bullwhip/cracking baseball hitting the glove

Might want to see if the catcher has changed gloves or if he has a different catcher. When my son was 13, I got a new catchers mitt that was the loudest glove I have ever heard. Even in the 75 MPH range, you could hear it popping all over the field. 

same glove. nothing has changed

Before you get mesmerized by the sound of the ball in the catchers mitt and fall in love with 86 mph as your sons velocity I would strongly suggest getting a quality radar gun to check it out (assuming your son is in high school).    

Montanabaseball posted:

same glove. nothing has changed

Sounds like he has started throwing a "heavy ball."  That + movement might work well! 

Each Japan HS team has a special mitt to make the noise to create fear in the oppositing hitters.

Bob

Could not find a source to answer your question  suspect that there is some truth to it.  Here's a study on the sound off the bat http://www.baseballprospectus.....php?articleid=24465. Sorry but I guess you are going to have to find a radar gun.

Go on ebay and buy a used pocket radar gun and then check his velo.  You'll be surprised how often what sounds like 86 mph is actually 78-79 mph.  

When my son was 13 he was throwing a bullpen and a former D1 catcher was catching him.  The glove popped like I had never heard before.  The catcher smiled and looked at looked at me.  Then he said something like 'I can make anyone's pitch sound like that.'  He was 13 (5 years ago) then, and to this day hasn't broken 85.  He might have been throwing 70 that day. 

A few things may be making the glove pop. Your son is probably throwing harder.  The catcher may have changed his receiving and the ball is being caught squarely in the pocket.  Either way, I'm not too sure the sound always equates to velocity.  

I also have Dad's setting on my radar gun that inflates their kids velocity by 7 mph.   

My son is a catcher and a pitcher at 14u and I have noticed that the sound the pitch makes hitting the glove has more to do with the catcher than the pitcher.  Your kid is a 2017, according to your profile, it's time you took him somewhere to get his speed measured by an independent third party regardless of if he is throwing 70 or 90mph. Look for a cheap showcase or a camp, which will probably cost less than a personal radar gun.

It's possible that the catcher learned how to properly receive the ball. If you catch it just right 70 sounds like 80, 80 like 90 and so on. I feel that sound as a measure of ability is best left to the crack or lack thereof off a wood bat. The good ones sound different and there is no artificial way to produce that sweet sound.

As a parent of a former HS (now college) pitcher....I will caution you.....DO NOT buy a radar gun.  If you do DO NOT take it to a game.  You don't want to be "that guy" and you don't want your son to have to tell his friends/teammates that you are "that dad".  A parent of a kid on my son's team bought a gun (expensive) when his kid was in 8th grade and started carrying it to every game, travel, HS, whatever.   He became a running joke at games, especially when his son hadn't hit 80 by his junior year in HS.    Just a bit of advice from a guy who's seen a lot over the past 10-12 years lol

As a parent of a former HS (now college) pitcher....I will caution you.....DO NOT buy a radar gun.  If you do DO NOT take it to a game.  You don't want to be "that guy" and you don't want your son to have to tell his friends/teammates that you are "that dad".  A parent of a kid on my son's team bought a gun (expensive) when his kid was in 8th grade and started carrying it to every game, travel, HS, whatever.   He became a running joke at games, especially when his son hadn't hit 80 by his junior year in HS.    Just a bit of advice from a guy who's seen a lot over the past 10-12 years lol

I second this wholeheartedly.  Unfortunately it sounds like you may not have any folks in the program that can give you a reasonable estimate for his speed AND give you some assessment of his ability.  Whether he is throwing 74 or 82 by itself makes no difference.  What is more important is whether he can pitch.  While this is not really the OP's question, I guess I wanted to double up on BUCKEYE 2015's comments for all those other dads who will soon starting hearing that pop and want to run out and get the kid clocked.  If you think the kid is throwing 80+ and you don't have anyone around that can really give you a good assessment of both his approximate speed and his ability, perhaps you should seek out some professional help to sort things out (i.e. take the money you save and spend it on lessons).

It's the catcher's mitt and how the catcher receives the ball.

