Have you noticed a difference in game speeds vs practice speeds? If so, what’s the average mph difference you are seeing?
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Game vs practice speeds
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- Feb 15, 2017
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I’ve shot alot of pitchers with my Pocket radar in practice/lessons and games. In my experience in the younger ages the game speed is 3-4 mph slower, as you get more experienced kids (3-4 years pitching or 2nd yr 12s at a high level) I don’t see much difference. Maybe 1-2 mph. Negligible.
Now....I’m not comparing the “give it all you got, who cares where it goes” top speed to game speed. Comparing cruise vs cruise. I would say in the 20-25 pitchers Ive clocked this is the case 90% of the time. The other 10%? Yeah...they throw harder. The adrenaline/competitive thing is all I can come up with. DD is one of them. We have yet to see a top speed in the cage that matches that of her game speed. Those couple girls I’m seeing at ~2 mph faster consistently.
I would assume you are asking because you are seeing a noticeable difference. In my observation the more batters hit by a pitcher the more they relax and understand that its part of the game. If you figure out how to get the nerves out of the pitcher so they go full tilt in games please let me know....I have a couple that could use that magic potion!
Last couple years DD has thrown noticeable slower during games.
She is not pitching as much as she used to and is afraid to walk batters. I tell her that she is not pitching anyways so just throw it, I have had 0 success with that line.
She is not pitching as much as she used to and is afraid to walk batters. I tell her that she is not pitching anyways so just throw it, I have had 0 success with that line.
What age?
The goal is to throw just as hard during a game as practice. But, it is touch to achieve for young pitchers.
At young ages, the kids are slower in games than they are in practice. They have trouble with control, so they tend to slow down in order to "just throw strikes".
As they get older, the game and practice speed is about the same.
At the upper levels, the game speed exceeds the practice speed. Practice is focused primarily on control and spin, so they don't work that much on setting a new speed. During a game, the adrenaline kicks in, and pitchers can throw faster during the game than at practice.
The goal is to throw just as hard during a game as practice. But, it is touch to achieve for young pitchers.
At young ages, the kids are slower in games than they are in practice. They have trouble with control, so they tend to slow down in order to "just throw strikes".
As they get older, the game and practice speed is about the same.
At the upper levels, the game speed exceeds the practice speed. Practice is focused primarily on control and spin, so they don't work that much on setting a new speed. During a game, the adrenaline kicks in, and pitchers can throw faster during the game than at practice.
- Nov 18, 2013
- 2,258
- 113
I think that's an important distinction.
The particular pitchers I’m thinking of are in the 14u/16u ages. I’ve heard of some surprising numbers out of a recent camp from one of the persons running the camp and there is a significant difference (on the higher side) between the camp speed and what I’ve seen these pitchers throw in games. I’ve seen these girls throw in games within the past month so I’m wondering if it’s a matter of no batter / no umpire calling strikes so let’s let it fly versus being game speed being slower due to strikes and balls being a factor.
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My DD is noticeably slower in a game. 13 yoa. Can not get her to turn it loose in a game. I don't know the actual mph difference. I'd say she can cruise at pratice in low 50's and cruises in the games in the upper 40's. I'm hoping that a little more maturing will get her over the hump. Has better control when she really turns it loose, so I don't know what the 13 yr old is thinking. If i figure that out, I'm writing a book.
Write the book anyway. Just make stuff up. The rest of us don't know either, so who's gonna call you on it?
Every pitcher on the planet does it and it's normal, Pitching practice and competing in a game takes brain capacity. Your brain will split it's ability during games taking away from speed and accuracy . It's like running a 100 yard eating a sandwich. You'll run slower and eat a sandwich slower than if you did both separately.
