Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Pitching Times

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I am just curious... what pitching speeds should we see at different levels (i.e. 9u, 10u, 12u, 16u etc.) What is expected? What is good?

Just curious to see what you coaches say. I am trying to get a gauge on my 9 year olds speed.

 

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I'll bite, but I'm sure i will catch some flack as this subject seems to always be a hot topic. Just remember, there are many factors involved here (example- if you have a 5ft 10inch kid, she should be throwing 57+ even if she is only 11 years old ....might be a little wild, but she should still be able to bring it because of her size). Also, the numbers that I am listing are "top speeds", something you would see at a pitching lesson, not necessarily what is thrown in the game when a girl is trying to locate a pitch.

9u (40-44 mph good; 45+ elite)
10u (45-48 mph good; 48+ elite)
11u (46-48 mph good- remember they just move back 5 more ft and have a bigger ball; 48+ elite)
12u (48-53 mph good; 53+ elite)
13u (52-55 mph good; 55+ elite)
14u (55-58 mph good; 59+ elite)
I've been told that hitting 60 (again as a top speed, not an average) as an 8th grader is what these girls should be striving for.

 

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The average senior at last year's Pennsbury showcase actually threw their fastball at 56.1MPH with a 16.4RPS.

These are primarily juniors and younger in high school that are intending to play softball in college. This working speed and spin has been achieved after years of practice, lessons and game tested. The very elite pitchers (less than 5%) in this group broke 60MPH OR threw over 20RPS but only one did both. This is a large group of dedicated players all measured by the same gun and published o the NFCA website so the data is not in dispute.

You will get a lot of made up numbers for your question that are simply that; made-up like its a Christmas wish list. Hit this speed by this age and then hit that speed by that age. The main thing that will separate these players out is her desire to work when there is no game on and having someone to throw to and getting the proper instruction along the way. We all know a 10 old phenom that didn't pay the price and by 16 was playing s----r.

If she is having fun and enjoying the risk then keep at it. I don't really care how hard she is throwing at 9. If she sticks with it, she can hit HER numbers and be successful.

Good Luck.

 

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I'll bite, but I'm sure i will catch some flack as this subject seems to always be a hot topic. Just remember, there are many factors involved here (example- if you have a 5ft 10inch kid, she should be throwing 57+ even if she is only 11 years old ....might be a little wild, but she should still be able to bring it because of her size). Also, the numbers that I am listing are "top speeds", something you would see at a pitching lesson, not necessarily what is thrown in the game when a girl is trying to locate a pitch.

9u (40-44 mph good; 45+ elite)
10u (45-48 mph good; 48+ elite)
11u (46-48 mph good- remember they just move back 5 more ft and have a bigger ball; 48+ elite)
12u (48-53 mph good; 53+ elite)
13u (52-55 mph good; 55+ elite)
14u (55-58 mph good; 59+ elite)

I've been told that hitting 60 (again as a top speed, not an average) as an 8th grader is what these girls should be striving for.

Good numbers. Just one tiny comment on the 11U speed. At 35/40/43 feet, the ball will still travel at the same speed. It just takes a little longer to hit its target.

 

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http://www.pitchsoftball.com/Page8.html

You can also look at all the top pitchers in Ohio at the NFCA camp results at last years Sting Rays NFCA camp. You will see very few break 60 on the list, even though everyone posts they throw over 60.

http://www.nfca.org/pagebank/?id=1879

The list

 

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Nac- you are right about the ball traveling at the same speed. Some kids can get a better whip/wrist snap with the smaller ball and therefore when they make the jump, their speeds stay a little flat until they adjust...

Fairman- you are 100% correct....but the fact remains that parents of pitchers are interested in who threw what at what age to gauge their child's progress- I am just as guilty

 

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http://www.pitchsoftball.com/Page8.html

From the above Link...

11-years old - High 30's to Mid 40's

12-years old - Low 40's to Upper 40's

13-years old - Mid 40's to Low-50's

14-years old - 50+

Average high school pitcher - 53-57 mph

These are more realistic numbers

 

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From the above Link...




These are more realistic numbers

Those numbers make me feel better. Whew!

 

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It may also help to know that on the NFCA list, the lower the number the older the player. The 15 higher player numbers in the 300s were incoming freshmen ( just completed 8th grade ) This camp was divided up into groups based on graduation year for the pitching session.

 

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From the above Link...




These are more realistic numbers

I totally agree too...... !!!!!!

 

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I don't know where you are playing; but a kid throwing 57 in High school is hardly average. She will be one you'll remember especially if she has the spin to go with it. An average speed range in a competitive high school programs 'WORKING SPEED" is closer to 50 to 55. In the smaller rural programs I bet these numbers are even lower. All these kids will get lucky on a radar in some showcase in SC and throw one pitch at 61; that is not their game speed but that is the speed they will put on their resume.

Pay attention to the spin. (you can now measure with RevFire). An elite High School pitcher throwing 25RPS and only 57MPH is virtually un-hittable. Everyone tells you movement is most important but few truly look at it and they allow their testosterone take over their better judgement. I saw a kid at Pennsbury throwing in the low 40's but that was offset with a 35RPS spin, talk about movement. I bet her ERA was vastly superior to all the fast-ballers in the 60's+ .

It is all about speed AND spin. We will hit the bejesus out of a fireballer with no movement and no change up. We call it batting practice because the ball may be coming in 65 but it is leaving even quicker.

