How to set up your V1 Pressure Mat in 3 simple steps:
1. Plug – To use with V1 Pro Mobile, connect your V1 Pressure Mat and included battery pack. If the battery is not charged, plug the battery into a wall outlet to charge. Then connect your tablet or phone to the V1 Pressure Mat Wi-Fi signal. The connection is named after your mat’s specific model number. For example: Model: BT2-XXXX-XXX
To use with V1 Pro Studio, connect your V1 Pressure Mat to your computer using the included USB cable.
2. Place – We recommend keeping the playing surface as close to what the athlete typically practices on if possible. Placing the V1 Pressure Mat under a turf or hitting mat is the best option to ensure your athlete is focused on their performance and not the technology under their feet.
Once the mat is placed, launch the V1 Pro Mobile app or V1 Pro Studio Software.
3. Play – Prior to capturing, have the athlete stand still so that the Center Of Pressure (CoP) calibrates. This takes just a few seconds. The CoP dot will jump to the center of the pressure graph once it’s calibrated.
Now you’re ready to start coaching with the V1 Pressure Mat!
Remember, the V1 Pressure Mat can be completely mobile with V1 Pro Mobile and the included battery (20+ hours of use). Take the mat wherever you coach, onto the green for playing lessons or onto the field for baseball and softball practice.
For more detailed steps and troubleshooting help, check out this article.
How to Read Pressure Graphs like a Pro
The V1 Pressure Mat displays three graphs. Each tells a unique story of Where, How Fast, and with How Much Force your athlete is creating because of their bodies relationship with the ground. This unique combination of information helps to quantify what is captured on video.
1. Where – The Center of Pressure Graph displays an X and Y axis that splits the athlete into the lead side and trail side on either side of the vertical Y axis. The horizontal X axis splits the athlete front to back or what we call Toes and Heels. At the bottom of the graph, there are two sets of percentages that correlate to the Y-axis information which is the distribution of force/pressure on the lead side and trail side of the athlete. On the right side of the graph, similar percentage sets are displayed. The footprints displayed as heat maps on the graph show the force/pressure quantity. The least amount of force/pressure is a white and blue, and the most amount of force/pressure is red.
The center of pressure (CoP) is displayed as a white dot on the graph. This marks the location of the average amount of force/pressure of the athlete. As the athlete moves their body this CoP moves with them. The white dot also draws a line behind it called the CoP Trace, which is a line through all the points the CoP has traveled during the athlete’s movement.
To introduce this graph to an athlete, have them stand on one foot, then the other, then on their toes, then on their heels. Then, have the athlete stand as still as possible, then without moving their feet, have them shift the CoP dot to the right, then the left, then forwards and backwards.
2. How Fast – The CoP Velocity Graph displays how fast or slow the player is moving. This data is displayed as a line graph based on CoP movement speed and displacement from the center. The white line peaks when the CoP moves towards the lead side and valleys when the CoP moves towards the trail side. The orange line peaks when the movement is towards the toes and valleys when the movement is towards the heels. This speed and direction of the CoP are important to capture because it gives coaches numerical and graphical information about the timing and direction of the movement.
To introduce this graph to an athlete, try having them swing in slow motion, then normal speed, then as fast as they can. Talk about how the graph changes as they do this.
3. How Much Force – The Dynamic Vertical Force Graph is also a line graph that peaks when the force generated is greater than the force produced by the standing mass of the player and valleys when the force drops below the total weight of the player. Force is energy and this energy is what makes our bodies move at speed and with power. This graph displays the total force generated as well as force on the lead side and trail side within each moment.
To introduce this graph to an athlete, try having them do a simple squat. Then, ask them to produce more force, or make the line go higher, and less force during the squat. Talk about what the athlete is doing to change the position of the line.
The best way to learn about the V1 Pressure Mat is to get on it. Move around and try to manipulate the output in different ways. Once the connection is made between the movement and the data you can start working on specific movements with your athlete. Soon enough, you’ll be a pro at coaching with the V1 Pressure Mat.
Have more questions about the V1 Pressure Mat? Contact us here or check out our recent Tuesday Traces webinar featuring Daniel Creel, V1 Pro and Instructor at VC Golf.
