Whether thrown, pitched or hit with a bat, the speed at which a baseball travels can vary greatly. Individual pitchers, varieties of pitches and styles of pitching lend themselves to a range of speeds. Similarly, batted balls travel at a range of speeds, varying with the type of bat used and a hitter's playing style. Many factors contribute to a range of speeds of pitched and batted balls, including experience level, strength, ability and environmental conditions.
Pitching
With help from former major-league pitcher Dave Baldwin, A. Terry Bahill and John Ramberg determined the average speeds for various pitches. In a 2009 study, the authors found the average pitch speed to be 85 mph for major-league pitchers. The average, however, arises from a variety of speeds associated with different pitch types. The authors estimated the typical speeds of different pitch types using ranges to encompass 90 percent of all major-league pitches, with speeds measured at the moment of release. Fastballs were found to typically fall between 85 and 95 mph, with sliders ranging from 80 to 85 mph, curveballs from 70 to 80 mph and both change-ups and knuckleballs ranging from 60 to 70 mph.
Batted Ball
Based on the average speeds for pitches in the minor and professional leagues, Bahill and colleagues calculated the average speed for batted balls. Using the pitching values, the typical speed for a line drive hit off an 85 mph Major League Baseball pitch is 135 mph, while minor-league players hit line drives at an average of 109 mph. In comparison, a 2009 study by Frank Spaniol of Texas A&M University found NCAA Division 1 players to hit balls at an average speed of 83.6 mph. This overall average, considerably lower than the average speed for line drives, reflects the lower speed of most batted balls, which include a variety of relatively slow-moving fly balls.
Throwing
In his 2009 study, Spaniol found balls thrown by fielders to travel considerably slower than the values for pitches. Measured with a radar gun near the point of release, NCAA Division 1 players were found to throw balls at an average speed of 78.2 mph. Reflecting the different levels or ability and physical development, this is a considerable improvement over the average throwing speed of 72.8 mph among high school players.
Other Factors
Gravity and air resistance reduce the speed of a baseball over the course of its flight. Bahill and colleagues also found the average speed of both pitches and hits to increase with decreasing air density. A player's physical strength also increases the speed of pitches and hits. In a 2008 study, R.G. Tobin of Tufts University found a 10 percent increase in strength to be associated with a 5 percent increase in both hitting and pitching speeds.
References
- "International Journal of Sports Science and Engineering"; Effects of Altitude and Atmospheric Conditions on the Flight of a Baseball; A. Terry Bahill, et al.; June 2009
- "Strength and Conditioning Journal"; Baseball Athletic Test: A Baseball-Specific Test Battery; Frank J. Spaniol; April 2009
- "American Journal of Physics"; On the Potential of a Chemical Bonds: Possible Effects of Steroids on Home Run Production in Baseball; R.G. Tobin; January 2008
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