What is the Loden app?
The Loden Sports Performance Lab app captures a jump to help evaluate general athleticism. It's part of every level of MLBU BASE, including Core, Premium, and Prospect. The app runs on a phone, and capturing a jump is as simple as taking a video.
Jump is one half of the general athleticism component of MLBU BASE. Sprint is the other half. Learn about sprint speed here.
Why is jump part of every MLBU BASE evaluation?
Every baseball and softball player is an athlete first. A strong athletic foundation supports a healthier player and gives every other skill something solid to build on.
A jump shows how explosive an athlete's lower body is. For baseball and softball players, lower-body explosiveness correlates to throwing and hitting the ball hard.
What do the jump metrics mean?
MLBU BASE focuses on three jump metrics:
Metric | What it measures |
Jump Height | How high the athlete jumps. |
Jump Power | Jump height factored with body weight. Two athletes who jump the same height at different weights produce different amounts of power. |
RSI (Reactive Strength Index) | How quickly an athlete can generate force during a jump. |
How do I read my jump results in Stacks?
Stacks shows a percentile for each jump metric. Percentiles help athletes see where they stand out, where they're average, and where their training time will make the biggest difference. They're a guide for what to work on next, not a grade.
How often should jump be measured?
Jump is most useful when it's measured regularly during a training period. Because the Loden app is quick and easy to use, it works well as a check-in between MLBU BASE evaluations to confirm an athlete is trending in the right direction.
What if my jump metrics are trending down?
A downward trend usually points to habits, not ability. Common causes include:
Poor sleep
Poor nutrition
Too much training
If jump numbers are dropping, it may be time to adjust those habits or put more emphasis on athletic development.
What if my jump metrics are below average?
Jump metrics are improvable with the right training. A below-average percentile is a signal to focus more training time on athletic development. Talk with your coach or instructor about building that into your plan.
View your jump results
Log in to Stacks to see your jump metrics and percentiles.
Want to learn more?
Read the full breakdown from Team 1845: BASE: Using the Loden App to Measure Jump Performance