I know a thing or two about baseball. I grew up playing shortstop, I watch the Yankees religiously, and I even coach my 13-year-old son Luke’s Little League team.
Getting in enough practice time during the week has always been a challenge for us. I worry because it’s essential for Luke’s progress.
I kept seeing ads for WIN Reality — a virtual reality baseball training tool that supposedly allows players to practice unlimited game-speed pitches from home. At first, I dismissed it as yet another marketing gimmick. But when I finally looked into it, I realized it could be a game-changer for Luke, so I decided we’d give it a shot.
3 months later, Luke’s loving it and making serious headway. Now that we know what WIN Reality truly offers, I wish we’d started using it earlier.
Here’s Everything I Wish I’d Known About WIN Reality:
1. Founded By Baseball Experts:
WIN Reality isn’t just some trendy video game created by tech entrepreneurs, but rather a powerful training tool designed by actual players and coaches.
The WIN founders live and breathe baseball — Dan O’Dowd spent 15 years as the General Manager (with 2 GM of the Year Awards) and Chief Baseball Officer of the Colorado Rockies. Dan’s son and co-founder Chris O’Dowd played professionally for the Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, and San Diego Padres.
With this extensive baseball knowledge, the O’Dowds created WIN Reality specifically to help players achieve real results. Many professional and college teams use WIN for training — proving it’s the real deal.
2. Unlimited Reps:
When WIN Reality says you can hit unlimited pitches, they mean unlimited. WIN memberships include unlimited use of the program — allowing you to practice as frequently and for however long as you want.
With the ability to train at home, Luke is obsessed. He sees 10 times the amount of pitches compared to traditional methods, so he’s improving his skills daily.
3. Library of 600+ Pitchers:
WIN Reality is designed for players of all ages and skill levels — from Little League to professionals. Their massive library of pitchers enables players to practice every conceivable combination of arm angle, release point, and velocity.
4. Swing Analysis Tool:
Baseball training isn’t one-size-fits-all, and WIN Reality understands this with personalized feedback from their SwingAI Trainer tool.
Simply upload a video of your swing using the WIN Reality app on your phone. Their AI tool and coaches analyze your body movements to develop an individualized training plan for your swing. This reassures me that my son is getting the specific feedback that he needs to improve his game.
Note: Players biomechanics are evaluated in 12 unique aspects and given a pass/fail grade based on where there is room for improvement. The visualization above shows a passing grade for stride length that is within the typical range; allowing players to get a new perspective on their swing and have real time visual feedback.
5. Multiple Training Tools
WIN Reality isn’t just a pitching simulator, it also includes various drills that target different skills:
- Exhibition Mode - simulates an intense game situation (bottom of the ninth, down by one run), which gets the adrenaline pumping, and helps prepare players for clutch scenarios.
- Live Pitch Mode - Uses the WIN Reality companion mobile app and allows coaches/parents to control exactly the location and what type of pitch to throw — perfect for developing pitch recognition and Luke’s personal favorite.
- Live Competitions — compete against other players in real-time and build teamwork skills.
- Targeted Workouts — focus on specific skills such as improved timing against higher velocity, swing mechanics, pitch tracking, and many more.
6. Real Results:
All of these features are great, but they only matter if they lead to tangible progress. When training with WIN, here are some measurable improvements:
- 7X faster player development vs. traditional training alone
- +8.8% increase in plate discipline
- +23% increase in teams’ winning percentage
If I’d known about all these incredible features, we’d have been using WIN Reality in Luke’s first season. Like most dads, I’m convinced that Luke’s on his way to become the next Derek Jeter. During spring training, we introduced WIN to his teammates they’re getting serious results too. And the team is knocking it out of the park!
If you’re looking for the most innovative and convenient baseball training method, give WIN Reality a try!