Measuring Speed Without a Gun

Very true. Was at my son's game on Saturday (HS Freshman) and was charting some pitchers for the coach with my Stalker and a Dad comes over from the other team and asks how hard is the kid on the mound throwing?

I check and tell him oh about 63..... he scream's what, only 63. I told him not to worry that JUG's read about 3 MPH faster. He walked away muttering that he was a junk ball pitcher.

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I told him not to worry that JUG's read about 3 MPH faster.

I think MODERN Jugs and Stalkers read almost identically. I certainly have seen them used side by side with Stalker sometimes reading 3 or even 4 mph higher for a few pitches.

Another hard to swallow fact for kids and dads: carnival guns are probably pretty accurate. (no one throws well without a good long warmup).

micdsguy,
My JUGS gun reads 2 mph faster than a Stalker sport or Stalker Pro on a consistent basis. It reads pretty much the same as other JUGS guns for a given pitcher. I only wish my son could get the same readings on a Stalker he gets on the JUGS.

BOF,
I think those Stalkers are known as "ego busters".

We have already retired this subject, micdsguy. Remember? The consensus is the Jugs is 2 MPH faster, on average. Confirmed by many including PG staff who should know.

Why would one ever have to "measure speed without a gun"? If it is a young kid, it doesn't matter yet. Work on mechanics, arm strength, etc. If it is an older kid -- and if he's throwing hard enough -- you'll automatically know his speed by standing behind the backstop and stealing readings from all the scouts.

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Confirmed by many including PG staff who should know.

I've NEVER read of anyone attempting a half-way scientific test of two brand new guns under various conditions side by side on test tripods over hundreds of pitches.

Both guns have been made for many years. The makers' own literature brags that they regularly improve their firmware.

Think of all the variations: One brand may be dead-on at 70, but 2 mph off at 90. Curve vs straight pitches. Head on behind the catcher vs 10 degrees off. How do temperature, sunlight (UV rays) and perhaps humidity affect the readings?. Is one more accurate at 70 feet than at 270 feet? Or thru a chain fence?

How does accuracy hold up over years in gentle "dad use" vs rough PG showcase use? Full battery vs drained battery?

Perhaps one brand may be manufactured more consistantly. How do the parts age with time?

I do know from watching two Stalkers used side by side on identical tripods four feet apart for a half-hour in a game that even the same brand can show huge variation on the same pitch. Heck, even then I wonder whether the guns, which are radio transmitters, interact with EACH OTHER!

Note too that neither firm's literature claims their product is 2 mph more accurate than the other.

I really like the "ask dad and subtract 7" method. Cheers for that!