I bought a Jugs radar gun for my league. It was pretty expensive, but people I spoke with before buying it said it was better. Tell me if I made the right choice.
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Either one is good enough for the intended use.
Your post title made me wonder if we were all going to help you select a girlfriend!?
JK
JK
T-Bird, with my track record, I might run any future possibilities by you guys!
Dad,
Stalker is more widely use by professional and many college scouts.
However the Juggs is not much of a step down....should do you well (and I'm sure you saved a little money over the stalker)
Stalker is more widely use by professional and many college scouts.
However the Juggs is not much of a step down....should do you well (and I'm sure you saved a little money over the stalker)
ITs really only a choice between these 2 for most people. The Jugs will work just fine. As a college coach we use the Stalker and from my experience I tend to see more college and pro scouts use the Stalker. Also I don't know the exacts but doesn't the Jugs take the radar reading earlier out of the hand thus giving a 2-3mph faster read then the Stalker who takes its reading closer to the plate? If someone knows the actuall facts of this I would be curious to find out how it works for sure.
No, the Jugs does not read earlier.
At one time, the Stalker had a higher sampling rate which would give more accurate readings. Don't know if that is still true.
At one time, the Stalker had a higher sampling rate which would give more accurate readings. Don't know if that is still true.
I was curious so I went to the stalker website and owners manual, below is some info I took off of it that gives more insight.
STALKER
74.9 mph
at plate
RAGUN
76mph
at 50 feet
Plate
Many are familiar with the Decatur Ragun and
the JUGS Gun and how they read on pitches.
The reason different radar guns read different
speeds is because they are taking readings at
different places during the pitch. Target Acquisition
Time is what determines how quickly
a radar can lock onto a target speed. The
JUGS Gun responds relatively quick, taking
the ball speed at about 7 feet after release.
The Decatur Ragun responds very slowly, taking it's reading
between 30 and 50 feet after release. With the STALKER's
extremely fast target acquisition, it can get the ball speed at
about 7 inches, displaying that speed in the peak display and
then freezing the true ending plate speed on the lower display.
In the future, all pitchers will be evaluated on the true release
and plate speeds that only the STALKER can measure.
A fast ball may only slow down 4 mph, where a change up could
slow as much as 12 mph. Pitchers can use the dual displays
to learn which techniques vary the ball speed the most.
STALKER
74.9 mph
at plate
RAGUN
76mph
at 50 feet
Plate
Many are familiar with the Decatur Ragun and
the JUGS Gun and how they read on pitches.
The reason different radar guns read different
speeds is because they are taking readings at
different places during the pitch. Target Acquisition
Time is what determines how quickly
a radar can lock onto a target speed. The
JUGS Gun responds relatively quick, taking
the ball speed at about 7 feet after release.
The Decatur Ragun responds very slowly, taking it's reading
between 30 and 50 feet after release. With the STALKER's
extremely fast target acquisition, it can get the ball speed at
about 7 inches, displaying that speed in the peak display and
then freezing the true ending plate speed on the lower display.
In the future, all pitchers will be evaluated on the true release
and plate speeds that only the STALKER can measure.
A fast ball may only slow down 4 mph, where a change up could
slow as much as 12 mph. Pitchers can use the dual displays
to learn which techniques vary the ball speed the most.
I think that quoted material is pretty old. Jugs and Stalkers read about the same nowadays, I think.
This subject comes up about every two months. Note that Stalkers made in the past year have improved batteries for greater capacity and faster/easier charging. Jugs are cheaper and a bit lighter.
This subject comes up about every two months. Note that Stalkers made in the past year have improved batteries for greater capacity and faster/easier charging. Jugs are cheaper and a bit lighter.
That's interesting:
Several times over the years the following readings have been observed:
Stalker: 90 mph
JUGS 88 mph
Decatur: 84 mph
I don't believe the newest of Stalkers were used, however I assure you, the oldest of 'Pipes' was used (i.e. Decatur & recently calibrated)
OBTW: Due to the frequencies used, the Ray Gun has the largest of ranges yet the oldest of radar technologies and requires about as near a car battery to work!
Other trivia
+3 to +5 mph - JUGS readings than the Ray Gun.
