Overhand Throwing Speed

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DD was at the UK camp over the weekend and I noticed the coaches recording with a radar gun the speed of the girls overhand throw from about 60 ft. or so. Can anyone relate what would be considered an average and above average speed for the overhand throw of a girl of High School age.

This is not my thread however the over hand throwing is a very important skill especially to the girls shoulder health issue.

I just started working with a girl who just got off a ten week PT rehab from poor throwing mechanics.

I can not stress enough that this is a basic skill that is poorly taught especially to girls by male instructors in my opinion.

Our glutes do not fire the same as a female and there has to be more attention paid to weight shift or the arm lags behind and the problem gets worse over time. When you see poor weight shift in hitting it is a sure sign there is a throwing problem.

When you ask the hitter if their elbow and shoulder hurt after a double header and they give you a deer in the head lights look there is an issue.

Thanks Howard

 

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Not every pitcher throwing can make a riseball move upwards. Some pitchers call their pitch a riseball when indeed, it is not. However; there is a riseball in this game and a pitch thrown at 54mph in velocity can break upwards if given the proper spin or revolutions per second(RPS) to allow this to happen. As in all spin pitches, there is a need for the proper balance of velocity (V), spin (RPS), and distance traveled to successfully get a final result.

I personally watched Sara Pauley set up a demonstration where she set 2 separate ropes up across the pitching lane and in front of her catcher and was able to throw the ball under the first rope and break upwards and over the second rope. While trying to show us, she struggled and hit the second rope a few times so she moved back about 5 feet to throw. After moving back, she completed the demonstration 6-10 times without missing while we got a chance to stand at the ropes and see the ball clear them. Her riseball was thrown much slower than her fastball but I don't know the speed or the RPS she had on her pitch.

I believe Rev Fire has a chart suggesting 21 RPS's for 43 feet as a good to great for an average high school pitcher throwing from 43 feet so we can only assume the speed to be in the mid-50's. I don't have time to do the math right now. Remember, air density can be a determining factor on just how much a ball will move, even if the proper balance is obtained.

Daboss??? A riseball with an upward break?? Do you really mean an "upward break" or are you referring to an "upward trajectory"?

Some good reading which explains the Magnus effect, and human abilities relating to it. Although this is about baseball, the exact same principles apply regarding spin and associated properties.

Skip down to the section titled "Rising fastball".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastball

The popcorn should be gone after you read this...

 

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As much as I love wiki, normal joe's like us can change that rising fastball to say it does.

 

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As much as I love wiki, normal joe's like us can change that rising fastball to say it does.

Someone beat you to it...
http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

 

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If you can make a ball rise at 43 feet, then why in the world aren't big league ball players throwing a ball that starts off at your feet and ending up at your chin? 90 to 100 mph at 60 feet, seems like it would break alot more with that philosophy. The ball with the back spin simply stays on the level longer making it look as if it is rising. Some balls must have helium in them to make them rise. It is called a high fastball.

 

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Getting more butter.......

 

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Getting more butter.......

That popcorn sounds warm and buttery, do you mind if I join in?

 

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That popcorn sounds warm and buttery, do you mind if I join in?

Yes you can, I'm waiting on some debate from parents with 12 year olds that have 7 pitches...:lmao:

 

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We have all seen pitchers throw curveballs in baseball as well as softball, so why would anyone debate a riseball?? If a pitcher can create enough spin to make the ball move horizontally, then why would it be impossible to do it vertically??

Are there any of you out there that dismiss that a curveball curves???

 

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We have all seen pitchers throw curveballs in baseball as well as softball, so why would anyone debate a riseball?? If a pitcher can create enough spin to make the ball move horizontally, then why would it be impossible to do it vertically??

Are there any of you out there that dismiss that a curveball curves???

You or I have never seen a baseball,nor a softball break up. Curveballs break across and down. Gravity will not allow it. I don't see anyone arguing that you can make a curveball break up.

 

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I'll go read the shared information soon but while my old mind is thinking about it, I'd like to share some facts to consider when comparing baseballs and softballs.

The size of the ball is a factor in how it will react when thrown. The larger ball will "move" before the smaller ball with the same effort. Also, stitching needs to be considered and how far they are pulled upward or away from the outer surface of the ball. Throwing the ball to utilize 4 seams cutting thru the air will get you more opportunity for movement compared to 2 seams spinning. Think about larger balls and what you can make them do by simply throwing them differently. If we used a beach ball in our game, everyone would be able to make a ball dance.

I was recently asked what I considered a successful spin pitch in relation to how much the ball should move. My personal opinion is; enough the batter would swing and miss. If a ball would move even the width of a bat barrel or better yet, the width of a softball, there's a good chance the final result will be a foul ball or swing and miss. Spin pitches don't need to be boomerangs to be successful.

 

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Wow....talk about a major thread hijack and getting off topic. I guess there aren't enough threads about pitching around here. Jeesh.
;&

 

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Yes you can, I'm waiting on some debate from parents with 12 year olds that have 7 pitches...:lmao:

DD is 12 and a pitcher, but she has 10 pitches. :lmao:

 

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Weight of ball

 

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Overhand speed: FIRST - be certain she is using sound throwing mechanics, especially well timed weight shift as Howard explained. Then, IMO, a target speed of 60 would be a reasonable goal for 14u & up. By 16u, if it's less than 60, I would revisit her throwing mechanics.

The "off-topic" pitching stuff: It all comes down to where the batter perceives the pitch is going, not where the pitch actually goes - which explains why pitches in the dirt are still sometimes swung at. With a "rise", the batter perceives the ball rising, when it is actually just dropping less. Thus, the tired old expression "But I SEEN it rise!"

 

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If they say "But I SEEN it rise", then maybe they should worry more about their grammar/schoolwork than softball.

 

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DD is 12 and a pitcher, but she has 10 pitches. :lmao:

for every year they get a new type of pitch under the Christmas tree to match their age.... its a 1:1 ratio and it generally flat lines once they get an offer from a DI school and/or put it on their profile. Or unless their instructor gifts them with a 2:1 ratio... I'd guess that's always possible.

 

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If they say "But I SEEN it rise", then maybe they should worry more about their grammar/schoolwork than softball.

Yep, that was the intended subliminal message. Fortunately, I have never heard a kid use it...

 

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You or I have never seen a baseball,nor a softball break up. Curveballs break across and down. Gravity will not allow it. I don't see anyone arguing that you can make a curveball break up.

I have caught two of the best men pitchers in the game...Hillhouse and Gillis. Maybe you haven't but I have.

 

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I have caught two of the best men pitchers in the game...Hillhouse and Gillis. Maybe you haven't but I have.

That is correct, I have not. I don't need to , to know that a softball will not rise, it appears that way because it is not dropping as fast as the other pitches. I can bend over and throw a ball straight up, is that also a rise ball? I think it is just the trajectory more than anything else.