Spin Efficiency- What is it and Why Does it Matter?
Spin Efficiency by: Adam Jeannette What is it? -Spin rate is a common word used in modern-day baseball broadcasts. With devices around the world such as Rapsodo, Trackman, Pitch Logic, Diamond Kinectics and Hawkeye, data on different pitches is available to players and fans now more than ever before. "Spin rate" has become a buzzword of some sort, with announcers raving about it every chance they get. Often times, these announcers do not entirely understand the meaning behind spin rate and how it affects different pitches. This is where spin efficiency comes into the equation. Spin efficiency is the amount of spin inflicted on a pitch which is used. I know this may sound confusing, but I promise you it is not. For example, if Jacob DeGrom throws a fastball at 2500 RPMs with 50% spin efficiency, only 50% of that spin is useful for affecting movement characteristics of the pitch. The other 50% of spin that is not useful is cha...