Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Pitching speed?

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Thank you! It has been a long 3 years getting to where she is now and she knows that she needs to practice several times a week all year long outside of her pitching coach to keep progressing. She is working on her drop ball now but I am not sure how often it would be utilized at this level. I guess getting it consistent is the key right now. We are a little nervous that she is so close to the batter after release. We look forward to 5 more feet of defensive reaction time for her safety!

 

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... A 45mph fastball tends to flatten out and is ideal to a hitter if there is no movement. ...

Great post. One question: what do you mean by this? I've done some rudimentary physics on the softball pitch (actually using 45mph) and don't see that in the data. Not arguing, just looking for your reasoning.

 

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Great post. One question: what do you mean by this? I've done some rudimentary physics on the softball pitch (actually using 45mph) and don't see that in the data. Not arguing, just looking for your reasoning.

are you still using your Abacus :lmao:

 

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are you still using your Abacus :lmao:

You're a smarty-apple aren't ya?

 

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Thank you! It has been a long 3 years getting to where she is now and she knows that she needs to practice several times a week all year long outside of her pitching coach to keep progressing. She is working on her drop ball now but I am not sure how often it would be utilized at this level. I guess getting it consistent is the key right now. We are a little nervous that she is so close to the batter after release. We look forward to 5 more feet of defensive reaction time for her safety!

If she can consistently throw 48 MPH and locate the ball on the black then I wouldn't worry about her getting hit. If you keep it off the middle of the plate then it is more likely to go to the corner infielders.

At the beginning of 10u season to throw that is very good. She will probably pick up a couple MPH by end of season as well.

 

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Great post. One question: what do you mean by this? I've done some rudimentary physics on the softball pitch (actually using 45mph) and don't see that in the data. Not arguing, just looking for your reasoning.

What I meant, based on observation over the years, is that at about 45 mph is when you start to hear the ball. That "fizzing" sound that the ball makes, usually starts right around that speed. This can vary slightly, based on wind conditions but should be fairly accurate indoors. At a distance of 35-40 feet, it's also relatively flat in trajectory, in comparison to anything at say 42mph and under...where there is more of an arc to the pitch. Good hitting teams will favor this and get more hits.

You probably won't find this to be true if you're concerned with something more along the lines of slide-rule data, but hitters aren't using that either. Their primary objective in the on-deck circle is timing. Which is why I suggested to progress as a pitcher in 3 different areas. Change in location, change of speed, and ball movement. Pretty much in that order.

 

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48 is a good speed for a 10U. Congratulations on that!

Looking ahead, she moves back 5' next year and goes from the 11" to the 12" ball. She's going to lose about 3-4mph just in the difference with the ball alone.

Which puts her back at 45mph, and more reaction time for the batter, due to the increased distance. A 45mph fastball tends to flatten out and is ideal to a hitter if there is no movement. Experiment with a 2-seam fastball as an alternative to her normal 4-seam to see if she can get some movement on it.

This is not meant to be disparaging or discouraging...just the reality of the situation. She's having success and developing as a pitcher. I would concentrate on hitting her locations on the perimeter of the strike zone, develop a deceptive and effective off-speed (change-up), and look to learn a 3rd pitch (Curve, drop, screw, etc..) that plays into her strengths at this point in time. Remind her that it's an on-going process and encourage her along the way.

Best of luck!

You basically just described my DD. This is her first year of 12u and has adjusted very well to the distance and ball size, she actually looks as fast, maybe a tad faster than last yr. But, she is not an overpowering strikeout pitcher. Her ball comes in with a ton of spin and movement and is very hard for some batters to pickup, fastballs look like curves. She can play around the zone and has a pretty good drop and change-up. She is 11, so inconsistancy pops up, but she does pretty well for a smaller pitcher. Makes a ton of hitters ground out, plus she makes a ton of plays from the mound, do not bunt near her or you have no chance..lol.

 

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the 10u pitcher from my team threw many lessons at 40' to build arm strength (or good portions of their time). One of the two pitchers showed zero decrease in speed when going to 40'. The other did per the amount aforementioned. Stamina did kick in early on after the distance switch for both but quickly regained it. To me I expected them both to be off.

 

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Was at my daughters pitching lesson the other day and was watching a 10 year old pitcher that had the lesson time ahead of my own DD. She was hitting 50-51 pretty regularly. Slow was 48 and fastest was 53. Spoke with the pitching coach after the young lady left. Pitching coach told me that she plays for the Storm 02 and that she pitched her first perfect game a few weeks ago. She had great control and seemed to be a great kid. I know there is a difference between game speed and pitching lesson speed but from reading comments on the tread she is doing very well and wish her all the luck in the years to come.

 

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Was at my daughters pitching lesson the other day and was watching a 10 year old pitcher that had the lesson time ahead of my own DD. She was hitting 50-51 pretty regularly. Slow was 48 and fastest was 53. Spoke with the pitching coach after the young lady left. Pitching coach told me that she plays for the Storm 02 and that she pitched her first perfect game a few weeks ago. She had great control and seemed to be a great kid. I know there is a difference between game speed and pitching lesson speed but from reading comments on the tread she is doing very well and wish her all the luck in the years to come.

You sound like her mom. Besides, what pitching coach has a gun on a kid constantly or is the 50-51 pretty regularly your guess?

 

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You sound like her mom. Besides, what pitching coach has a gun on a kid constantly or is the 50-51 pretty regularly your guess?

Lol!!! Not her mom. Just telling u what I saw and heard. It was a 45 minute pitching lesson. He clocked her three different times through out her lesson maybe 15 pitches total. Pitching coach would yell out speed to her. 50-51 was the average. Didn't mean to come across as a mom patting her kid on the back. I'm some parents do come on here and do that.

 

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FPmom ... uhhh ... based on looking at some other posts, you may want to consider getting a new screen name and starting over. Sounds like your daughter is a nice little pitcher, but I'd recommend letting other people do the complimenting of her on OFC, while you continue to support and encourage her at home.

 

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My DD is a relatively fast pitcher with relatively good movement and relatively good control. She pitched relatively well at Lasers but faced some very good, very disciplined hitters who could hit just about any pitch she had. What she learned was that no pitcher or pitch is invincible and that a victory will come your way only with some very good pitch calling, very good defense and always a little bit of luck!

 

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FPmom ... uhhh ... based on looking at some other posts, you may want to consider getting a new screen name and starting over. Sounds like your daughter is a nice little pitcher, but I'd recommend letting other people do the complimenting of her on OFC, while you continue to support and encourage her at home.

Again is not my daughter. I see why people would assume this because my sign on is FPMOM1 that I am her mom?? But really I coached her in Rec ball and am just excited about her progress. Yes I have mentioned her before along with some other good pitchers and players. I commented on what I saw.

 

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Again is not my daughter. I see why people would assume this because my sign on is FPMOM1 that I am her mom?? But really I coached her in Rec ball and am just excited about her progress. Yes I have mentioned her before along with some other good pitchers and players. I commented on what I saw.

If it was my DD, I would talk about her. Why not? 53 at age 10 with good control. I talked about my daughter when she was throwing 35 over the plate.

 

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1st year pitchers - SLOW. 30-35 mph IF they can get it over the plate. (I don't recommend using 1st year pitchers much if you can get away with it. It takes a full year to build confidence and skills on the mound)

2nd year pitchers - I think most average around 40+/-. The good ones 40-45.

 

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75 mh

 

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75 mh

My DD is 8 and throws 86mph.

OK.. the only thing true in that sentence is that I have a DD and she throws. I admit it.