VIPER-RT VISION POWER REACTION TRAINING THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING UNDER PITCH HIT CONDITIONS

SETPRO’s VIPER-RT simulates the wind up, delivery and ball flight of a pitched baseball. You need to train using the entire pitching motion to develop maximum striking power.

MAJOR LEAGUERS KNOW ABOUT SWING TIMING Did you know that most professional baseball players spend very little time hitting against a pitching machine? They will use the machine early in spring training to get their muscles and hands in shape (get the rust out), but after that they are used very little. Pitching machines do not properlysimulate the timing of the WIND UP and pitch. Swing timing begins about half to two thirds way through the pitchers wind up. If you try to develop a powerful swing on a pitching machine it will not have the same timing as hitting against a live pitcher. You are actually developing a “pitching machine” swing that competes with your game swing. Here’s what Dave Hudgens, Assistant Director of Player development for the Oakland A’s and producer of the video series Hitting Excellence says about pitching machines: “If you are looking for timing, you need to do live batting practice. If that is not available, then mix in the pitching machine. Once the season starts, we use the pitching machine very little except to practice hitting curve balls and bunting.”

Our standard trigger unit that is supplied with the SPRT5A REACTION TRAINER is very effective for swing timing training. Players using it have had dramatic improvements in their ability to drive the ball. But continued research has allowed us to develop a new trigger unit that we sell as an option (bought separately) for the SPRT5A. This unit was also developed at the request of facilities and coaches who wanted a complete training system that can be used in a small area and without the danger of being hit by a pitched baseball.

The VIPER-RT simulates the exact timing of a typical wind up delivery and pitch. Wind up and arm delivery sequence time is calculated by the VIPER-RT computer. The total wind up time is set on the SPRT5A. Pitch time sequence is calculated based on pitch speed and pitch distance. Arm time is calculated from pitch speed. All of this is displayed using a sequence of flashing LEDs to give you the precise timing necessary to simulate the pitch-hit event. Twelve light emitting diodes (electronic lights) are used to signal each step of the wind up and pitch. Green LEDs are used for wind up. Yellow for delivery and red for the flight of the ball.