Get him gunned.  Don't be the guy who unjustifiably claims his kid can throw 75/80/86.  And then, don't be the guy who brags about it.  Nobody really respects or likes that guy.  You probably already know this, but it is just a gentle reminder. 

Montanabaseball posted:

hi all - first time poster and neophyte baseball dad.  my son is a pitcher and recently the sound of his pitched ball hitting the catchers glove has  gone from a loud thud or whack to a  crackle or the sound of a whip. its a noticeable difference. everybody has noticed. one of the kids on the teams grandpa (who used to play)said that is the sound of 86 MPH or higher. said that 86 is where the sound of the ball hitting the glove sounds different. none of us have a radar gun. I may break down and get one but this oldtimer says he can tell by the sound its at least 86. is approximating velocity by he sound of the ball hitting the glove an old wives tale or is there truth to it?

 

thanks everyone

It's pretty cool that your son is throwing hard enough that more people are taking notice.  The sound of the loud thud of a pitch into a catcher's mitt is one of the beautiful things of the game.  It's like you can almost smell it as well as hear it.  

To answer your question, though, yes, wives tale.  Velo can certainly have a bearing but as others have mentioned, newer/older gloves, where the ball is caught and one that hasn't been brought up... surroundings.  There are some environments where the sound really carries or echos.  If the wind is blowing the right way in one of our bullpens, a ball firmly hitting catcher's mitt has a piercing sound like something hitting metal... could never figure that out but think it has something to do with the adjacent chain link fencing.

In any case, good luck to your boy and continue enjoying the ride.

Buckeye 2015 posted:

As a parent of a former HS (now college) pitcher....I will caution you.....DO NOT buy a radar gun.  If you do DO NOT take it to a game.  You don't want to be "that guy" and you don't want your son to have to tell his friends/teammates that you are "that dad".  A parent of a kid on my son's team bought a gun (expensive) when his kid was in 8th grade and started carrying it to every game, travel, HS, whatever.   He became a running joke at games, especially when his son hadn't hit 80 by his junior year in HS.    Just a bit of advice from a guy who's seen a lot over the past 10-12 years lol

You can be "that guy" if your son is hitting 85+ mph.  

I've been using my radar gun at almost all high school games for all pitchers on both sides since my son's freshman year.  I find it interesting to know the average HS pitcher speed.  I can also gauge when my son is getting tired.   

You can also put on a MLB hat and shirt when visiting other ball fields to have even more fun with a radar gun.  

Curious....  Would a traffic speed sign really work, like in the movie "The Rookie?". 

Thanks all for the feedback. I am not trying to brag. I am just trying to find out if my son's velocity has improved. he is just a high school player not a travel player. if he is 80 or 86 it really doesn't matter  because his season ends with the HS season. none of us dads on the team have the money or the need to know velocity to go out and spend money to buy a radar gun. I was just interested because the sound of the ball hitting the glove and the fact that it looks faster too.  somebody mentioned a glove radar product. It looks pretty good from a price standpoint. thanks for all the feedback.

Before I got a pocket radar I had once used a traffic speed setup and it actually worked. I'm not sure how accurate it would be but it did give me a reasonable reading...

"True Story"

In 1998, during our Goodwill Series #17 with the Japan National HS Team at Blair Field in Long Beach. Mike Jones, later a 1st round draft with pitching for our American team. Since I never own a radar gun and prefer to listen by sound and the batter's swing, I judged Mike at 87 mph.

A pro scout next to me with a gun said "no Bob it was 97 mph". Mike threw without effort.

Yes, SSK  Japan make a "special" bull pen catchers glove which can "pop".

Bob

lionbaseball posted:

Buckeye 2015 posted:

As a parent of a former HS (now college) pitcher....I will caution you.....DO NOT buy a radar gun.  If you do DO NOT take it to a game.  You don't want to be "that guy" and you don't want your son to have to tell his friends/teammates that you are "that dad".  A parent of a kid on my son's team bought a gun (expensive) when his kid was in 8th grade and started carrying it to every game, travel, HS, whatever.   He became a running joke at games, especially when his son hadn't hit 80 by his junior year in HS.    Just a bit of advice from a guy who's seen a lot over the past 10-12 years lol

You can be "that guy" if your son is hitting 85+ mph.  

