How to Calculate How Fast a Pitcher Throws a Ball Per Second

One of the most important factors for pitchers and the batters they face is pitching speed. This is the amount of time it takes for a baseball to travel from the pitcher's mound to the edge of the plate. The fastest pitch on record was just under 101 mph. Uncertified measurements of pitching speeds up to 105 mph have been recorded. The average fastball in the major leagues will be in the 90s. Pitching speed readings are generally given in miles per hour; however, being as the time it takes for the ball to travel from the mound to the plate is a matter of seconds, it can be helpful to record the measurement in feet per second.

Things You'll Need

  • Radar gun
  • Stopwatch
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a radar gun to measure the speed. Position yourself behind the catcher and aim the gun toward the pitcher. As the pitch is released, watch the screen and take note of the highest speed that registers. The ball will slow down the farther it travels.

    • 2

      Measure with a stopwatch if you do not have a radar gun. Start the clock as the ball is released, and stop it when it reaches the plate.

    • 3

      Determine the distance. Measure the distance from the rubber on the mound to the front edge of home plate. On major league fields, this distance will be 60.5 feet.

    • 4

      Calculate the speed. If you have a miles per hour reading from the radar gun, multiply the speed by 1.467 to convert it to feet per second. For example, 90 mph equals 132 feet per second. If you used the stopwatch, divide the distance travelled by the time. For example, if the ball travelled 60.5 feet in 0.5 seconds then the speed will be 121 feet per second.