SwingGraphs

Looking at hitters who are steep in both directions (VBA and Attack Angle), the performance difference is eye-popping relative to the flat group. Wow!

@steftsitsipas you need a complete overhaul on your backhand. Your mechanics require too much time-so you can't get to balls out of the strike zone-impacts your BH return too. To compete at top levels, you need *big* of changes. Your serve also. DM if you'd like to discuss.

All updates for VBA, SG_Scores, MiLB, etc. through Sept are up on the site

VBA, SG_Scores, MiLB data and other updates through Aug are up on the site for members

All data - VBA, SG Scores, etc has been updated for July and is up on the site

Data update for June is up on the site. R. Acuna's scores showing 3rd best overall in MLB. ..also, an MiLB sleeper- not many tracked batted balls so grain of salt but Parks Harber could do much better than expectations - which are *extremely* low -not even on the prospect board

@Nuancedtake2 It's correct - take an example player and look at the data on savant. Aaron Judge for example is 35 up and in and 39 low and away.

@SwingGraphs So VBA is only 3-4 degrees different for a ball up and in vs down and away? I have a hard time believing that

Devising drills based on surface level logic will often times take you in the wrong direction.. Flatter bat means more north/south launch angle variability and reduces performance. MLB has all the bat data now so there are no excuses for thinking *your* drills actually work

@Nuancedtake2 From 2021..Probably not changed much. MLB's tilt values are fractionally higher as their measurements are taken 40 ms before contact - not a huge deal but they should be taking at contact as there is slight flattening during the swing

@SwingGraphs What is the vertical bat angle on a fastball at the top of the zone?

@XHamCapital We may continue with similar posts that we've done in the past - things we find interesting and kind of against consensus opinion

@SwingGraphs Damn. So This account will be nothing, just zero analysis of anything at all?

Since MLB is now providing the VBA and Attack Angle, we will be phasing things out in the coming months. We have really enjoyed providing relevant data that wasn't available anywhere else. Just wanted to thank everyone for a fun ride as well as all the support along the way

@MannyyGG Yes - there is a 'bat-tracking' tab baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/…

@SwingGraphs where do they provide this? savant?

We are in the process of taking all the annual subscriptions off of 'auto-renew'. The updates will still be done for a few more months and the current one will be out shortly.

@JeremyM84459000 No, higher is better. The problem w/ the metric is that ranges are not as strong a predictor as overall average/level. I used a minimum of 12 AA just to see what happens and there was correlation but the overall level was a better predictor of contact quality

@SwingGraphs What is the ideal attack angle? Is lower better?

They key 'unseen' metric (and there may be other relationships that are impacting as well) is that Ideal Attack Angle goes down as Vertical Swing Angle goes up. VSA is a very important factor in overall contact quality - particularly when normalizing for EV/bat speed

@Coach_AK17 Ranges and variability take a back seat to raw levels of AA and tilt - data indicates higher is better. But, lower variability on both can add to EV

@SwingGraphs As far as I’ve seen, “ideal AA %” means between 5 and 20 degrees. Is there any component that is pitch dependent? Is an AA of 20 ideal for hitting a FB w/ 15”+ of carry? Is 5 an ideal AA for hitting a CB w/ 20”+ of break? Do the best hitters have wider or narrower ranges of AA?

We've talked about the problem of designing metrics based on what 'seems to work' based on logic. The problem is, you can't see all the relationships and which ones trump others. In this case, the outcome is not what is expected as higher ideal % results in lower sweet spot %

@Basebal77859560 Yes, higher average tilt ,AA and bat speed...lower variability on tilt and AA tend to add to EV

@SwingGraphs Which of these metrics should I be using to find hitters with “good swings”? Looking for higher tilt, coupled with high bat speed?

The new statcast metrics are great..but the Ideal Attack Angle % has zero correlation to performance/contact quality. A quick thread...

@TheGiraffe777 Won't really know until end of month

@SwingGraphs Any update to Denzel Clarke or sneak preview for Daylen Lile?

@Basebal77859560 K rate this year is just slightly above league average but he's doing it with a very steep path. Similarly, if a guy has a really flat swing, low k rate is not necessarily coming from btb skills - see research note on this if you want more detail.

@SwingGraphs Thanks , I pulled again and see the 96. Out of curiosity, why does Canario have a 94 BtB given he’s been such a high whiff guy?

VBA, Path Scores, MiLB data and EVI_CQ have been updated on the site. The rest is coming.. Some very big changes: -Spencer Torkelson - unbelievable! VBA up avg of 7.9 deg. Path is now top 10%+ in MLB -T. Larnach - VBA down 4.3 deg and path score has dropped significantly