Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Re: Checking Speed of Pitcher

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Speedtrac Radar says that you should place your unit on the ground about 25-30 ft. (7.62m) in front of the pitcher. Placing the unit close to the pitcher/bowler, rather than the target area, will result in higher ?out of the hand? speeds. When used at closer distances it is best to activate the Pro Mode to avoid ghosting and the possible reading of arm, leg or body movement speeds.

But is this correct?

 

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I found what I think is a more accurate way than a inexpensive radar gun. I think sometimes the guns accuracy is off and there are alot of variables as far as how and where it is pointed. for my system all you need is a stop watch. click when the ball leaves her hand and when it hits the mitt. i think that it is a little better than a cheap gun

 

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Here is a chart you can use to calculate pitching speeds using a stopwatch...

http://www.fastsports.com/tips/tip31/pitchspeed.PDF

 

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"Placing the unit close to the pitcher/bowler, rather than the target area, will result in higher ?out of the hand? speeds."

Who really cares about some silly thing called "out of the hand speed"? The last time I checked, the batter stood 40 feet away, not at the end of the pitcher's arm. The "target area" is where the batter will be and that is what really matters.

 

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I used the stopwatch method for several years. I made up a little pocket sized card using an Excel spreadsheet as a cheat sheet. My DD used to have a pitching coach that had the SpeedTrac displays. He had them on the floor as you described, but they were ALL over the place on speed. I did much better with my stopwatch. It could have been the placement though - and these were older devices.

I bought a Bushnell gun a few years ago. I compared the Bushnell's readings to freeway speed readings on my GPS, and it was accurate to 1 mph. I think most of the inaccuracy problems you hear about these guns are caused by operator errors and misuse. The problem with the gun (at games) is you need to be "in-line" with the travel of the pitch. So you're going to be the geek standing behind the backstop trying to get a clear shot through the screen. With a stopwatch, you can sit anywhere that you can see the pitch release and the catcher's mitt.

I charted her speeds with the gun at practices, where you can stand BEHIND the pitcher out of harms way. I got the same readings as when standing behind the catcher. But after using the gun awhile, I surmised that it was good enough using the stopwatch - and a LOT more convenient.

Measuring pitch speed is not (and should not be) an exact science. Your goal should be more of a reference and general comparison than anything. You can tell with a cheap stopwatch if she's throwing 60 or over. You can also tell if she's only throwing in the low 50s.

Another overlooked method of measuring speed (which is VERY accurate AND foolproof) is to use a digital camcorder. You just step through the footage frame-by-frame, counting the frames from pitch release until the ball hits the catcher's mitt. At 30 frames per second, you can do the math. With the video, you may even see some mechanics issues to work on!

 

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SPEED WATCH SPX 2000 cant remember where i got it

 

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You can get it at www.SoftballJunk.com but it was cheaper here...

http://www.webball.com/cms/page1552.cfm

 

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SAMMY. good idea on the digital camcorder/camera. We have been using it to correct flaws , but not speed. The radar guns are not used properly and you get all kind of wild times. It's the speed over the plate that counts. You hear about young kids in the 60, I laugh. We have timed many high school pitchers over the years and it amazes me the speed that you hear and then what it really is. .

 

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Thanks for the chart. After looking at it noticed around a 4 mph diffrence for every 2 feet. Do you subtract the distance the pitcher leaps (or release point) for your calculations or just use the standard 40'?

 

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Glove Radar , Reads the speed over the plate.

 

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The release point is out in front of the rubber, but you have to remember that the catcher's mitt is also nearly an equivalent distance from the back point of home plate. For practical purposes, 40' is pretty close to the actual ball travel distance. Every pitcher has a slightly different release point. Video from the side will show you the exact release point and catcher's mitt location.

 

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Actually a stationary radar gun can be used behind or in front of the pitcher, it makes no difference to the gun and arm motion wiil not affect the reading. The only thing that will affect a reading is if the radar is not in a good line with the ball but it would have to be at least 30-40 degrees off of the balls path to give a slower reading. The hand units don't emit a continuous beam like police radar but give a "pulse" when the trigger is pushed giving the balls speed where it is in it's flight at that moment. If you want to check a guns accuracy ask a local cop with a radar unit in his cruiser to borrow his tuning fork for a second. These special tuning forks have a speed in MPH stamped on them. You hit the fork, Point your radar gun at it and pull the trigger. If your unit is in calibration it's reading will match the speed stamped on the fork.