Height in Relationship to Pitching

[drc9805]

The longer the levers the better.

 

[MsDinosaur]

Barnhill is very unusual. Awful mechanics but high velocity. It will be interesting to see if she can learn to pitch legally and make it in the SEC.

I find that very interesting. I've never seen Barnhill pitch, but if she's not tall and has terrible mechanics, what is her secret to getting that high velocity?

 

[Crystol Owens Brown]

The longer the levers the better.

So this would hold true no matter the height of the pitcher?

 

[drc9805]

I'm no medical expert but I would say yes unless someone has freakishly long arms for their size. If your daughter has arms a couple inches longer than what's considered normal for her size then she may run into someone that's 5'5 and has arms that are an inch or two shorter than normal giving them both the same wingspan. The point was brought up to show there are other variables.

 

[fpitch11]

I have heard MLB people refer to "effective speed". If two pitchers throw the same speed, but one releases the ball 2-3 feet closer to plate, she should have a faster "effective speed". This would theoretically give an advantage to taller, longer limbed pitchers if their leg drive and glide were good. I have not seen this discussed much, but shorter reaction times for hitters due to this can be a significant advantage, and can also make movement pitches even tougher to hit due to shorter reaction times.

 

[cuzmail]

I have heard MLB people refer to "effective speed". If two pitchers throw the same speed, but one releases the ball 2-3 feet closer to plate, she should have a faster "effective speed". This would theoretically give an advantage to taller, longer limbed pitchers if their leg drive and glide were good. I have not seen this discussed much, but shorter reaction times for hitters due to this can be a significant advantage, and can also make movement pitches even tougher to hit due to shorter reaction times.

It does get mentioned from time to time. It was mentioned twice in this thread. Post #51 by JAD and post #53 by me.

 

[ArkFastpitch]

IMHO I don't think its by accident that some of the best pitchers in the world are tall. Monica Abbot is 6'3", Cat Osterman is 6'2, Jennie Finch is 6'0 and Sarah Pauly is 6'3. Not to say that there aren't shorter pitchers who aren't bad a$$es. Just that physics are more on the side of a taller pitcher because of the longer levers.

 

[sluggers]

The best pitcher in the world (Yuikko Ueno) is 5'9". Above average height, but not nearly as tall as the Americans.

 

[Ken B]

Listed as 5.9...

 

[ArkFastpitch]

The best pitcher in the world (Yuikko Ueno) is 5'9". Above average height, but not nearly as tall as the Americans.

Yes, a freak of nature.