Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Interesting Statistic

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I agree with you, its only a stat and what you do during games is what really matters. But you need a reference to measure ability, a starting point so to speak.

 

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If you set a world record time in practice, does it count? In my opinion, it only matters what you can do in competition. That's when it matters.

And at the same time if they only hit that one time in their life, that too is not a measure of their true ability..More of a fluke

 

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Lot of good comments that make sense regarding actual speeds. My DD`s instructor, Doug Gillis, tells her not to focus so much on speed but proper spin. If you have proper spin with high revolutions you have a good starting point. When adding speed you want to make sure you maintain your proper spin and revs. A lot of pitchers that can throw in the upper 50`s lose proper spin and revs which makes the ball remain flat through the zone. At the younger age groups a pitcher who has some speed can get a way with very little break through the zone. The older more experience girls that have developed a good data base of pitches will be able to catch up to the speeds remaining flat. My DD has been very successful these past few seasons and she throws consistantly 52 - 55. One thing about radar guns and it has been stated on here in the past is they will at times read a few mph higher because they will pick up the spin of the ball too. So a drop ball with good spin reading 57 may actually be traveling @ 54 - 55 mph.

 

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I agree that spin is the key. My hand never hurt until DD started using the heavy ball for wrist snaps. Revolutions are definitely the key to keeping batters off balance.

 

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There are always exceptions but the survey shared is pretty accurate in my opinion. I keep a copy of the survey on the wall where the pitchers work out and point it out to parents when they finally ask me what I think their daughter is doing in regards to speed. I'm not just a pitching instructor but a coach AND a parent of a one time pitcher. I understand the need for honesty and accuracy while focusing on spin. I agree with coach Gillis on this subject.

 

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I agree with using a "peak and working" speed. All things have limits and peaks and most hard working pitchers work at 80-90% of their peak just as batters do. Another reason baseball has "closers" that can only throw gas for 1 inning.

We have girls peaking around 54-55 but work at 50-52. I believe the study is very accurate based upon what I've seen. We are not radar crazy but do check from time to time. We have compared our Bushnell vs Jugs gun and they have never been off from each other more than 1mph.

 

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was down in S Carolina this past labor day with my oldest as she was playing in the 14u queen of the d tourney there and we drove over to Winthrop U to watch the showcase for a few hours between games .For those that have not attended a showcase like that behind all the back stops they have radar gun screens set up to see the speed that all the pitchers are throwing as they play the games.There were like 4 fields being played on with a screen on each.In the hour or so that we watched only one girl was hitting over 60 and that was a freshman from N Carolina i believe and she was consistently hitting 67 as we watched and had hit 70 earlier we were told.All the rest of the girls were hitting in the 50s from low to high and i hurd more than i person complaining (must have been dads)that they new she threw harder than the speed being shown,lol.The best pitcher i watched was hitting 56-58 with very good movement and change of speed and totally handcuffed the hitters while the freshman throwing 67-70 was getting hit and in trouble everytime i looked up as she had no change of speed and very little movement with several walks.Its a eye opener for anyone who thinks speed is king because if you would have watched those 2 warm up side by side you would think the flame thrower was the stud but once it was game on the spin and movement was king.

My daughter pitched against this pitcher at QDSS She was actually a junior. I talked to her mom during the game. She was consistently 66-68 but did get hit.

 

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My daughter pitched against this pitcher at QDSS She was actually a junior. I talked to her mom during the game. She was consistently 66-68 but did get hit.

Well i must say that makes more sense as she sure looked older and more mature(not to mention big and strong) than most freshman.I was told she was a freshman by my daughters pitching coach who was helping run the showcase so i assumed he new.Maybe your daughter was the girl i watched pitch so well as there teams were playing each other on saturday.I also was there on sunday as my daughter was waiting to play in the championship game and watched the big flame thrower pitching again and same thing they were timing her real well as she just seemed to try and blow it past them and the hitters were having none of it.