Pitch Tracking
Pitch tracking is following the high-arcing slow-pitch ball all the way from its peak down to the contact point. Because the ball descends steeply, the eyes lead the swing.
Unlike a flat fastball, the slow-pitch ball drops into the zone almost vertically, so tracking it down to contact is the single biggest timing skill. Hitters who pick up the ball late lunge or pop it up; hitters who track it cleanly stay back and meet it at the ideal point on the arc’s descent.
Example
The hitter watches the ball off the pitcher’s hand, follows it up to its peak, and tracks it down to a contact point out front.
Why it matters
Late tracking is the root of most slow-pitch pop-ups. SwingVantage reads your timing and contact so you stay back and drive the descending ball.
Related terms
- ArcThe arc is the high, looping flight path a legal slow-pitch delivery must follow — typically a minimum of 6 feet and a maximum of 12 feet. Hitters time their swing to the ball’s descent.
- Contact PointThe contact point is where the bat meets the ball relative to your body. In slow pitch it sits out front, letting you swing slightly up to match the ball’s steep descent.
Related guides & benchmarks
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