Before we start to think about developing pitching command, we first have to define what command is so that we can measure it. First, we have to distinguish between command and control.
Pitching Control : The definition of pitching control is the ability to throw pitches inside the strike zone.
That’s it, balls and strikes measures control. A pitcher with control can throw in the strike zone, but doesn’t necessarily have the ability to know where in the strike zone the ball will land.
Pitching Command : The definition of pitching command is the ability to throw the ball where you choose, in or out of the strike zone.
Sometimes the ideal location for a pitch is out of the strike zone. This is the skill that a real pitcher has.
Levels of Pitching Command : We further define pitching command into levels of command based on the size of the command area chosen for the development of pitchers. Because a middle school pitcher isn’t going to have the same level of command as an MLB pitcher.
We define pitching command levels based on the ability to throw a pitch inside a single or multiple 5"x7" rectangles. That size was chosen because 3 rectangles across, and 3 rectangles vertically fits perfectly into the universal strike zone for a 73” batter.
For Command Trakker Pro, we set the 9 green numbered rectangles as the strike zone, and then set the 16 gray lettered rectangles to represent the shadow zone. The size of th strike zone is based on the Universal Strike Zone for a 73” batter.
At Command Trakker, we’ve created 6 standardized command level tests by pitcher age/skill level. They’re ready-made and come built in to the library of scripted bullpens that come with the Command Trakker app.
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Command
Trakker Pitching Command Levels
0-20% Command – Well Below Average 21-30%
Command – Below Average 31-40%
Command – Average 41-50%
Command – Above Average 51%
+ Command – Well Above Average Numbers
are Strike zone, Letters are shadow zone. |
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Middle School Command Area Level 1 |
Fresh/Soph High
School Command Area Level 2 |
Junior/Senior High
School Command Area Level 3 |
College Command Area Level 4 |
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MiLB Command Area (4 squares any
location) Level 5 |
MLB Command Area (1 square any
location) Level 6 |
Use these standardized tests for pitching command levels to benchmark pitchers, compare
pitchers and measure their improvement. You can’t know if pitching command improved
until you can measure it. With them you will have a quantified number to know a
pitcher’s command level.
For example, if
you have pitcher A throw a group of pitches to the command level 5 area, and
they hit the area with 45% of the pitches, then we say that “pitcher A is
command level 5 - above average”.
In the Command
Trakker Pro target, green rectangles are the strike zone, and gray are the shadow
zone. If you’re only working on pitching control, it’s an easy way to track pitching control by
using the green rectangles. When working on command, then the selected command
areas are highlighted in orange.
Brought to you by Command Trakker Pro, the AI-powered professional-grade baseball smart pitching target that MLB teams and top D1 programs rely upon for automated measurement and training of pitching control, pitching command, and pitch sequencing. Train to make better baseball pitches.
Command Trakker app works with Command Trakker smart pitching targets and any 9 pocket pitching net.
In today's game you need both velocity and command. Many throw hard, but its command that separates pitchers from the pack today.
Command Trakker is the professional-grade baseball smart pitching target that MLB teams and top D1 programs rely upon for automated measurement and training of pitching control, pitching command, and pitch sequencing so you can train to make better baseball pitches.
We have a limited supply in stock, order now to ensure delivery by Spring.
“Command Trakker” and “Pitchgrader” Copyright © 2024 Kinemetrica Inc., All Rights Reserved. Command Trakker US Patent Pending.
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