Average Speed for a 12U pitcher?? and Off season prep to get ready for Season,,,,

Speed will come but master the CU. My DD is first yr 14 and in the 12s it’s about the CU. Be able to throw CU anytime in the count. That’s more impressive than 55-58 mph. IMO


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MNDad said:

One thing to keep in mind is there’s a huge difference in practice speed and actual pitching speed. Plenty of 12 & 13 yo’s can hit 60 when all your they’re doing is throwing as hard as they can. Measure them in a game and it’ll be 2-5 mph slower.

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Agree with the practice speed versus games speed MN! on another note, do you really think there are plenty of 12 & 13 year olds hitting 60?? I know you have plenty of experience and trust your judgement but that is one I just don't think is happening. Yes, the freak 12-13 may do it but I don't think there are "plenty" of them out there. 60 is an extremely tough measure to surpass and I just don't see "plenty" of 6th graders out there throwing faster than HS kids.

Please know I DO respect your judgement and not calling you out on this and please elaborate more if you will. Thanks MN!!

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Elk Grove Hurricane said:

It is possible that some of the speeds that I hear of happened in practice or at a lesson somewhere, but I just don't see the 50 mph speeds in real tournament games, outside of the examples you provided. The 10U pitchers on the top local teams that I see and have gunned usually top out at 45-46, and one of those teams finished 5th or 6th in PGF last year. I don't like to use averages because the speeds of each team's pitchers can vary widely, but 41 is around the mean, and 35 is at the low end for second year 10u players. In 12U, some of the 13 year olds are throwing a lot harder, but I don't think they are close to 60.

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I agree with this statement. Maybe a freak once in awhile but I don't think most realize what 60 actually is. 6th graders are not throwing 60 people! 7th graders are not throwing 60 people!! Again, maybe a freak once in awhile but it is not everyday Softball USA. I am sorry but it just isn't.

grcsftbll said:

Also take any speed you don't clock yourself with a grain of salt. I've had a TON of parents tell me their kid pitches 50+ or their team's pitcher pitches 50+. In 10U I think I clocked two, in 2 years. I haven't done much clocking in 12U but now I hear about 55 and 60. I haven't seen anyone even close to 60 in 12U yet. The radar guns vary in accuracy and how you use them matters too. There's no speed a parent could name that would impress me until I see it for myself.

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Well said and absolutely true!

grcsftbll said:

Really? Even if it's just a straight fast ball? We're just 12U (travel) but it seems those girls who just have a fastball are getting hit pretty well, even when they're fast.

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I've never used a radar gun on the pitchers we face, but I'm guessing the better pitchers are mostly in the low 40s. Maybe mid 40s.

I have a girl who probably can touch 50, but she's just starting out and still is working on her control. (And, of course, as she improves her mechanics I know the velocity will increase. I have high hopes for that one.)

STRIKE3 said:

Agree with the practice speed versus games speed MN! on another note, do you really think there are plenty of 12 & 13 year olds hitting 60?? I know you have plenty of experience and trust your judgement but that is one I just don't think is happening. Yes, the freak 12-13 may do it but I don't think there are "plenty" of them out there. 60 is an extremely tough measure to surpass and I just don't see "plenty" of 6th graders out there throwing faster than HS kids.

Please know I DO respect your judgement and not calling you out on this and please elaborate more if you will. Thanks MN!!

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Yes, I think there’s a lot hitting 60 in practice. I’m assuming on the 12 yo’s because I’ve seen so many do it at 13. DD’s first TB program had a very good PC who routinely had first year 14U’s reaching 60. By “plenty” I’m referring to the country. There’s only a few in this area every year.

Nice job by your Longhorns today. DD got roughed up pretty good.

grcsftbll said:

Really? Even if it's just a straight fast ball? We're just 12U (travel) but it seems those girls who just have a fastball are getting hit pretty well, even when they're fast.

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Some HS ball isn't very impressive. A good 12U TB player is typically a significant step better than the average 14U-16U rec player.

PC doesn't blow smoke and wants them at 54 by 7th grade and 58 by 9th as a general rule.

We are 11u and play many PGF teams, one that has been mentioned in this thread specifically. Our #1 throws 49 consistently and hits 50-53. She throws harder than all but 2 of the girls we have seen in our 50+ games since August. Most of those games are against 12u teams. The best pitcher we have faced threw very consistently high 40s but had some wicked off pitches. My DD is our #2 and she is consistent 45-47 but has a very good CU.

MNDad said:

Yes, I think there’s a lot hitting 60 in practice. I’m assuming on the 12 yo’s because I’ve seen so many do it at 13. DD’s first TB program had a very good PC who routinely had first year 14U’s reaching 60. By “plenty” I’m referring to the country. There’s only a few in this area every year.

Nice job by your Longhorns today. DD got roughed up pretty good.

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Thanks MN for the additional post and good to know you are referring to the country. I would agree on that point and there probably are some 13 year old girls scattered throughout the country hitting those speeds. I just don't want the average or above average DD thinking if they aren't one of those players they don't have a shot. I know you definitely didn't say that and just wish we had a yearly "average" that bucket dads like me could believe and go by as a guage. I think there was a NCFA study a few years back from several camps that gave an average. I will have to go back and try to find it.

Lastly, I missed the Longhorn game earlier but while in Texas not a big fan. My blood is Sooner RED as I grew up and went to school there and fortunate they have an amazing program. Taking care of Baylor pretty well thus far and on ESPN tomorrow night.

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