Pros
1) Size convenience The Ball Coach is not shaped like a traditional radar gun. It's shaped like a smartphone (circa iPhone 3, not iPhone X). That may turn off purists who want the thing to look like a traditional radar gun. But once you start using the Ball Coach, you'll never want to go back to the bulk of a traditional radar gun. The small size makes it easy to fit in your pocket so you can take it anywhere. And at only 4.5 ounces (~the weight of a quarter pound burger), you could keep it in its protective case, throw it in your equipment bag and not feel any weight difference. 2) Genuine accuracy
Cons
Honestly, I can't think of a single one. I guess I wish it was cheaper even than $300 but that's kind of like saying "I wish Nike shoes were only 10 bucks!"Use cases
You can get creative and find your own use cases but here are a few of the most common uses:- know what your kid's pitching velocity is right now, even when there's snow on the ground
- know what your kid's batting exit velocity is right now
- objectively determine if your own kid's training/drills are working right now...is s/he pitching and/or hitting faster, or the same (or...gasp...slower) if you make a specific tweak right there on the field
- objectively determine if your own kid's training/drills are working over time...is s/he pitching and/or hitting faster, or the same (or...gasp...slower) after x number of weeks
- know what your team's pitching velocities are right now
- know what your team's batting exit velocities are right now
- use that knowledge as motivation for your kid or team to beat their previous fastest speed
- objectively determine (and chart) if your team's players are improving or not—at an individual level!—after each pitch or swing
- objectively determine (and chart) if your team's players are improving or not—at an individual level!—after x number of weeks
- know what your opposing team's pitching velocities are right now
- know what your opposing team's batting exit velocities are right now
- know what your team's pitching velocities are right now
- get objective data to help decide what is the best bat for your player(s)
Conclusion
This is a no-brainer. If you can afford $300, I think this is one of the most useful tools you will use, whether as a baseball parent or as a team coach (or both). Not only is it useful but I think you will be using it at every practice, so you'll get a lot of use out of it, unlike a lot of other coaching tools on the market. Also, if you purchase through the YBE affiliate link, at no extra cost to you, YBE will get a small amount from Pocket Radar that I use towards paying the expenses of this site and podcast. Buying through the affiliate link is like your way of saying 'Thank you, Rob, for your unbiased recommendation of this product.'Verdict
5 of 5 Edgy Balls: Outstanding.
If you can afford it, this is a must-have.
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