Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before you start tracking.

Getting Started
  • No. PitchGuessr makes no connection to the game whatsoever. All data entry is manual — you tap the zone as you watch each pitch happen on your TV or monitor. The app never touches game servers, game accounts, or any MLB or Sony systems.
  • An iPhone or iPad running iOS 17 or later. That's it. No account, no login, no internet connection required during use.
  • Tap the + button on the home screen. Enter your opponent's name and set their pitcher handedness (Left or Right). That's the whole setup — you're ready to start tracking immediately.
How Predictions Work
  • The heatmap starts building on pitch 1. By 5–10 pitches you'll see tendencies forming. By 15–20 pitches at a specific count, the Standard Model gives you real signal. The Confidence badge tells you exactly how much to trust the current prediction — Very Low, Low, Medium, High, or Very High — so you always know the strength of the data behind it.
  • Standard Model filters predictions by the exact current count (e.g., 1-2) AND the handedness matchup (e.g., RHH vs RHP). Most specific — best when you've accumulated count-specific data.

    Matchup Model ignores the count entirely and shows overall tendencies for the handedness matchup (e.g., all Left vs Right pitches, regardless of count). Broader sample — best at the start of a game before count-specific data builds up.

    Both models are free. Tap the model name in the status bar to switch instantly while you're tracking.

  • Red/hot: high probability — your opponent throws here often.

    Yellow/warm: moderate probability.

    Blue/cool: low probability.

    Gray: no data logged yet for this matchup.

    The more pitches you log, the more accurate the color distribution becomes.

  • The Confidence badge shows you how much data is behind the current prediction. Levels: Very Low (0–5 pitches), Low (6–15), Medium (16–30), High (31–50), Very High (50+). Use it to gauge how aggressively to trust the heatmap.
Free vs Pro
  • Full heatmap predictions, both prediction models (Standard + Matchup), the Confidence indicator, In-Zone / Out-Zone percentage tracking, and up to 9 completed at-bats per game session (~3 innings). No ads, ever.
  • Free users can track up to 9 completed at-bats per game. When you reach the limit, the app prompts you to upgrade to Pro or end the session. Pro removes this cap entirely — the lineup cycles through 1–9 indefinitely.
  • By default, PitchGuessr uses Bayesian smoothing to prevent extreme predictions from small samples — one pitch to a zone does not immediately show 100% for that zone. Raw mode (Pro only) removes this smoothing and shows exact percentages. Best for Pro users with large sample sizes who want unfiltered data.
  • Never. No ads, no popups, no paywalls mid-session.
  • Unlimited batters per game, Raw mode, iCloud sync, and permanent access to Tunnel Vision (another RetroGhostLabs app) — even if you later cancel the subscription.
Data and Privacy
  • No. Every pitch you log is saved to your opponent's profile permanently. Data accumulates across every session against the same opponent, making predictions more accurate over time.
  • No. There is no account system in PitchGuessr. You can start using the app immediately without creating any kind of login.
  • No. All pitch data is stored locally on your device using Apple's SwiftData framework. Nothing is uploaded, transmitted, or shared with any server. The only optional network feature is iCloud sync (Pro), which uses your own personal iCloud account — not any RetroGhostLabs server.
  • iCloud sync (Pro feature) uses Apple's standard CloudKit integration to sync your opponent data across your iPhone and iPad using your personal iCloud account. RetroGhostLabs never sees or touches this data. Sync is optional and can be disabled in Settings.
Troubleshooting
  • Use Skip At-Bat to skip the current at-bat without logging anything. This keeps your dataset clean — no bad data, no guesses. You can also use Unknown Location to log the pitch result (ball, strike, etc.) without guessing the zone if you couldn't track where it landed.
  • Tap the undo button (↶) to remove the last pitch logged. In full-screen mode, undo is also available in the status sheet.
  • Long-press the Ball or Strike display to manually adjust the count. This corrects off-by-one errors without affecting your pitch history.
  • It means there aren't enough pitches logged for the current matchup or count situation. The app will automatically fall back to a broader filter (e.g., any count instead of the specific count) if it finds enough data there. Keep logging pitches — predictions build quickly.
  • Local pitch data is stored on-device and does not survive a reinstall. To restore your Pro subscription after reinstall, go to Settings → Restore Purchases. iCloud sync is on our roadmap and will provide automatic backup when it ships.

Still have a question?

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PitchGuessr is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Sony Interactive Entertainment, San Diego Studio, MLB, or MLB The Show.