When it comes to developing as an athlete, having the right tools and resources can make all the difference. For 14-year old Julia Carsman from Ohio, the decision to invest in the HitTrax Home system has been a game-changer in her softball journey.
As a member of the Louisville Lady Sluggers, Julia is laser-focused on her goals of playing collegiate softball, majoring in exercise science and nutrition, and eventually owning a training facility. The HitTrax Home system, with its ability to track progress, offer real-time feedback, and help fine-tune skills, right from the comfort of her own home, is playing a pivotal role in her success.
The Setup: A Home Training Facility Designed for Success
With only needing a 18’ x 14’ space for the HitTrax to work, Julia’s space includes a 54′ x 18′ x 9′ batting cage, turf, HitTrax technology, a pitching machine and a an L-screen.
This arrangement allows Julia to practice both hitting and catching multiple times a week, with the added benefit of being able to use the technology at her convenience. The accessibility of this setup has made practicing at home a regular habit, and the results speak for themselves.
Increased Motivation and Progress with Instant Feedback
For Julia, the ability to practice at home using the HitTrax Home has been a huge motivator. The hitting metrics that HitTrax measures are exit velocity, launch angle, distance, location, outcome of the hit, hard hit average, line drive percentage, and many more. For catching, the metrics include pop-time, caught stealing percentage, exchange time, outcome of the play, throw velocity, and accuracy.
What Julia finds particularly beneficial is the ability to practice with her pitching machine at various speeds and locations, while the HitTrax system tracks her performance, offering her immediate feedback on how she’s doing. She loves the “Around the World” hitting module, which allows her to work on hitting to different spots on the field.
“Some of the features I like about HitTrax is that the data shows which pitch locations I can hit the best, and which areas of the strike zone I need to work on. I can see my progress from different sessions over time, and I can work on what my coaches have taught me on my own time.” -Julia Carsman
Data-Driven Improvement
The biggest advantage of having HitTrax is the ability to track progress over time. Julia has seen significant improvements across various aspects of her game. For example:
– Hitting: Her line drive percentage has increased by 8% and average exit velocity by 7.9%. Her batting average has also improved with fewer fly balls and more base hits. HitTrax has helped her understand exactly why she may have miss-hit a ball so that she can make the necessary adjustments.
– Catching: Her pop-time has improved by 5.2% and her transfer time by 12%. The real-time data allows her to see these metrics during her session to quickly adjust on the fly.
The ability to watch video breakdowns of her sessions has been a powerful tool. With the added VCAM, Julia can review her performance, analyze her mistakes, and make corrections immediately — all while seeing the results in real-time.
The Parent Perspective: Supporting the Journey
Julia’s mom and dad have seen the positive impact that the HitTrax Home system has had on her development. They appreciate how it provides real-time metrics that are easy to understand, enabling them to track her progress and discuss specific areas with her coaches. While they help set up the equipment and provide encouragement, Julia is the one who takes charge of her practice sessions. Her parents believe that the system empowers her to work independently and track her own improvements.
Julia’s mom explains: “It’s incredible to see how consistent practice and adjustments are paying off. Julia’s line drive percentage, exit velocity, and pop time have all improved significantly.”
Looking to the Future: A Commitment to Training
Julia is currently ranked #8 in the Midwest Region and #44 nationally through Extra Inning Softball for the class of 2029 and using the HitTrax Home has already helped her tremendously. With her eyes set on collegiate softball, Julia’s commitment to practicing and improving is stronger than ever. Her favorite part of using the system? The ability to train at any time, right from the comfort of home.
For any athlete looking to improve their game, the HitTrax Home offers more than just technology — it provides a structured, data-driven approach to growth and success.
Ready to take your training to the next level? If you’re interested in learning more about the HitTrax Home, click here and see how it can help you track your own progress, just like Julia!
