supporting parent

Velocity has nothing to do with where the ball is prior to release. Velocity readings begin upon release.

Depending on the device, speed readings are either:
1) The maximum speed (or, worse, the average) along the path while holding the trigger down
2) or, based on the instant the trigger is pulled (ex. PocketRadar, GloveRadar)

Further, guns in #1 above only request a reading every xx/1000s of a second. So, for example, some guns may pick up the speed 1 foot out of the hand, and others pick up the first reading 5 feet out,etc.

I have some general gun questions....

1. Doesn't the ball slow down as it travels?

If so, does it matter where the gun picks up the ball on its flight path or is the decrease in speed irrelevant?

If it does slow down and it is relevant, what can the impact be on average?

2. How does the gun filter out the clutter/noise from the motion of the pitcher? Basically, how does it know to read the ball and not the pitchers arm motion for example?

I am sure once this is explained and it is clear how ignorant I am, I will have some more questions...

quote:

Originally posted by dw8man:
I have some general gun questions....

1. Doesn't the ball slow down as it travels?
YES 7-11 mph for FB - ex. a 99mph pitch may cross plate at 89 mph or so

If so, does it matter where the gun picks up the ball on its flight path
YES - see note on xx/1000s

or is the decrease in speed irrelevant?
NO

If it does slow down and it is relevant, what can the impact be on average?
Bushnells show speeds 3 mph 'slower' yet consistently, gloveRadars are 7-11 mph (or more) 'slower' yet consistent, pocket radars are by definition random/inconsistent since they depend on the timing of a single click

2. How does the gun filter out the clutter/noise from the motion of the pitcher? Basically, how does it know to read the ball and not the pitchers arm motion for example?
It may not. That's why you want max speed - ex. hold the trigger and the gun picks up 10 readings and only displays the highest number

Most radar guns used today get the reading as the ball leaves the pitchers hand. Hiding the ball might effect the hitter, but not the gun.

Every thrown ball slows down as it travels. However, some pitchers maintain velocity a little better at the plate than others. IMO This is due to the rotation of the ball. The better the spin the more velocity is maintained.

Average is the average reading of most fastballs thrown, not the average of any single pitch.

I'm not sure how the gun filters out interference. Sometimes, especially with cars traveling behind the fence, it does interfer with the pitch. It is pretty easy to figure out when you have a bad reading.

either way...a big improvement over the stop watch.

someone had said that the ball will slow down by 1 mph per 10 feet. If you were tying to figure out the speed over 60 feet based on time, take what would equate to the average and add 3 mph.