I need some help with some mathmatics. I just recently purchased a 22' batting cage so what I want to find out is how fast do I need to set the pitching machine to get the equivalent of a 40 mph pitch @ 35'. The pitching machine when attached to the cage is about 19' away from the plate. A little help with this and the formula of how you came up with this.
Speed and Reaction Time
- Thread starter jlob
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FiveFrameSwing
Banned
You can approximate it as follows ....
40mph/35ft = Xmph/19ft
X = (40mph/35ft)*19ft = 21.7mph
40mph/35ft = Xmph/19ft
X = (40mph/35ft)*19ft = 21.7mph
Thank You, Do you think that I am looking at this the right way to get a similar reaction time when she is in the cage?
FiveFrameSwing
Banned
What you are considering doing will yield a similar reaction time ... and for small changes in distances this approach will get you pretty much in the ball park. What this approach does not do is make up for the differences in approach velocity.
I like the recommendation about performing front-toss. Excellent way to allow a hitter to work on their mechanics while not overwhelming them with speed.
I like the recommendation about performing front-toss. Excellent way to allow a hitter to work on their mechanics while not overwhelming them with speed.
The same concept can be applied to catching to work on skills without the punishment of full speed pitches.
There are a couple of potential issues regarding the distances you've posted.
- If you specified 35' because that is the pitching distance for 10U, you need to reduce it for where the pitcher actually releases the ball. Using 35' for 12U's 40' distance may be fairly close.
- Pitching distances are measured to the back point of home plate and you should do your calc's for where she makes contact.
Regardless, you can't recreate the full distance experience by scaling it down, so be careful with your expectations.
JJsqueeze
Dad, Husband....legend
I would cut a hole in the back at the side the machine is on and set the pitching machine up closer to real distance. IMO the scaling distance and speed thing has not worked well for me. We use the machine at full distance minus stride length and I vary the speed between slow pitchers and fast pitchers as I set it up DD gets to use my adjustment pitches as on deck time to adjust her timing, then she gets an at bat or two, then I adjust the speed and repeat.
I think this is the best idea, I guess I will do this just did not want to cut a new cage. I might just bite the bullet and and another 22' section to it as well.
Thanks for everyone's input, this really helped me understand what I need to do to accomplish what I was after.
