ZEPP, bat speed measurements and consistency in measurements

I've wondered the same thing.  My son has had one for a couple of years.  We do get some pretty wide variations on ours.  I was also curious as to how PG uses the Zepp? Do they take an average? How many cuts do they get? etc.  My son is a 2020, (5-8" 125 just starting to grow)  and just hit 80 for the first time. Not consistently of course. It's a fun tool he like to use.

Im sceptical of zepp batspeed readings. Have hit 90 plus a few times but never more than low 80s on swingspeed radar.

At our PG showcase, the bats we used had the Zepp built into the bat, so you didn't have the little elastic thing to go over the nob.  The reading you get is the max you reach in all the swings you take off the tee.  My son got 3 swings one round, 2 the next. 

Also note that PG measures exit velo at showcases using a standard size wood bat.  32/29 for the underclassmen.  

Trackman also records measurements during some PG tournament events, but I'm not sure if those get listed on player profiles or not.

I can't speak to the Zepp, and we've never been to a PG showcase.

We have been to some others and it was, lets say, not what we imagined they would be. So the kid goes out for infield velo. Tries to make clean catches and accurate throws. Did pretty well I thought. The rest of the kids grab the ball and just throw it as hard as they could. It was an indoor event and I kid you not windows were broken out.

How did they get those bat speeds. Use a smaller bat than normal and swing out of their shoes. If you want to see what I mean go to the PBR website and look up showcase results. Find the kids with the higher numbers. Then look that kid up and look at his batting cage video (the cage work isn't where PBR gets their numbers from).  Ask yourself if it looks like he's swinging the bat that hard in the cage.

SomeBaseballDad posted:

I can't speak to the Zepp, and we've never been to a PG showcase.

We have been to some others and it was, lets say, not what we imagined they would be. So the kid goes out for infield velo. Tries to make clean catches and accurate throws. Did pretty well I thought. The rest of the kids grab the ball and just throw it as hard as they could. It was an indoor event and I kid you not windows were broken out.

How did they get those bat speeds. Use a smaller bat than normal and swing out of their shoes.

Everyone use the same size/type of bat for the Zepp measurement at PG Showcases. I just am curious about the world of fluctuation of the speeds measured. My son had never seen a "Zepp bat" and had no idea it was actually being measured...probably wouldn't have mattered.

SanDiegoRealist posted:

 I just am curious about the world of fluctuation of the speeds measured.

Do a search, you will see lots of post on the subject. That's why we never got one.

SomeBaseballDad posted:

SanDiegoRealist posted:

 I just am curious about the world of fluctuation of the speeds measured.

Do a search, you will see lots of post on the subject. That's why we never got one.

So why would it ever be used as an objective measure of speed, quality wise it seems like nothing more than a toy to me.

SanDiegoRealist posted:

SomeBaseballDad posted:

SanDiegoRealist posted:

 I just am curious about the world of fluctuation of the speeds measured.

Do a search, you will see lots of post on the subject. That's why we never got one.

So why would it ever be used as an objective measure of speed, quality wise it seems like nothing more than a toy to me.

Have you tried measuring tee exit velocity using BBCOR or wood? That should give you a pretty good sense of where he stands. My understanding is that 90+ is excellent, 80+ is sort of HS varsity level (not that those are precise cutoffs, just rules of thumb).

SanDiegoRealist posted:

So why would it ever be used as an objective measure of speed, quality wise it seems like nothing more than a toy to me.

IDK. From what I've read people seem to think it's best uses are bat path, attack angle, etc.

It seems that the higher the readings, the greater the reliability

SultanofSwat posted:

It seems that the higher the readings, the greater the reliability

Didn't you just know that would be the case?

SultanofSwat posted:

It seems that the higher the readings, the greater the reliability

Actually zepp has stated the opposite. They said in their validation tests they found it to be relatively accurate at low speeds (say up until 75 or so) but having a little trouble with higher speeds above mid 80s or so (mostly reading high), at least they told me that about the generation 1 sensor like 2 years ago when I asked them.

SomeBaseballDad posted:

SanDiegoRealist posted:

So why would it ever be used as an objective measure of speed, quality wise it seems like nothing more than a toy to me.

