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Want to know your velocity? Good news! You do not need an expensive radar gun! Read on..

There is a website developed by some Florida Grad students that is a very accurate velocity predictor.

Go to http://faculty.tcc.fl.edu/scma/carrj/Java/baseball4.html

The simulator on the website estimates the distance a ball travels based on "X" velocity off a bat. But it also works for arm/pitching speed.

Here's what you do. On the website,

1) Change the elevation to your area's number. Mine is 2000 feet above sea level, so I type in 2000 and click "change".

2) Set the optimum angle to 36 degrees. (Optimum angle is a range of about 32-40 so 36 is about right.)

3)Change the speed to however fast you think you are and click "hit". The simulator will then give you a distance number. For example, based on my elevation of 2000, 78.8 MPH = 267 feet.

4)Go to a football field, warmup, then throw for maximum distance. Note the distance, then using the simulator, you can monkey the velocity number until it matches the distance you threw. That's how fast you are!

It really, really works. My son threw 78.8 in October, then went to a college camp in January and was clocked on the Stalker at 79 MPH.

There is another website out there that says something like, if you throw 300 feet you throw 90 MPH. Don't believe it. The website above yields a much lower (but way more accurate) number.

Everyone try it and give some feedback. But remember, tell us if the predicted velocity matches a Stalker or Jugs. (Not Bushnell. I have one and it's not very accurate.)

When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. --Mark Twain

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Works fine for me. Lots of fun. I'm seeing that 90 mph at 1,000 foot elevation goes about 315 feet. Pity the pitchers in Flagstaff!

This is based on Dr. Adair's info in his Physics of Baseball book.

While reliable radar records only go back about 40 years (very primitive records date back to 1917), there are surviving throwing distance measurements going back to about 1870. They suggest that old time players had arms that were plenty strong.
As you have pointed out, there is an optimum angle (with z(0) = 0 ft) for longest of distances.

With proper long toss, a pitcher's arm angle is not at range of 32-40 degrees) (ie too much tilt....~ shoulder concerns...impingment etc)

Note that an angle of about 25-26 degree will yield 300 ft at 90 mph.

Considering a 6 ft ht at z(o), another ~ 14-15 degrees adjustment may be necessary, which is why a preferred long toss at 150' is max!

Will any Cy Young Award winners pitch all year in Colorado.... ever?

OBTW: R. Adair's info = highly recommended.


Regards,
Bear
Last edited by Bear
This program is fascinating. Can someone 'splain why 45 degrees isn't best for distance. Cannon balls go farthest at that angle. I understand that humans probably can't throw well at such a high angle, but that program has nothing to do with human mechanics.

Interesting that launching a ball at a vertical angle from about 30 degrees to about 40 degrees achieves almost the same distance.
Last edited by micdsguy
Bear,

Thanks for setting the record straight on the 90 MPH fastball at 25-26 degrees. Comes out to 298 feet so you're right.

I'm not sure I subscribe to the whole 150 ft max thing. I'm a big believer in long-toss to stretch out the arm (e.g., Jaeger's program)..but that's a for a different forum, so we'll agree to disagree.

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