The speed is a feet/second calculation that the radar gun computes which is converted to mph.
It basically measures the elapsed time the ball travels a certain distance. In order for the gun to measure this elapsed time & distance, the ball must be thrown toward the gun, which is why folks with radar guns sit behind the catcher. As the ball is thrown toward the gun, time and distance readings are being taken/measured and calculated. ....unless technology has advanced beyond my education & experience you cannot measure the speed with a radar gun standing in the dugout or on the sidelines.
So to answer your question...the speed is not measured at any one specific spot, rather in a range of travel. Theoreticaly the ball is decelerating right from the start. So the speed at release is fractionally faster than it is 5 feet away.
The effect the different types of spins and movements has is an interesting question but I personally think it might not have a big role in the final calculation. keep in mind, the entire pitch from start to the cathers mitt cannot be measured, unless the catcher is holding the gun (or you are standing behind the pitcher). Most guns are pointed toward the pitcher from behind the catcher & umpire, so at some point the ball will leave the field of vision the radar gun has.
The RevFire does the same thing; but it measures the entire traveled length from release to mitt. It measures the time the ball travels and the length it travels...it then compures the velocity (speed).
Same setup for a police radar trap...your car must be traveling towards or away from the radar gun...this is the only way it can measure the distance along with the time.
Hope this helps.
T
It basically measures the elapsed time the ball travels a certain distance. In order for the gun to measure this elapsed time & distance, the ball must be thrown toward the gun, which is why folks with radar guns sit behind the catcher. As the ball is thrown toward the gun, time and distance readings are being taken/measured and calculated. ....unless technology has advanced beyond my education & experience you cannot measure the speed with a radar gun standing in the dugout or on the sidelines.
So to answer your question...the speed is not measured at any one specific spot, rather in a range of travel. Theoreticaly the ball is decelerating right from the start. So the speed at release is fractionally faster than it is 5 feet away.
The effect the different types of spins and movements has is an interesting question but I personally think it might not have a big role in the final calculation. keep in mind, the entire pitch from start to the cathers mitt cannot be measured, unless the catcher is holding the gun (or you are standing behind the pitcher). Most guns are pointed toward the pitcher from behind the catcher & umpire, so at some point the ball will leave the field of vision the radar gun has.
The RevFire does the same thing; but it measures the entire traveled length from release to mitt. It measures the time the ball travels and the length it travels...it then compures the velocity (speed).
Same setup for a police radar trap...your car must be traveling towards or away from the radar gun...this is the only way it can measure the distance along with the time.
Hope this helps.
T