IDK. From what I've read people seem to think it's best uses are bat path, attack angle, etc.

Agree 100% with this. It has been very valuable to us for that. Bat speed does seem very inconsistent. That's why we just rely on much easier to measure exit velocity. 

SomeBaseballDad posted:

SanDiegoRealist posted:

So why would it ever be used as an objective measure of speed, quality wise it seems like nothing more than a toy to me.

IDK. From what I've read people seem to think it's best uses are bat path, attack angle, etc.

I've had a Zepp for 3 years.  Originally paid $125 for it at a big box sporting goods store.

We have had lots of problems with it charging and keeping a charged, returned 2 of them.  I also think the software interface is maddening.   Never clear when I've synced and when it's taking readings or not. Readings are fairly accurate at times and awful others

What I really use it for is to keep my kid honest on the training he does on his own--he thinks it works just fine and knows that it keeps track of reps. so he does them knowing I'll check.   

Don't get me started on pocket radar :0 (although I hear the second generation is OK). 

I picked up a Zepp 2 sensor awhile back, but sold it and got the just released version of the Swingtracker instead.  I prefer the interface on it is all and the Zepp 1 also seemed to have charging problems like 2020/2023 said.  

We haven't yet had much opportunity to use it, so can't comment, but with the Zepp 1 sensor, I would say swing plane/launch angle was what I looked at the most.  The bat speed did seem to vary.

My sons academy measures swing speed all the time, and they use the Sport Sensor Swing Speed Radar, which is set up just outside the tee on a stool or chair.  It is suppose to measure the speed right at the tee.  Now, that's off a tee, so one thing to keep in mind(compared to zepp/swingtracker which can record any type).  It seems to work well, though sometimes will pick up a back swing.  The biggest worry is kids getting loose and actually whacking it with the bat.  At $100, not too bad.  It was designed for golf originally but does have a baseball mode.

2020.2023dad posted:

SomeBaseballDad posted:

SanDiegoRealist posted:

So why would it ever be used as an objective measure of speed, quality wise it seems like nothing more than a toy to me.

IDK. From what I've read people seem to think it's best uses are bat path, attack angle, etc.

I've had a Zepp for 3 years.  Originally paid $125 for it at a big box sporting goods store.

We have had lots of problems with it charging and keeping a charged, returned 2 of them.  I also think the software interface is maddening.   Never clear when I've synced and when it's taking readings or not. Readings are fairly accurate at times and awful others

What I really use it for is to keep my kid honest on the training he does on his own--he thinks it works just fine and knows that it keeps track of reps. so he does them knowing I'll check.   

Don't get me started on pocket radar :0 (although I hear the second generation is OK). 

Agree zepp has some drawbacks. But pocket radar...  I have had mine next to stalkers on many occasions with very good results.  Do have to learn to time the pushing of the button. I have gotten really good at it though so I can't find an excuse to upgrade!!

2020dad posted:

2020.2023dad posted:

SomeBaseballDad posted:

SanDiegoRealist posted:

So why would it ever be used as an objective measure of speed, quality wise it seems like nothing more than a toy to me.

IDK. From what I've read people seem to think it's best uses are bat path, attack angle, etc.

I've had a Zepp for 3 years.  Originally paid $125 for it at a big box sporting goods store.

We have had lots of problems with it charging and keeping a charged, returned 2 of them.  I also think the software interface is maddening.   Never clear when I've synced and when it's taking readings or not. Readings are fairly accurate at times and awful others

What I really use it for is to keep my kid honest on the training he does on his own--he thinks it works just fine and knows that it keeps track of reps. so he does them knowing I'll check.   

Don't get me started on pocket radar :0 (although I hear the second generation is OK). 

Agree zepp has some drawbacks. But pocket radar...  I have had mine next to stalkers on many occasions with very good results.  Do have to learn to time the pushing of the button. I have gotten really good at it though so I can't find an excuse to upgrade!!

Also agree on Pocket Radar, assume we're talking the Ball Coach (second version).  I've found it very accurate compared to Stalker/Jugs guns, side by side.  I think the drawback, if you want to call it that, is range and angle, you pretty much have to be in-line with the ball to get a good reading.  In my tests, I don't think it's ever differed by more than 1 mph.