Male and female pitching speeds.

[BLB]

How much faster (%) would you expect elite male pitchers to throw compared to their female counterparts (game speed)? Reason(s) for expecting a particular percentage difference? Just wondering if the difference should be more or less than what it actually is and examine why.

 

[sluggers]

Elite male pitchers can throw between 75-85 MPH. Elite female pitchers throw 65-70 MPH.

I think most of the reason is tied to superior upper body strength.

 

[CoachFP]

Just as important is the difference in movement. The men can spin the ball better and it moves a lot more.

 

[Hillhouse]

Fastest pitcher in the world, Adam Folkard, throws 86mph. Slowest pitcher in the world, Bill Hillhouse throws 68. ha ha

I don't disagree that upper body and spin has a lot to do with it. But I think a lot of it has to do with what young girls are taught from the start of their pitching. Many are taught to do things in such an "incorrect" way at the beginning of how they pitch that it takes way too long, sometimes forever before it's able to get corrected. IF ever. On top of this, when they are taught at the young ages and then taught corrections which completely refute what they did... it can frustrate them to the point where they quit.

 

[Hillhouse]

Baseball (60 feet, 6 inches) Fastpitch Softball–Men(46 feet) Fastpitch Softball–Women (43 feet)
Speed of Pitch (MPH) Reaction time to make contact (seconds)

Baseball Men FP Women FP
60 0.688 60 0.523 45 0.652
70 0.589 65 0.483 50 0.586
80 0.516 70 0.448 55 0.533
90 0.458 75 0.418 60 0.489
95 0.434 80 0.392 65 0.451
100 0.413 85 0.369 70 0.419

These speeds and reaction times are based as though they pitch from the rubber and have no step, push, leap or jump forward.

 

[Coach Stan]

So Bill you throw in the high 60's. On a good day I threw high 60's to low 70's. What I relied on was my movement more than speed. I faced some pretty good speed guys in my days. We normally caught up to their speed. But the guys who threw speed and movement where the ones who sent us home early.

 

[Hillhouse]

So Bill you throw in the high 60's. On a good day I threw high 60's to low 70's. What I relied on was my movement more than speed. I faced some pretty good speed guys in my days. We normally caught up to their speed. But the guys who threw speed and movement where the ones who sent us home early.

Stan, I was kidding. I was making a joke, 86 mph. 68 mph. Get it?

 

[SBFAMILY]

In most cities, considerably less than 5% (and sometimes only 1% or 2%) of all teenage pitchers consistently hit an "honest" 60 mph in games.
After being to more than my share of college NFCA pitching camps I feel this is pretty accurate statement. After attending Bill's camps and Doug Gillis camps, I think it has to do with training at the early ages, as Bill points out.

 

[SoCalSoftballdad]

I don't disagree that upper body and spin has a lot to do with it. But I think a lot of it has to do with what young girls are taught from the start of their pitching. Many are taught to do things in such an "incorrect" way at the beginning of how they pitch that it takes way too long, sometimes forever before it's able to get corrected. IF ever. On top of this, when they are taught at the young ages and then taught corrections which completely refute what they did... it can frustrate them to the point where they quit.

What specific drills or techniques do you recommend for the young pitchers to use to put truer, faster spin and movement on the ball? I know you advocate the "K" drill and argue that the fastball should be your drop ball, but more information on specific drills would be most helpful.

 

[Coach Stan]

Yes, Bill I got it. That is why I lead in with your statement when I replied I knew you were kidding.