Louisville Slugger, V1 Sports Team Up To Revolutionize Baseball Training Tech

The news comes on the heels of Louisville Slugger®, the Official Bat of Major League Baseball®, announcing a sponsorship with Louisville-based Norton Sports Performance to open the Louisville Slugger Hitting Science Center (LSHSC).

The V1 Pressure Mat and mobile software is the first portable ground interaction tool for baseball/softball players and coaches that measures pressure, velocity, and dynamic force. A breakthrough innovation, the mat is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and measures the quantity and quality of forces that an athlete is applying within their hitting, pitching, and fielding mechanics. These measurements sync with high-speed video captured with proprietary V1 Pro Baseball software to create a powerful combination of motion and ground force analysis that enables coaches to more accurately evaluate and assess movements, then provide immediate feedback to help athletes improve performance.

“We are truly excited to partner with the Louisville Slugger Hitting Science Center,” said  Bryan Finnerty, CEO, V1 Sports. “V1’s innovative ground pressure technology is a breakthrough for baseball and softball training as it works in tandem with our video analysis software  to create a powerful system that  delivers measurable improvement.”

As a launching pad for the partnership, which is expected to positively impact the baseball and softball industry by leveraging 50,000+ athletes a year who will utilize the LSHSC to improve their skill development, three bullpens and four batting cages will be outfitted with V1 Sports high speed cameras, and video analysis software. Additionally, the batting and pitching areas will be equipped with V1 Sports Pressure Mats to integrate ground force and video analysis, while bringing ground force metrics to baseball and softball instruction, and allowing coach and player to see and measure what could only be felt in the past.

“Integrating V1 Sports’ proven ground pressure mat technology into baseball is a complete game changer for athletes and coaches of all levels,” said Chad Miller, Founder, Louisville Slugger Hitting Science Center. “Baseball is a game of inches, and the ability to measure ground force technology along with video analysis will allow us to better evaluate and pinpoint discrepancies in movements, and then prescribe appropriate drills to support hitting, pitching and fielding game improvement like never before.”

The Louisville Slugger Hitting Science Center will be housed inside a renovated 26,000 square foot training space at the site of the former Louisville Athletic Club on Westport Road in Louisville. To complement the integration of V1 technology at the player development center, plans call for LSHSC mobile units to be equipped with V1 Sports technology, bringing the newest innovations directly to players and coaches across the USA through combines, clinics, and demo sessions.

Additionally, the partnership will help introduce V1’s mobile app to baseball and softball players, which provides athletes the ability to receive online baseball and softball lessons with LSHSC instructors, and who can use the app to house educational video content such as drills, tips, etc.

Adds Miller, “In addition to helping professional baseball players and coaches, V1 Sports technology will expedite learning with kids, making the player development process more enjoyable for everyone.”

The new V1 Sports ground pressure technology for baseball was introduced at the recent American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) conference where Miller and Phil Stotter, Director of Sports Science, V1 Sports, hosted a session titled: V1 Sports Ground Force and Video Technology: Eliminating Game Pressure with Ground Pressure.