App From Los Gatos Company Plays Role In Improving Giants Slugger Hunter Pence's Swing
LOS GATOS (KPIX 5) -- The San Francisco Giants are bringing their best efforts in their third World Series in five seasons. One player has been working on stepping it up even more, with the help of an app developed by a Los Gatos company.
In Game 1 on Tuesday, Giants outfielder Hunter Pence hit a home run in the first inning. Pence does admit the way he swings the bat is kind of strange.
But the slugger has been getting some help, from the Zepp baseball app.
"Hunter, he measures his swing, he's commented that it allows him to see his swing in a way that he couldn't really see before," said Ashton Udall of Zepp.
Baseball players have been using video to analyze their swing for some time. What's different about this app is that it allows you to see your swing in 3-D from several different angles.
The Los Gatos-based company sells the sensor used in the app for $150. The sensor is attached to the handle of the bat, which measures hand speed, bat speed, and whether you have a level swing.
"One of the key swing fundamentals of a pro-level hitter is that he's keeping his hands very close to his body, and then moving the bat out towards the end to the ball," Udall told KPIX 5. "So with 3-D you can rotate behind the hitter on that same swing, and then see whether the bat and hands are staying close to the body or actually casting out away from the body."
Just this week, Zepp rolled out another app. This one is free and doesn't require a sensor. It's not as fancy, no 3-D, but it does allow you to compare your swing with that of your favorite player.
And it's clear evidence why Hunter Pence is batting in the big leagues.
