Break. The higher the Vertical Break, the bigger the illusion is to the hitter that the ball is “rising”, which if executed properly can lead to a significantly higher whiff %.

Spin Rate ➡️ Potential
Vertical Break ➡️ An effective metric you can work to improve

Wondering if you’re a 4 seam or sinker guy?

It all starts with vertical break.

A elite level 4seam fastball KPI(goal) is >17.5 inches of vertical break .

A elite level sinker KPI(goal) is