9.5 year old pitching speed

[riseball]

Speed is important do not minimize it. There is more to pitching then speed but that is the best staring point.

I agree that speed is important, just not paramount to success. Blazing speed without command and movement will only take you so far. My point is that if you work the mechanics to develop command and movement, the speed will come. I have not really worked with my DD on speed since she was a Junior in HS, and I would say her speed is acceptable. But it is her command and movement that has gotten the job done.

 

[RetiredCoach]

My youngest DD, who is in 14U right now, because of a neck/back condition (temporary) has lost at least a few MPHs off of her pitching speed. However, her drop balls drops like crazy and she can put it where she wants so she averaged about two strikeouts per inning in Fall Ball action yesterday. We still want to get her max speed back but I don't think that her coaches noticed the lower speed or missed it yesterday.

 

[grcsftbll]

In practice mine has good accuracy. We'll see what happens in the circle for real. Her first time pitching in a tournament will be Saturday. She has a scrimmage Wed night too, and will probably get 2 innings then.

 

[goinglefty]

I found this somewhere on the web. Two different pitching speed by age comparisons. I think its close to what I have experienced.

Age
Average Pitching Speeds
Top Pitching Speeds
10u
37-41 MPH
43-46 MPH
12u
44-47 MPH
50-53 MPH
14u
46-49 MPH
52-55 MPH
16u
50-53 MPH
54-57 MPH
18u
53-56 MPH
58-61 MPH
College
59-64 MPH
65-72 MPH


Average and Top Pitching Speeds for Various Age Groups:

Keep in mind that the speeds listed are just what we have seen after 17 years of being around fastpitch softball. They are by no means totally accurate, simply a rough estimation.

10U - Avg. Speed 38-42 - Top Speed 48-53 Low to mid 50's is very rare.

12U - Avg. Speed 44-50 - Top Speed 53-59 Upper 50's is extremely rare but we have seen as high as 61 mph from a 13 year who was still eligible to play 12U

14U - Avg. Speed 49-54 Top Speed 56-61

16U - Avg. Speed 53-57 Top Speed 60-68 Again high 60's is very rare but there are a few capable

18U - See 16U

 

[Eric F]

10U - Avg. Speed 38-42 - Top Speed 48-53 Low to mid 50's is very rare.

This is in line with what our 10U experience has been.

 

[riseball]

I found this somewhere on the web. Two different pitching speed by age comparisons. I think its close to what I have experienced...

I would say they are pretty much dead on from what I have seen.

 

[DNeeld]

I would say they are pretty much dead on from what I have seen.

Agreed.

I'll also agree the velocity is important and should not be under emphasized, but nor should it be over emphasized.

In my opinion, at younger ages, tracking velocity is all about charting progress. When they come into 12u is the time to focus on velocity if it isn't there. Of course that is sort of a chicken/egg thing since if proper mechanics have been emphasized in the early years, the velocity will be there more often than not in the later years.

 

[CLM265]

Those are good charts from what I've seen also. 40-43 is very serviceable if the pitcher has good control. We're in our 3rd year of pitching in 10U TB and the top pitchers are hitting 50 unless they have some other traits such as great control, changing speeds and spinning the ball. Best of both worlds if you can do all of the above but that's not that common in 10U.

If she has good control with her fastball it's important to having her start learning a change up as soon as you can.

Good luck in her first tourney.

 

[iCEE]

9.5yo DD using the Athla app.

 

[coach james]

Ball size equals ball weight.... a 10u throwing 45mph will drop down to 41mph with a 12" ball. That extra oz makes a difference. Try to incorporate 12" balls into her routine to build a little muscle. Mechanics above ALL else. Form, spin, and location are more important than speed at 10u