Do not let your daughter see these numbers as a requirement to be successful. Almost everyone thinks that their pitchers are faster than they actually are and it puts tremendous pressure on these kids to man-up and throw harder which leads to mechanical problems and actually will decrease their speed. Don't become a slave of the radar gun.

If she is going to pitch as a 9 she has 9 years to find her mo-jo, settle in for the long haul.

 

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I could not agree more when it comes to the spin on the ball. The spin creates movement and a ball with movement is a lot harder to hit than a 60 mph fastball. Sooner or later that gets timed up and is hit a long way.

 

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I'll bite, but I'm sure i will catch some flack as this subject seems to always be a hot topic. Just remember, there are many factors involved here (example- if you have a 5ft 10inch kid, she should be throwing 57+ even if she is only 11 years old ....might be a little wild, but she should still be able to bring it because of her size). Also, the numbers that I am listing are "top speeds", something you would see at a pitching lesson, not necessarily what is thrown in the game when a girl is trying to locate a pitch.

9u (40-44 mph good; 45+ elite)
10u (45-48 mph good; 48+ elite)
11u (46-48 mph good- remember they just move back 5 more ft and have a bigger ball; 48+ elite)
12u (48-53 mph good; 53+ elite)
13u (52-55 mph good; 55+ elite)
14u (55-58 mph good; 59+ elite)
I've been told that hitting 60 (again as a top speed, not an average) as an 8th grader is what these girls should be striving for.

I agree with this list. Seen it with my own eyes and gun and pitching staff for the past 5 years. Can't speak beyond 12u but know Kavin's Static 97 team has seen numbers in the 14u's like noted.

I will say that ASA A 12u Eastern nationals top working speeds were 53-55. Only a couple of teams that strong. Most 12u teams at that level had a couple girls throwing 49-53, more around 51-52 with incredible location and very few walks if any. It was all about who could hit, and hit hard and make it unplayable for the defense. Many games finished very close in score. So, speed is a testosterone statement at this age (or any age). Had to have a complete team with depth to make it thru. And a lil' luck from time to time

We have faced faster pitching this year (at Lasers, Danger tournament, and GAPSS). Lasers Gray had the strongest we had faced in a game. My guesstimate is she "worked" at 56-58. Classics 98 have a couple flame throwers too. Didn't gun either but know of others that have but since I didn't personally won't say speeds for sure. Valley Extreme-Warren has a tough pitcher as well.

 

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You will see very few break 60 on the list, even though everyone posts they throw over 60.

Amen to that !! I know someone who wants me to think that his 14U daughter's Change-Up is 54....

A note to new members of our community - Believe what you see, not what you hear.

 

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If the title was top "game speeds" the numbers would drop 4-7mph...;&

 

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Speed is important, but there are a ton of other things that are MORE important for a 9 year old pitcher to be concerned about! Instead of comparing her speed to other pitchers, she should have her OWN benchmark she is trying to improve. I honestly have no idea what my DD's fastball was at 12u, because I didn't own a radar gun. What we did make sure of was that her overall mechanics were sound. Yes, she was throwing hard, but the speed came from the sum of all the OTHER stuff she worked at.

If your DD is using good form, just keep working HARD on drills that improve explosiveness - multiple arm circle drills, distance pitching, leg drives etc. As she gets older, if she continues to maximize her explosiveness without sacrificing form, her speed will follow.

 

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I had a beginner 5th grader this morning, that plays LL. She was throwing 36. She has been to 3 lessons. So, most of it depends on how much experience she has.

I have 2 students that have had 3 full years of lessons. They play 12U TB. On a rare occasion, they can reach 52. But, they can't cruise there.

 

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I believe one of the issues is the audience of OFC'ers that are exposed to "All-Star" pitching thru travel ball. We see the cream of the crop regularly so it's difficult to judge what the majority of girls put in age groups actually throw.

fairman actually shares some valid stats in my opinion. While the numbers may not be as high as you believe to be real, I believe them true and agree with others that you should be more concerned with other aspects of pitching rather than focusing on speed.

Speed is realitive to each individual as to her level of skill. I believe as they mature and gain confidence, speed will increase. Don't get me wrong, I believe you can aid a pitcher through proper timing and mechanics but eventually you'll hit a personal wall that will keep you from throwing any faster.

One quick note; I recently heard a coach mention that a pitching instructor told him that his daughter is good but if they could work with this 15 yr. old they would promise that her speed would increase another 3-5mph by the time she was a senior. Point and fact is; the kid will increase her speed 3-5mph in the next 3 years of regular practice all by herself in most cases just because she'll be mentally and physically capable as she gets older. I believe the kid could obtain an additional 3-5mph in the next 3 months if she wanted to, but her calendar won't allow her the time needed to get there. That's OK because we can't always go that extra mile without compromise and in this case her grades and family obligations are more important.

Some times a pitching instructor is simply motivation and a cheerleader-------but at a price.

 

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JMHO. Goals 9u 40mph 10u better be upper 40's and 12u you better be at 50 or have a lose your shoes change up and awesome control or any good TB team will have a mid 40's 12u pitcher for batting practice.

 

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JMHO. Goals 9u 40mph 10u better be upper 40's and 12u you better be at 50 or have a lose your shoes change up and awesome control or any good TB team will have a mid 40's 12u pitcher for batting practice.

If a kid playing competitive travel ball doesn't have a fairly well developed change-up by 12u, even low 50's won't help her against well trained batters. I can't stress enough - it's NOT the speed alone, it's the CHANGE of speed, which adds to being an unpredictable pitcher.