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  • Love the game Amateur
    Love the game
    21 posts since
    Jan 13, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    30. Jul 17, 2008 8:27 AM (in response to jcompton44__1)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    I had a Jugs Professional radar gun on my 13 year old daughter during a tournament in Seattle a couple of weeks ago.  She was throwing her fastball consistently at 58mph.  Our other top pitcher  was consistent at  56mph.  In our division (U14 "A" teams), pretty much every team has one kid throwing at or over 55mph.  Ball movement is improving all the time.

  • Edge Rookie
    Edge
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    May 25, 2007
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    31. Jul 27, 2008 7:56 AM (in response to dmblegends)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    63 to 65 is not all that rare. It is not common but it isnt rare. That being said it is not speed that is king. It is MOVEMENT and LOCATION at a good speed. A 68 mph pitcher that throws straight darts will be wacked over the fence EVERY time. A 59 mph pitcher with good movement will beat a faster pitcher with little movement every time. Alabama's pitcher , who is a freshman, threw the ball only one time at 60 mph at the college world series. The rest of her pitches maxed out at 59. They had a faster pitcher in their ranks, Owens , who throws 68 to 70. Why was she on the bench? The 59 mph pitcher was more effective. Something to think about.

  • Tayven Rookie
    Tayven
    2 posts since
    Jul 27, 2008
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    32. Jul 27, 2008 11:35 AM (in response to saraallent)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    i play softball too i'm 10 years old and i have a friend that pitches 44-47 so you and i have the same idea and were going in to 12 and under so I agree you are right

  • carty1 Rookie
    carty1
    2 posts since
    Apr 24, 2008
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    33. Jul 30, 2008 7:18 AM (in response to Tayven)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    I also question the validity of some of the guns. My 13 year old clocked 55 by her pitching coach last winter, but in tryouts, she couldn't top 49. That being said, she has good movement on her breaking pitches. Throughout the season, the teams that hit well against our pitchers that were faster but lacked this movement, she faired well. Personally, I think she is in the 50-51 range but I don't have a gun.

  • SoftballPerformance_com Pro
    SoftballPerformance_com
    128 posts since
    May 25, 2007
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    34. Jul 30, 2008 12:59 PM (in response to saraallent)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    Speed kills they say. Most people love speed wether in cars or in sports, speed is thrilling. There is no question speed is key performance factor in softball.

     

    However, it is a bit overrated. Speed is easy to hit... with flat pitches. The ball has to moved. Put speed on movement and you have a killer combo.

     

     

     

    To increase pitching speed, you need to work on strength and power development, optimizing mechanics and use speed pitching drills to increase pitching velocity. 

     

     

     

     

     

    -

    Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS, ChPC

    Softball Peak Performance Coach

     

    For FREE softball performance tips, sign-up for my FREE newsletter at http://www.softballperformance.com

  • saraallent Active.com Staff
    saraallent
    1,094 posts since
    Oct 2, 2007
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    35. Jul 30, 2008 1:16 PM (in response to SoftballPerformance_com)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    Speaking of which, do these pitchers have several pitches at a young age or are those developed later?

  • green242 Rookie
    green242
    1 posts since
    Jul 30, 2008
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    36. Jul 30, 2008 7:34 PM (in response to saraallent)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

     

    i just turned 13 and i pitch constivley 53 but when i really work hard i pitch 54 and i have

     

     

    fastball,change up,screw,rise,and working on drop!

     

     

  • saraallent Active.com Staff
    saraallent
    1,094 posts since
    Oct 2, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    37. Aug 4, 2008 8:53 AM (in response to green242)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    Ohhh nice! That's a lot of pitches. Which one is the hardest to hit?

  • saraallent Active.com Staff
    saraallent
    1,094 posts since
    Oct 2, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    38. Aug 5, 2008 9:50 AM (in response to saraallent)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    Interesting article...

     

    4 Drills to Improve Pitching Speed: http://www.active.com/softball/articles/4_Drills_to_Improve_Pitching_Speed.htm

  • propcom1 Rookie
    propcom1
    1 posts since
    Jul 6, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    39. Aug 12, 2008 8:01 AM (in response to saraallent)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

     

    I'm a little late on this thread but...

     

     

    I just witnessed some 10u tryouts where the pitchers were clocked. I saw a 10 year old clocked at 45-46 mph, another at 42-43 and my 8 year old daughter clocked at 37-40 mph. Given the fact that my 8 year old daugfhter is stepping off the mound rather than pushing off & she has 2 more years at 10u, I'm estimating that she will be pitching between 50 to 55 mph before moving up to 12u. Of course this is assuming that she continues to work hard as nothing will just happen.

     

     

    To the father of the 13u who pitches at 63 mph, it's entirely possible. I hope she sticks with it and good luck!

     

     

  • Love the game Amateur
    Love the game
    21 posts since
    Jan 13, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    40. Sep 18, 2008 8:46 AM (in response to propcom1)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    Well, tryouts are underway for next season.  My daughter's team went to the Canadian Nationals, and finished with a Bronze Medal.  Over the 25 innings she pitched, she gave up just one walk and one earned run.  Her ERA was .28  ... she hit pretty well too -- batting average was .444 over 27 at bats.  She's moving to Bantam-A next season (U15/16).  It's gonna be a great year!  To all you Dads out there -- tell your kid that hard work over the winter will pay off when ball season starts.

  • Trish18 Active.com Staff
    Trish18
    457 posts since
    Jun 5, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    41. Sep 18, 2008 9:25 AM (in response to Love the game)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    That's awesome. Congrats!





    Community Development Specialist | Team Sports
  • ed__704 Rookie
    ed__704
    2 posts since
    May 30, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    42. Oct 6, 2008 2:13 PM (in response to Trish18)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    I have to say that these numbers are way too low.  My daughter is a slightly above-average pitcher at 10u and her top speed is currently 47 mph.  Virtually all 10u travel pitchers in Southern California are throwing between 48 and 52 mph top speed.  The speeds you list are probably good for normal rec ball pitchers, and average rec ball all star pitchers.

  • ed__704 Rookie
    ed__704
    2 posts since
    May 30, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    43. Oct 6, 2008 2:13 PM (in response to Trish18)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    I have to say that these numbers are way too low. My daughter is a slightly above-average pitcher at 10u and her top speed is currently 47 mph. Virtually all 10u travel pitchers in Southern California are throwing between 48 and 52 mph top speed. The speeds you list are probably good for normal rec ball pitchers, and average rec ball all star pitchers.

  • saraallent Active.com Staff
    saraallent
    1,094 posts since
    Oct 2, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    44. Oct 9, 2008 1:22 PM (in response to ed__704)
    Re: Average Softball Pitching Speed

    Every time I read this thread I want to get  my hands on a radar gun and test myself. I'll resist the urge, but I am curious.

     

     

     

     

    Propcom1 – Good info. Sounds like your daughter is on her way to being a great player.

     

    Love the game – Canadian Nationals! That’s awesome. Congrats to your daughter! Sounds like she did excellent. I agree with you about preparing during the winter. It makes a huge difference in any sport.

     

    Ed_704 – Way too low? Interesting. Your daughter throws the heat!  Good for her.

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