Our baseball Pitching Speed Calculator is a handy app designed to calculate and analyze the velocity of a pitcher’s throw using Speed = Distance / Time formula.
- Youth and Little League pitchers typically throw in the 40-60 mph range
- High school varsity pitchers average 70-90 mph, with top pitchers reaching 90+ mph
- College pitchers generally throw 80-95 mph, with elite Division I arms reaching 95+ mph
- Professional pitchers regularly throw 90-105 mph, with the fastest reaching 105+ mph
Baseball Pitching Speed Calculator
| Scenario | Distance (ft) | Time (s) | Calculated Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth League | 46 | 0.55 | 56.84 |
| High School | 60.5 | 0.50 | 82.28 |
| College | 60.5 | 0.45 | 91.42 |
| Pro Fastball | 60.5 | 0.40 | 102.85 |
| Knuckleball | 60.5 | 0.75 | 54.85 |
| Little League | 46 | 0.60 | 51.76 |
| Travel Ball | 60.5 | 0.47 | 87.88 |
| High School JV | 60.5 | 0.52 | 79.41 |
| College Closer | 60.5 | 0.42 | 98.21 |
| Minor League | 60.5 | 0.41 | 100.43 |
Pitch Speed by Age Chart
| Age | Average Fastball Speed |
|---|---|
| 10-12 | 40-50 mph |
| 13-14 | 55-65 mph |
| 15-16 | 70-80 mph |
| 17-18 | 80-90 mph |
| College | 85-95 mph |
| Pro | 90-105 mph |
Baseball Pitching Speed Formula
The formula for calculating pitch speed is:
Speed = Distance / TimeWhere:
- Speed = Speed of the pitch (in feet per second)
- Distance = Distance from the pitcher’s mound to home plate (typically 60.5 feet in professional baseball)
- Time = Time taken for the pitch to travel that distance (in seconds)
A more detailed formula is:
Pitch Speed (mph) = (Release Distance in feet / Time of flight in seconds) * (3600 / 5280)- Release Distance: The actual distance the ball travels, considering the pitcher’s release point
- Time of flight: Measured from release to crossing home plate
- (3600 / 5280): Conversion factor from feet per second to miles per hour
Example calculation:
- Release distance: 55 feet
- Time of flight: 0.4 seconds
Pitch Speed = (55 / 0.4) (3600 / 5280) ≈ *93.75 mph
How fast is 60 mph from 46 feet?
A 60 mph pitch from 46 feet would feel like a 79 mph pitch in the major leagues.
To understand the perceived speed of a 60 mph pitch from 46 feet (standard Little League distance), we need to calculate its equivalent speed from the MLB mound distance of 60 feet 6 inches.
Using the formula:
Equivalent Speed = (Actual Speed * MLB distance) / Actual distanceEquivalent Speed = (60 60.5) / 46 ≈ *78.91 mph
How to calculate pitching speed?
- Measure the Distance: Confirm that the distance from the pitcher’s mound to home plate is 60.5 feet.
- Time the Pitch: Use a stopwatch to measure how long it takes for the ball to travel from the pitcher’s hand to the catcher’s glove. If it takes 0.47 seconds, record this time.
- Calculate Speed in Feet per Second: Plug your values into the formula: Speed = 60.5 / Time This would translate approximately 129 feet per second.
- Convert to Miles Per Hour: To convert feet per second to miles per hour, multiply by 0.682: Speed (mph) = Speed (feet per second) * 0.682
Alternatively, you can use a direct formula for speed in miles per hour: Speed (mph) = (60.5 / Time) * 0.682
Example:
- Distance: 58 feet
- Time of flight: 0.45 seconds
Speed = (58 / 0.45) (3600 / 5280) ≈ *87.88 mph
How fast is 70 mph from 30 feet in MLB?
A 70 mph pitch from just 30 feet would be perceived as an astounding 141 mph in the MLB.
To understand how a 70 mph pitch from 30 feet compares to MLB standards, we’ll use the equivalent speed formula:
Equivalent Speed = (Actual Speed * MLB distance) / Actual distance
Equivalent Speed = (70 60.5) / 30 ≈ *141.17 mph
Sources / Reference URLs
- MLB.com – Statcast Pitch Tracking
- Journal of Applied Biomechanics – Pitching Biomechanics
- American Sports Medicine Institute – Pitch Smart Program
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