Update: Zepp Labs lost a patent infringement case against Blast Motion. As such, they can’t sell the Baseball Bat Sensor in the United States anymore.

However, you can still find them online or in the used market. These reviews are for them.

If this is the first time you’ve heard or seen the Zepp Labs baseball sensor, then be prepared to feel like you’ve gone to the future. You may exclaim, as Doc Brown would, “Great, Scott!” We feel that this little gadget can and may raise the bar of hitting instruction across every baseball level. But before we start slobbering all over ourselves, let’s first detail the functions of the technology and see if we can’t find a grievance or two in our Zepp baseball review.

Zepp Baseball Review

The Zepp baseball sensor is a 0.4-ounce gadget that fits inside a rubber mount, which attaches to the knob of a softball or baseball bat. The sensor is a gyroscope and accelerometer—meaning when the Zepp Labs sensor is attached to the bottom of a bat, it can determine both the bat’s orientation to the earth and how fast and what direction it moves.

The Zepp Labs sensor records these orientation and movement data points and transfers the information to an app on your device via Bluetooth. It only transfers the relevant data gathered when the bat contacts the ball. The app then aggregates these data points and places a series of charts, tables, and graphics for perusal at your fingertips.

If the Bluetooth connection is live during hitting, the sensor immediately transfers its information to the phone or tablet. The results are revealed in moments. If the sensor is not Bluetooth connected, the data is recorded (up to 2,000 swings) and transferred when Bluetooth connects later.

The combined data creates metrics the average (and not-so-average) baseball player has never before seen. Some insights the app provides:

• Barrel speed throughout the swing
• Barrel speed at contact
• Barrel speed after contact
• Barrel trajectory
• Hand speed throughout the swing
• Hand speed at contact
• Hand speed after contact
• Hand path
• Angle of attack
• Vertical angle
• Duration to impact
• Contact point about your body
• Bat plane

This data is then stored under the selected player’s profile and the bat used. You can review any swings in aggregate or individually at any time. Here is some data my 10-year-old son and I generated:

If you’re impressed so far, get ready for even more. The app can capture video of the swing two seconds before and one second after contact. It knows where to capture because the accelerometer tells it there was an impact.

This video clip is then filed away with the sensor’s other data. You can review these videos with toggled slow motion anytime. We found the video review more valuable than the data points. The combination creates a bag full of insight no generation of baseball players has ever experienced.

And there’s more. The most helpful part was the app’s side-by-side video swing compare—especially to pre-loaded swings of big leaguers.

For example, comparing how my son swings a 32-inch Marucci Hex Youth barrel to Jose Altuve’s swing in slow motion proved more valuable than any hitting instruction he’s ever received. He quickly noticed differences—Jose drives the top half of his body through the ball while he leans back, Jose’s back foot lifts slightly due to forward drive, and Jose’s swing is more compact. In minutes, my son’s swing improved.

The technology includes a catalog of tips, drills, and videos suggested based on your metrics. Professional hitting coaches appear in these tips, showing drills to improve bat speed, hand speed, attack angle, and so on.

After a couple of hours of use, I increased the consistency of my hitting instruction by several multiples. I knew exactly what I was talking about and had evidence to prove it.

We also realized that we might never achieve certain bat speeds. The harder I tried to swing, the more ridiculous I looked in slow motion.

The Bad

The app is a serious battery drainer. Running Bluetooth, video, and internet sync uses a lot of power. If you plan to use this during a game, ensure your battery is fully charged.

Some bat companies are not in the drop-down menu, and you must put their names in the ‘generic’ category. This may not be Zepp’s fault but rather the bat companies needing to opt in.

Also, there’s a caution: the data might push players to overcomplicate hitting. You don’t need to be a physicist to hit a baseball. This device and app might give young players too many chances to over-think their swing.

The Slobbering

Despite these cautions, we think this device is fantastic. Anyone serious about improving their swing can benefit.

From a coaching perspective, the accuracy and consistency of instruction improve dramatically. With the Zepp Labs baseball sensor, advice is verifiable and possible to perform.

The $150 price tag may cause some hesitation, but compared to bats, private hitting lessons, or travel team fees, it’s not unreasonable. It’s also transferable among players. Just buy extra mounts, and multiple players can benefit.

It also works for golf and tennis with additional mounts. So, for one-time fee, you get a baseball, golf, and tennis analyzer.

Having data on your cuts, measuring improvement in swing speed, and comparing your swing to pros is invaluable. This gadget could find its way onto every player’s bat who wants to improve their hitting.

Two thumbs up.

(What will they think of next?)