(Editor’s Note: This article originally was published in December 2017)
When it comes to being a successful hitter, there is nothing more frustrating than being geared up for a fastball only to hopelessly flail at a change up in the dirt. Believe me, as a .250 hitter as a senior in high school I can attest to this.
There is no amount of hours in a batting cage that can prepare you for the challenge of off-speed pitches and tight breaking balls.
Enter Senaptec and Hack Attack Pitching Machine.
These revolutionary devices represent the next-wave of baseball training, something in which several Major League Baseball teams have purchased and begun to implement into their organizations.
Both of these do not come cheap, however, and unless you are able to book an appointment at Yankee Stadium or Wrigley Field you won’t be able to utilize their limitless potential to improve your game.
For that exact reason, that is why Max Effort Baseball owner Brad Jackson made sure to get his hands on these immediately as he prepared for the opening of his new indoor facility on November 1.
The effervescent business owner and hitting guru speaks with a level of excitement that’s impossible to fake. His confidence in his methods is backed by his 2015 induction into the Johnson & Wales University Hall of Fame and experience at the professional level. His true gift, though, is in his ability to verbalize his knowledge and instill it into the muscle memory of his athletes.
“I first noticed that the IMG Academy was using it. I did a lot of research on it. And the problem with baseball in the northeast is that we go 3 or 4 months without playing and our eyes definitely slow down. You have to get yourself acquainted back on pitching. I began looking for a technology that allowed you to track a baseball and improve your decision making at the plate,” he said.
The amazing part about the vision training is that it is not age-specific. As Jackson noted, it doesn’t matter if you’re 8-years-old and learning to catch up to a fastball or a more advanced hitter learning to grasp the intricacies of off-speed pitches.
I took a stab at the vision training myself. The concept is simple–get into your batting stance and hold the device that has a button attached to it. As the “pitch” comes in, the lights travel along a path towards home plate. The mission is to hit the button when the light is as close to you as possible. My first attempt was terrible as you can see in the picture below, but each time saw more improvement. To add an extra wrinkle, the lights can also simulate a change up and that certainly makes it more difficult. Another challenge is the ball/strike feature which requires you to avoid pressing the button if the light is red. All of these are proven to enhance pitch recognition skills.
The Hack Attack Pitching Machine is truly a marvel. It is essentially a batting practice pitcher that can throw nine different pitches at velocities ranging from 70-100 MPH from the arm slot of a left-handed or right-handed pitcher. This is beneficial for hitters of all ages, but where I see its best value is during the season to prepare for a pitcher that may possess a particular off-speed pitch that is challenging. For example, if the Yankees are facing Chris Sale, they might focus on hitting a left-handed slider at 90 MPH. Good luck!
Jackson noted that he caters his training to each individual player or team’s needs. He will also follow up with them after a workout to gauge their thoughts and what they would like to work on next time. He stated that he is currently working with close to 40 teams and availability for the rest of the winter is limited.
The Ward Melville graduate played three years of independent ball and even turned down a contract for a fourth year to begin his career as a hitting instructor.
“I loved playing, and you always enjoy thinking about your playing days but I’ve never missed playing,” he said. “I knew I loved this from the moment I stepped into a cage,” he added. “I was lucky enough that I surrounded myself with people that were very good to me.”
The facility is located at 127A E. Carmans Road Farmingdale, NY.