I've been using my radar gun at almost all high school games for all pitchers on both sides since my son's freshman year.  I find it interesting to know the average HS pitcher speed.  I can also gauge when my son is getting tired.   

You can also put on a MLB hat and shirt when visiting other ball fields to have even more fun with a radar gun.  

Too bad that the MLB guys I've seen don't actually wear team logo stuff....

https://www.flickr.com/gp/joes87/B2cqtK

Montanabaseball posted:

Thanks all for the feedback. I am not trying to brag. I am just trying to find out if my son's velocity has improved. he is just a high school player not a travel player. if he is 80 or 86 it really doesn't matter  because his season ends with the HS season. none of us dads on the team have the money or the need to know velocity to go out and spend money to buy a radar gun. I was just interested because the sound of the ball hitting the glove and the fact that it looks faster too.  somebody mentioned a glove radar product. It looks pretty good from a price standpoint. thanks for all the feedback.

The problem with the glove radar is that you, or somebody else has to be back there catching the ball.   As for me, I got a bit unnerved a few years ago as my son started ramping things up a bit. Maybe you and some other guys could go in together and get the Pocket radar.  They are quite accurate.  

Teaching Elder posted:

Montanabaseball posted:

Thanks all for the feedback. I am not trying to brag. I am just trying to find out if my son's velocity has improved. he is just a high school player not a travel player. if he is 80 or 86 it really doesn't matter  because his season ends with the HS season. none of us dads on the team have the money or the need to know velocity to go out and spend money to buy a radar gun. I was just interested because the sound of the ball hitting the glove and the fact that it looks faster too.  somebody mentioned a glove radar product. It looks pretty good from a price standpoint. thanks for all the feedback.

The problem with the glove radar is that you, or somebody else has to be back there catching the ball.   As for me, I got a bit unnerved a few years ago as my son started ramping things up a bit. Maybe you and some other guys could go in together and get the Pocket radar.  They are quite accurate.  

Another problem with glove radars and other low priced / low quality gimmicks is, the speed of the pitch will not be picked up out of the pitchers hand. 

Go around with a stalker, golf hat, polo shirt, khakis, clipboard, stopwatch, and Oakley sunglasses and you're guaranteed to be thought of as a scout. No one would wear MLB org gear when going to scout a player, just doesn't happen...

Watch this from Bob Feller. No, I did not bat off of Bob.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhZ7t_DNi9w

Bob W.

MomLW posted:

Curious....  Would a traffic speed sign really work, like in the movie "The Rookie?". 

Go to stalkerradar.com. The same company that makes baseball radar makes police radar.

bballdad2016 posted:

Teaching Elder posted:

Montanabaseball posted:

Thanks all for the feedback. I am not trying to brag. I am just trying to find out if my son's velocity has improved. he is just a high school player not a travel player. if he is 80 or 86 it really doesn't matter  because his season ends with the HS season. none of us dads on the team have the money or the need to know velocity to go out and spend money to buy a radar gun. I was just interested because the sound of the ball hitting the glove and the fact that it looks faster too.  somebody mentioned a glove radar product. It looks pretty good from a price standpoint. thanks for all the feedback.

The problem with the glove radar is that you, or somebody else has to be back there catching the ball.   As for me, I got a bit unnerved a few years ago as my son started ramping things up a bit. Maybe you and some other guys could go in together and get the Pocket radar.  They are quite accurate.  

Another problem with glove radars and other low priced / low quality gimmicks is, the speed of the pitch will not be picked up out of the pitchers hand. 

Does pocket radar measure the receiving velocity? That's slower than the release velocity.

RJM posted:

 

Does pocket radar measure the receiving velocity? That's slower than the release velocity.

