Pitching and Pitchers Discussion pitching speed

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I have noticed that many teams are still advertising that they are looking for a pitcher...so it got me wondering. What exactly does it take to be a pitcher at 10u, 12u,14u,16u etc? So parents & coaches, how fast should a pitcher being throwing at 10U,12U,14U,16U? (averages work as well as "i know a pitcher at x throwing x). What pitches should they have mastered at each level? Is it all about location or is it about speed....just looking for opinions-topics are getting thin;&

 

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http://www.pitchsoftball.com/Page8.html IN terms of speed.

 

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topics are getting a little thin --be glad when tryout season has passed (about may of 2010 LOL) I'll throw this out --10u can get by on pure heat against 90% of the competition , by throwing about 50 I'd guess. a change is nice to have but most have not mastered it (might throw it but not for strikes)

at 12u it's mid to high 50's , the best have good change up's , and usually throw at least one other "go to pitch" like a drop or curve.

at 14u it's 60 or above with several other pitches , the best can work all 4 corners (up down in out) the riseball comes into play also location and spin along with some heat is what it takes to be one of the best. MD

 

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At this year's tryouts I was against our org. evaluating pitchers with a Radar gun. Did it last year and after much thought didn't feel it was needed. One of our coaches at another age level felt the gun would be helpful in determining the difference between Fastball and Change-Up. I had to agree with him on that point. As far as using the gun to see how hard a girl can throw...I think it's pointless...we can tell.

Most important is how many pitches can a pitcher throw and most important...can they locate them. At 12U I think a change up and fastball is a must. At 14U and up, 3 or more pitches (A change-up has to be one of them) is best. I look for the pitcher that can hit the corners with most or all of their pitches.

Most 15,16 & 17 year old pitchers should have 4 to 5 pitches...in most cases one of those will be a "least favorite".

JMO

 

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http://www.pitchsoftball.com/Page8.html IN terms of speed.

The info. from this site was very helpful,and I think pretty accurate. We competeted at the world series this yr. in columbus. During the speed ball competition, there were only 3 girls broke 60. One was 16u and the other 2 were 13, this was out of about 150-200 girls. 53 was the winning speed for 12u. My daughter won the 14u with a 61, we have never gunned her up to that piont. We thought she was throwing low 60's. This was helpful in that we wondered how she measured up to other pitchers around the country.

 

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What is a realistic speed increase from yr to yr. for a pitcher. Also would appreciate any info. on drills that increase speed.

 

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topics are getting a little thin --be glad when tryout season has passed (about may of 2010 LOL) I'll throw this out --10u can get by on pure heat against 90% of the competition , by throwing about 50 I'd guess. a change is nice to have but most have not mastered it (might throw it but not for strikes)

at 12u it's mid to high 50's , the best have good change up's , and usually throw at least one other "go to pitch" like a drop or curve.

at 14u it's 60 or above with several other pitches , the best can work all 4 corners (up down in out) the riseball comes into play also location and spin along with some heat is what it takes to be one of the best. MD

and at 16u its mid to high 60's and at 18u its mid to high 70's...........

 

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watch out for 20U's speeds in the 80's

 

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and at 16u its mid to high 60's and at 18u its mid to high 70's...........

Very few players in the entire state throw 60 from 43ft. I would put the number at less than 30. Most of the time you think a kid is throwing 60+, usually probably around 56-58mph.

As far as the 14u throwing 61 mph. I would put her as 1 of 3 maybe and in the 99 percentile of all 14u pitchers in the US. Very rare.

 

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at this rate I can't wait to see what the seniors throw.... let me clarify, the senior citizens.

 

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98 % of the pitchers between 16 and 18 throw between 56 and 58 a smaller % tweak the jugs gun over 60,,, even less are at 60 plus consistantly, you could probaly count them on one hand , you throw a mid 60,s in Ohio, and coaches will be beating your door down.... to my knowledge theres only one in southwest ohio that ive seen throw 64mph and it was a riseball, and I was standing behind the coach who held the gun...... pitching speeds are like urban legends,,,,, most are just good storys

Tim

 

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Well said Tim. I don't really put a lot of stock in speed (although it's nice) I like the ball to move. Movement and location mean more to me than just the heat. Pure heat might get you 2 innings but you will soon be a juggs machine against most 16U and 18U teams.

 

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watch out for 20U's speeds in the 80's

Good one! :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

 

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Covered well (accurately) in this thread... http://www.game-ex.com/vb3/showthread.php?t=18075&page=3

 

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At 40 feet any girl that can hit 57 plus at will is BAD A**, and if she can hit her spots and mix speed, have 4 or 5 pitches. This girl is just bad to the bone. In my opinion this is a small group of young ladies.
At 16U a girl that can hit her spots, have 4 or 5 pitches, throw 3 of them well, change speeds, and give your team a chance, is a keeper! This a much larger group and their speed range from 54 to 57 mph with ball rotation maybe 16 or 18. Just my opinion.

 

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my dd played 12u this year last year her fast ball hit 52 i know she was faster this year.we put the gun on her sunday she hit 62 on her fast ball.

 

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What the batter does means more then the radar gun (slow guns ,fast guns) how they react to the pitches, good change ups can make an average fastball look alot faster, nothing beats pitching to a good hitter.

 

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topics are getting a little thin --be glad when tryout season has passed (about may of 2010 LOL) I'll throw this out --10u can get by on pure heat against 90% of the competition , by throwing about 50 I'd guess. a change is nice to have but most have not mastered it (might throw it but not for strikes)

at 12u it's mid to high 50's , the best have good change up's , and usually throw at least one other "go to pitch" like a drop or curve.

at 14u it's 60 or above with several other pitches , the best can work all 4 corners (up down in out) the riseball comes into play also location and spin along with some heat is what it takes to be one of the best. MD

Send your radar gun back...........it's broken.

I would make a more realistic guess of 10% of 12U starting travel ball pitchers throwing in the low 50's. The majority in the mid forties. 14U pitchers throwing 60 are very rare. D1 college pitchers are mid 60's. Of course my daughter is in the upper 60's at 11 years old, but she's the exception. :lmao:

 

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98 % of the pitchers between 16 and 18 throw between 56 and 58 a smaller % tweak the jugs gun over 60,,, even less are at 60 plus consistantly, you could probaly count them on one hand , you throw a mid 60,s in Ohio, and coaches will be beating your door down.... to my knowledge theres only one in southwest ohio that ive seen throw 64mph and it was a riseball, and I was standing behind the coach who held the gun...... pitching speeds are like urban legends,,,,, most are just good storys

Tim

Your right on the money!

 

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At a very large college camp on pitching. Very few girls hit 60+. What they were looking for more than anything was spin. They wanted a rotation of 20+ spins per sec on the ball. In 12 years of high school I have seen one girl hit 60+ , with spin and she pitched for Lima Bath and the Lasers.