What it is

Release Speed and Launch Angle (available with pitchLogic pro) describe the flight of the ball at the moment it comes off the fingertip. Both Speed and trajectory change continuously during the ball’s flight, but the Speed (or velocity) most people are interested in is Release Speed. Speed is measured in miles per hour (MPH). For a pitch, the Speed typically decreases by as much as 10% from Release to home plate. When throwing long toss, the Speed decreases until the ball reaches its highest point and increases again on its way back down. Launch Angle is measured in degrees above or below horizontal. A positive Launch Angle indicates that the ball is travelling upward as it leaves the hand. Likewise, a negative Launch Angle indicates it is travelling downward.

Why it matters

Speed is one of the most used metrics related to pitching. While Speed in general has been a familiar measurement for some time, it is not always measured in a consistent manne. pitchLogic always measures Release Speed at the exact moment the ball leaves the pitcher’s fingertip. Radar guns vary based on the location of the gun and the pitcher’s release point. This reading is generally 1-2 MPH lower than pitchLogic and high-end pitch tracking systems.

Launch Angle is one of the main factors that affects a pitcher’s ability to control a pitch’s location in the strike zone. When throwing pitches of different types, different Launch Angles are needed to compensate for different amounts of Vertical Movement. A fastball with positive Vertical Movement will need a much lower Launch Angle than a curveball with negative Vertical Movement.

When throwing long toss, Launch Angle is a major part of controlling the distance the ball will travel. Up to a point, increasing the Launch Angle will increase the distance that the ball travels.

How it is used

There are several ways that Speed, and more specifically Release Speed, is used to evaluate the progress players are making in their training, and Speed is one of the most used measurements for comparing pitchers. pitchLogic provides an objective and convenient way to share this measurement with coaches, scouts, and recruiters. 

In addition to looking at maximum Speed, having significant differences in Speed across different pitch types can effectively disrupt a batter’s timing. An example of this is the difference in the Speed of a fastball versus a change-up. Up to a point, the greater the difference in Speed between pitch types the more effective a pitcher can be.

With Long Toss training the Launch Angle allows players to achieve the desired distance of their throws without changing the amount of effort put into the throw.When the goal is to throw for maximum distance, pitchers can use pitchLogic to experiment with different Launch Angles to achieve the greatest distance.