I've never used the Pocket Radar.  I usually ask the dad in the stands with a stalker for the speeds.  There seems to be one at every 12u and up game now. 

joes87 posted:

lionbaseball posted:

Buckeye 2015 posted:

As a parent of a former HS (now college) pitcher....I will caution you.....DO NOT buy a radar gun.  If you do DO NOT take it to a game.  You don't want to be "that guy" and you don't want your son to have to tell his friends/teammates that you are "that dad".  A parent of a kid on my son's team bought a gun (expensive) when his kid was in 8th grade and started carrying it to every game, travel, HS, whatever.   He became a running joke at games, especially when his son hadn't hit 80 by his junior year in HS.    Just a bit of advice from a guy who's seen a lot over the past 10-12 years lol

You can be "that guy" if your son is hitting 85+ mph.  

I've been using my radar gun at almost all high school games for all pitchers on both sides since my son's freshman year.  I find it interesting to know the average HS pitcher speed.  I can also gauge when my son is getting tired.   

You can also put on a MLB hat and shirt when visiting other ball fields to have even more fun with a radar gun.  

Too bad that the MLB guys I've seen don't actually wear team logo stuff....

 https://www.flickr.com/gp/joes87/B2cqtK

Probably true but most people in small towns in East Texas don't know that.  

Domingo Ayala has confirmed that Oakleys are a sure sign that someone is a scout -every tyne.  

Bob,

I assume that the video you linked is the Feller vs. Police Motorcyclist clip?

Yes, here it is. also another from Bob Gibson. Both had a common tread "intimidation"

Bob

lionbaseball posted:

joes87 posted:

lionbaseball posted:

Buckeye 2015 posted:

As a parent of a former HS (now college) pitcher....I will caution you.....DO NOT buy a radar gun.  If you do DO NOT take it to a game.  You don't want to be "that guy" and you don't want your son to have to tell his friends/teammates that you are "that dad".  A parent of a kid on my son's team bought a gun (expensive) when his kid was in 8th grade and started carrying it to every game, travel, HS, whatever.   He became a running joke at games, especially when his son hadn't hit 80 by his junior year in HS.    Just a bit of advice from a guy who's seen a lot over the past 10-12 years lol

You can be "that guy" if your son is hitting 85+ mph.  

I've been using my radar gun at almost all high school games for all pitchers on both sides since my son's freshman year.  I find it interesting to know the average HS pitcher speed.  I can also gauge when my son is getting tired.   

You can also put on a MLB hat and shirt when visiting other ball fields to have even more fun with a radar gun.  

Too bad that the MLB guys I've seen don't actually wear team logo stuff....

 https://www.flickr.com/gp/joes87/B2cqtK

Probably true but most people in small towns in East Texas don't know that.  

BTW, everyone one of those guys is an MLB scout.  Same setup on the first baseline dugout as well.  Plus a bunch of  them behind the backstop with Radar guns. They all look the same.  Middle age guys with boonie hats, casual dress shirts and cargo shorts/pants.  All carrying radar guns, stop watches and clipboards.  Pretty impressive when you actually see a group of them watching one guy...

joes87 posted:

 

Too bad that the MLB guys I've seen don't actually wear team logo stuff....

 

https://www.flickr.com/gp/joes87/B2cqtK

BTW, if you click on the link above, and then click "back to photostream" and then go to page 6 of the photos, you will see some cool photos of US Cellular field from when my kid got to take BP on the field.  The photo's in the suite are of Jerry Reinsdorf (owner) suite.  The memorabilia photos are also in Jerry's suite.  The signed jersey are those in the 500+ HR club.

The first couple of times I saw 20-30 Stalkers go up in unison I laughed. I couldn't help but think there's Mummers Parade routine in there somewhere. It reminded me of the Briefcase Brigade except use Stalkers.

Heres an imitation from a parade in Atlanta ...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2zUMRZYkJQA

an update -- we found a baseball guy with a stalker gun and he came out and gunned my son. He said he had a range of 84-88 and sitting 85 to 86.  does that mean he is throwing 88 or 85 to 86 when people ask?

You tell them that he sits 85- 86 and has touched 88. 

Joke Below:

Just say he's touched 94 and sits at 90. See thread "he's the hardest thrower so it must be 90". In all seriousness though a max velo overestimate of 6mph probably isn't that uncommon unfortunately. Same goes for the sitting mph. Everyone throws 90 on the Internet yet no one seems to "have their best stuff" when you finally see them throw. Sorry for hijacking the thread.