What it is

The Clockface uses two arrows, like hands on a clock, to represent your Arm Slot and Spin Direction. This gives the pitcher a graphical overview of the relationship between their throwing mechanics and the spin on the ball. The Clockface shows Arm Slot in yellow and Spin Direction in blue from the pitcher’s point of view.

The 3D Clockface, available in pitchLogic plus and pro, also uses two arrows for Arm Slot and Spin Direction but builds on this with 3D representations of additional information. These include the 3D seam orientation at release, 3D view of spin, the Last Touch location on the ball, and the Last Touch path just before release. The 3D seam orientation is shown on the gray pitchLogic ball in the center of the 3D Clockface. This ball shows the exact orientation of the seams, logo, and other markings on the ball at the moment of release. The spin is shown in 3D using a blue ring around the ball. The Last Touch point is an orange bullseye on the surface of the ball. This represents the last point of contact with the pitcher’s fingers or hand. The Last Touch path is an orange tail, which ends at the Last Touch point. This shows the path of the finger/hand as it puts spin on the ball.

Why it matters

A pitcher’s body, arm, and hand movement work together to determining how a pitch will behave. The Clockface and 3D Clockface displays highlight some of the most important relationships in an easy-to-read graphical form.

One of the fundamental characteristics of an individual pitcher’s style is their Arm Slot. A consistent Arm Slot is an important starting point for building command and consistency. It’s also important for concealing different pitch types from the batter.

Your Arm Slot has a large impact on how you are able to create spin and movement. For a fastball, Spin Efficiency will generally be highest when the Arm Slot and Spin Direction are closely aligned. For breaking balls, the highest Spin Efficiency is possible when the Spin Direction is about 180 degrees away from the Arm Slot.

Adding the 3D view of spin gives a more complete picture of how the ball is spinning in space. This allows you to see if the spin is tilted or off axis, which will lower Spin Efficiency and in turn reduce Movement. With 100% Spin Efficiency you will see only the edge of the blue ring, which will start to look like a line. As Spin Efficiency is reduced, more of the ring will be visible. This will form an oval or a hoop. A pitch with 0% Spin Efficiency will appear as a perfect circle.

The Last Touch point and path allow the pitcher to see how their grip and release create the spin on the ball. For example, a pitcher with a low Spin Efficiency on their fastball may see that their Last Touch traces from behind the ball to the side of the ball at release instead of staying behind it, which creates unwanted Rifle Spin. Typically, the motion of the fingers will lead directly into the Spin Direction of the ball. This can be seen with the relationship between Last Touch and 3D spin.

How it is used

The Clockface and 3D Clockface give a quick and easy way to see how Arm Slot and release affect Spin Direction and Spin Efficiency. This allows players and coaches to make small adjustments after each pitch and immediately see the results without breaking their rhythm. 

Fastball:

If a pitcher is working on improving their fastball’s Spin Efficiency, a separation between the Spin Direction and Arm Slot arrows can indicate cutting the ball. As the pitcher works on keeping their fingers behind the ball through release, watching the blue arrow move toward the yellow arrow is a good gauge of progress. If using the 3D Clockface, the blue spin ring and the Last Touch point give an even more direct view of what’s causing a lower Spin Efficiency.

Breaking ball:

For a breaking ball, Arm Slot has a large impact on the shapes of breaking balls that will be possible. A higher Arm Slot (closer to 12:00) allows a pitcher to create more Topspin and a more “12-6” or vertical breaking ball. Pitchers with a lower Arm Slot will be able to create more Sidespin and Horizontal Movement. Pitchers can also choose breaking balls that sacrifice maximum Spin Efficiency and movement to create different Spin Directions (such as a slider). With Last Touch, pitchers can see how their release creates different types of movement. If the Last Touch point is in front of the ball, it will typically create a Spin Direction opposite the Arm Slot with a relatively high Spin Efficiency. If the Last Touch point is to the side of the ball, the Spin Efficiency will decrease, and the Spin Direction will move back toward the Arm Slot.