70 mph - avg bat speed of major leaguer
63-68 mph - avg MLB curve (Ray Gun)
73-78 mph - avg MLB slider (Ray Gun)
85 mph - avg MLB fastball (Ray Gun)
0.001 secs - base hit vs foul ball (swing)
(vs 85 mph fastball Ray Gun)
0.003 secs - between contact vs no contact
(vs 85 mph fastball Ray Gun)
0.13 secs - (85 mph pitch) batter starts swing after pitcher's release
0.41 secs - 85 mph fastball to plate
4.05 secs - avg time for MLB LHH to 1st
(Mantle was reportedly timed 3.2 sec, early in career and prior to leg injuries)
4.15 secs - avg time for MLB RHH to 1st
4.12 secs - 40 yd dash by Bo Jackson
4.27 secs - Deion Sanders
4.29 secs - Gaston Green
4.34 secs - Willie Gault
1.98 secs - avg MLB catcher's Pop time
3.1 secs - speed merchant's 1b to 2b
(& with a 15 ft lead)
3.3 secs - MLB pitchers avg release times (to plate in stretch)
Today's 90 mph may be below avg at the big league level (for RHP). Twenty yrs ago the only gun used was the Decatur Ray Gun. The 'Pipe' measured the pitch across the plate (which was out of the hand at 90) at about 84 mph. When you get the ol' timers talking about arms throwing 90+, they include Johnson, Feller, Flanigan, Koufax, Gibson, Ryan....many others.
The younger guys should not believe todays pitchers are throwing any harder than the great arms in the past. However, pitchers today are throwing the about the same number of game pitches, yet the arms of yesteryears tossed more innings. One debate I recall was whether or not Tommy was blowing arms. One thing is sure, he got a lot of innings of out Koufax and Drysdale!
cheers
Several times over the years the following readings have been observed:
Stalker: 90 mph
JUGS 88 mph
Decatur: 84 mph
I don't believe the newest of Stalkers were used, however I assure you, the oldest of 'Pipes' was used (i.e. Decatur & recently calibrated)
OBTW: Due to the frequencies used, the Ray Gun has the largest of ranges yet the oldest of radar technologies and requires about as near a car battery to work!
Other trivia
+3 to +5 mph - JUGS readings than the Ray Gun.
70 mph - avg bat speed of major leaguer
63-68 mph - avg MLB curve (Ray Gun)
73-78 mph - avg MLB slider (Ray Gun)
85 mph - avg MLB fastball (Ray Gun)
0.001 secs - base hit vs foul ball (swing)
(vs 85 mph fastball Ray Gun)
0.003 secs - between contact vs no contact
(vs 85 mph fastball Ray Gun)
0.13 secs - (85 mph pitch) batter starts swing after pitcher's release
0.41 secs - 85 mph fastball to plate
4.05 secs - avg time for MLB LHH to 1st
(Mantle was reportedly timed 3.2 sec, early in career and prior to leg injuries)
4.15 secs - avg time for MLB RHH to 1st
4.12 secs - 40 yd dash by Bo Jackson
4.27 secs - Deion Sanders
4.29 secs - Gaston Green
4.34 secs - Willie Gault
1.98 secs - avg MLB catcher's Pop time
3.1 secs - speed merchant's 1b to 2b
(& with a 15 ft lead)
3.3 secs - MLB pitchers avg release times (to plate in stretch)
Today's 90 mph may be below avg at the big league level (for RHP). Twenty yrs ago the only gun used was the Decatur Ray Gun. The 'Pipe' measured the pitch across the plate (which was out of the hand at 90) at about 84 mph. When you get the ol' timers talking about arms throwing 90+, they include Johnson, Feller, Flanigan, Koufax, Gibson, Ryan....many others.
The younger guys should not believe todays pitchers are throwing any harder than the great arms in the past. However, pitchers today are throwing the about the same number of game pitches, yet the arms of yesteryears tossed more innings. One debate I recall was whether or not Tommy was blowing arms. One thing is sure, he got a lot of innings of out Koufax and Drysdale!
cheers
FYI, I went to both USD vs Texas games over the weekend and every single Scout had a Stalker Gun. About 20 scouts were on hand as well.
I bet that most of those scouts didn't pay for their Stalkers.