Jacob Howenstein

Senior Biomechanist at Reboot Motion

High Performance Biomechanics Consultant for USA Weightlifting

Sports + Data Science, Engineering, Software Development

[Reboot Motion @RebootMotion]

Another update on the work @JacobHowenstein is doing to deliver best in class hitting support for our MLB partners.

This time, we're talking about bat tracking via single camera motion capture. Take a read and reach out if you want to learn more!

https://t.co/sGmpNeGwHY

[Reboot Motion @RebootMotion]

The latest from @edemchick highlighting the work @JacobHowenstein is doing to deliver the industry's best hitting reports. Take a look!

https://t.co/ctxS4QkRU8

[Ben Brewster @TreadAthletics]

Why does throwing 75% of your top velocity take far less than 75% perceived effort?

Here @cory_wilder and I discuss a potential explanation from a physics perspective.

(Thread 🧵)

1/

[Ben Brewster @TreadAthletics]

@cory_wilder Thanks to @KevTheBuider for getting me thinking on this, and for linking to this post by @JacobHowenstein from back in 2017.

https://t.co/YdL3VflsZI

14/

[NBA @NBA]

The NBA has selected five companies for the third cohort of NBA Launchpad, the league’s initiative to source, evaluate, and pilot emerging technologies that advance the NBA’s top priorities on and off the court.

The 2024 cohort includes: Dimension Studio, Plantiga, Reboot Motion, TextQL, and Tonsser.

Learn more at: https://t.co/zqUymlkduv

[Kyle Attl @KyleAttl]

"The drill should speak for itself"

[Jacob Howenstein @JacobHowenstein]

These guys have had a front row seat working with some of the best coaches, player development, and scouting groups, in both the professional and amateur baseball/softball spaces.

Fired up to listen to them dropping insights on what they've learned!

@KyleAttl
@JoeTourville1

[Kyle Attl @KyleAttl]

Looking forward to sharing what we’ve learned the last 7 years with Blast.
- Metrics
- Training
- Application of data
- Coaching styles
- Scouting
- and everything in between

MLB all the way to youth

[Jacob Howenstein @JacobHowenstein]

Awesome work on the cutting edge of weightlifting biomechanics with elite athletes!

Bringing together the whole picture for athletes competing at the highest level!

[Kristof Kipp @MUSportScience]

Motivated by student presentations on processing and visualizing data in my biomechanics class I decided I needed to Level Up my coding skills, too, which led to this video on weightlifting biomechanics (of course!). Thoughts on what to change or add? Also, h/t @JacobHowenstein

[Jacob Howenstein @JacobHowenstein]

@MUSportScience Insane!

[Kristof Kipp @MUSportScience]

Last research project of the summer: analysis of flow/transfer of linear momentum in weightlifting.
Takeaways: large increase during 1st and 2nd pull, continuous increase during transition, and efficient transfer from legs through torso to arms & bar ... all = 2xBW clean.

[Jacob Howenstein @JacobHowenstein]

@MUSportScience @BenDrury_HU @BenDrury_HU The is a custom project developed spefically for weightlifting performance analysis. Written in Python and primary relies on opencv and numpy for the computer vision tracking and analysis.

[Jacob Howenstein @JacobHowenstein]

And even better than data is hitting this 128 kg Snatch a couple weeks ago, only 3kg under my all-time best.

[Jacob Howenstein @JacobHowenstein]

Weightlifting Training Progress in Data.

Training hasn’t been as consistent as it should be but still made quite a bit of progress over 3.5 months after starting to train again.

On the left is the max lift from my initial session at 105 kg and the right is 120 kg from 12/3.

[Jacob Howenstein @JacobHowenstein]

A big part of this was a better pull under the bar (third pull). Less overall horizontal movement (jumping back), slightly quicker turnover, and moving my body straighter down instead of out and around, all contributed to a made lift even with less max bar height than before.

[Jacob Howenstein @JacobHowenstein]

Another awesome camp working with @MUSportScience and @USWeightlifting to provide biomechanics and sports science support to some of the best lifters in the US and World!

[mike gattone @mgattone1]

A great couple days of testing at Marquette University for USA Weightlifting. Thanks @MUSportScience for the work and partnership!

[Jacob Howenstein @JacobHowenstein]

@MUSportScience @coachseanrigsby @mgattone1 That would make for a really interesting force plot as we watch the bar crush me into the ground!

[Jacob Howenstein @JacobHowenstein]

Last piece of my initial assessment: Jerks!

Definitely my weakest lift and the limiter on my overall Clean and Jerk.

These felt especially rough after not really going overhead for ~6 mo

Here is what we see in the data...
(1/6)

[Jacob Howenstein @JacobHowenstein]

The training prescription:

1. Lots of overloaded jerk dips to build the movement pattern and core stability (shown).
2. Behind the neck jerks to develop the feel of a straight dip/drive and get more comfortable with a lockout potion directly over my shoulders.
(6/6)

[Jacob Howenstein @JacobHowenstein]

Echoing @CAthletics, The short front foot and limited 'push under' is probably a product of the first two problems (bad dip, insufficient drive) and will hopefully improve as a result of cleaning up the other two issues.
(5/6)