How fast does the average HS pitcher throw?
- Thread starter Yappi
- Start date
NewOldBlood
Well-known member
I doubt the average is close to 55. If you go through all divisions I would guess it's actually closer to 50. 60+ in high school is elite and a lot of the better pitchers in Ohio actually throw somewhere between 55-60. Their parents will probably tell you they throw 60, but a radar gun would tell a different story lol.
NewOldBlood
Well-known member
Average softball pitching speed by age
Age Average Pitching Speeds High-end Averages
10 35 – 39 MPH 40 – 43 MPH
11 38 – 42 MPH 43 – 46 MPH
12 41 – 48 MPH 49 – 53 MPH
13 45 – 53 MPH 54 – 56 MPH
14 46 – 54 MPH 55 – 58 MPH
15 49 – 54 MPH 55 – 60 MPH
16 51 – 55 MPH 56 – 62 MPH
17 52 – 56 MPH 57 – 65 MPH
18 55 – 59 MPH 60 – 68 MPH
College+ 58 – 65 MPH 66 – 74 MPH
https://fastpitcher.com/average-softball-pitching-speeds-by-age/
Found this chart on fastpitcher, gives you an idea of where most kids are at.
Age Average Pitching Speeds High-end Averages
10 35 – 39 MPH 40 – 43 MPH
11 38 – 42 MPH 43 – 46 MPH
12 41 – 48 MPH 49 – 53 MPH
13 45 – 53 MPH 54 – 56 MPH
14 46 – 54 MPH 55 – 58 MPH
15 49 – 54 MPH 55 – 60 MPH
16 51 – 55 MPH 56 – 62 MPH
17 52 – 56 MPH 57 – 65 MPH
18 55 – 59 MPH 60 – 68 MPH
College+ 58 – 65 MPH 66 – 74 MPH
https://fastpitcher.com/average-softball-pitching-speeds-by-age/
Found this chart on fastpitcher, gives you an idea of where most kids are at.
I saw a 14 or 15 year old kid increase her pitch speed by about 10 miles an hour in about a 3 hour time span. This is how she did it.
She was throwing between 55 and 58. Someone saw it on a radar And told someone "she's throwing in the mid to upper 50s."
That person told someone "she's throwing in the high 50s."
That person told someone "she's throwing 59."
That person said "she's throwing the low 60s."
That person told someone "she's throwing 64."
That person told someone "she's tharowing in the mid 60s."
That person told someone "she's throwing any where between 65 and 68..."
If every one didn't have some where else to be I'm sure she could have cracked 100..
She was throwing between 55 and 58. Someone saw it on a radar And told someone "she's throwing in the mid to upper 50s."
That person told someone "she's throwing in the high 50s."
That person told someone "she's throwing 59."
That person said "she's throwing the low 60s."
That person told someone "she's throwing 64."
That person told someone "she's tharowing in the mid 60s."
That person told someone "she's throwing any where between 65 and 68..."
If every one didn't have some where else to be I'm sure she could have cracked 100..
NewOldBlood
Well-known member
I think I was at that same game lol.
Auggie
Well-known member
I don't get all the focus on speed. Yes it is intimidating to hear that loud pop of the catchers mitt as a batter swings late but to me changing speed effectively is a much better sign of a solid pitcher at the next level. I also know of coaches that use spin speed as opposed to velocity to decide if a young girl has a future as a pitcher as opposed to just a hard thrower.
Yappi
Go Buckeyes
In baseball, finding pitching speeds is rather easy for the top prospects as well as the up and coming kids. There is no database like that for softball. The only reliable data is watching the pitchers on ESPN.
The top college teams usually have a girl pitching in the upper 60s. The lesser teams that they are playing usually have a girl pitching right around 60. I've yet to see a college girl that pitched consistently around 55 or lower. I imagine those girls do get a chance to pitch in college but most of them are at DII and DIII colleges.
Definitely agree about changing speeds. That is something much more difficult to measure and understand. Fastball speed is one simple metric that is easy to measure and reliable from trusted sources. Plus, it's fun to talk about.