A 68 mph pitch in softball is considered very fast, often at the elite or professional level, while 68 mph in baseball is considered slow for a professional pitcher and more common at the high school or lower college levels.
When we talk about how fast a softball pitch is compared to a baseball pitch, it’s not a simple one-to-one comparison. While the numbers might look similar on a radar gun, the physics and mechanics involved create a significant difference in what the batter experiences. Let’s dive deep into softball vs. baseball velocity and explore what 68 mph softball pitching truly means when stacked against 68 mph baseball pitching.
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Deciphering Relative Pitch Speeds
To truly grasp the difference, we need to look beyond just the raw number. Several factors contribute to the perceived speed and effectiveness of a pitch in each sport. These include the size of the ball, the pitching motion, the distance from the pitcher to home plate, and the equipment used.
The Softball Pitching Advantage: What is 68 mph Softball Pitching?
In softball, a pitcher throwing 68 mph softball pitching is genuinely exceptional. This speed is at the very upper echelon of what is achievable in the sport. For context, the average fastball speed for a high school softball pitcher might be in the 50s, while college pitchers often reach the high 60s and occasionally the low 70s. Professional pitchers can push into the low to mid-70s.
A 68 mph pitch in softball is fast enough to:
- Challenge elite hitters: Even the best softball players will have to react very quickly to a pitch traveling at this speed.
- Create swing-and-miss opportunities: Batters might have trouble timing up such a velocity, leading to strikeouts.
- Require advanced bat speed: To make solid contact, a hitter needs significant softball bat speed vs baseball levels, but in softball’s context.
Softball pitch speed conversion isn’t about changing the number, but about understanding its impact within the game’s unique parameters.
The Baseball Perspective: What is 68 mph Baseball Pitching?
Now, let’s consider 68 mph baseball pitching. In baseball, this speed is considered on the slower side for competitive play. Professional baseball pitchers typically throw fastballs in the 80s and 90s, with some reaching over 100 mph. Even at the college level, pitchers will often exceed 68 mph. This speed is more commonly seen in:
- Youth baseball: Little League or youth leagues might see pitchers at this speed.
- High school baseball: Many high school pitchers will be in this range.
- Lower levels of college baseball: Some pitchers on junior college or lower-division college teams might throw in this velocity bracket.
A 68 mph pitch in baseball is often used as a change-up or a pitch thrown by a pitcher who isn’t the primary power thrower on the team. It relies more on location, movement, or deception to get batters out.
The Core Differences: Why the Comparison Matters
The fundamental differences between softball and baseball pitching mechanics and playing fields dramatically influence how we perceive these speeds.
Pitching Motion and Release Point
- Softball: Softball pitchers typically use an underhand or windmill motion. The ball is released from a lower point. This motion, while powerful, has inherent biomechanical limitations on the maximum velocity achievable compared to baseball.
- Baseball: Baseball pitchers throw overhand. This motion allows for greater torque and leverage, enabling higher velocities. The release point is also from a much higher angle.
Distance to Home Plate
This is a critical factor.
- Softball: The pitching distance in fastpitch softball is 43 feet (from the pitching rubber to the back of home plate).
- Baseball: The pitching distance in baseball is 60 feet, 6 inches (from the pitcher’s mound to the back of home plate).
This difference of nearly 18 feet means a softball pitcher has significantly less time to get the ball to the plate than a baseball pitcher. This fact alone makes a 68 mph pitch in softball feel much faster to the batter than a 68 mph pitch in baseball.
Ball Size and Weight
- Softball: A fastpitch softball is larger (circumference of 11 to 12 inches) and heavier (between 6.25 and 7 ounces) than a baseball.
- Baseball: A baseball has a circumference of 9 to 9.25 inches and weighs between 5 and 5.25 ounces.
The larger size of the softball might seem like it would slow it down, but the heavier weight and the physics of spinning a larger object play a role. However, the primary driver of perceived speed difference remains the pitching motion and distance.
Pitch Speed Equivalency: Trying to Quantify the Difference
Trying to establish a precise pitch speed equivalency is complex because it’s not just about linear speed. However, sports scientists and analysts have attempted to create rough conversions to help illustrate the difference.
A common rule of thumb suggests that a softball pitch needs to be roughly 10-15 mph faster to feel equivalent to a baseball pitch of the same number due to the shorter distance and different pitching motion.
So, a 68 mph softball pitch might feel like a baseball pitch in the range of:
- 68 mph (softball) + 10-15 mph (equivalency) = 78-83 mph (baseball equivalent feel)
This calculation highlights why 68 mph softball pitching is considered elite, while 68 mph baseball pitching is considered relatively slow.
Baseball Pitch Speed Comparison and Softball’s Unique Velocity Landscape
Let’s place 68 mph baseball pitching in its typical context:
- High School Pitcher: A solid speed, but many top high school pitchers throw faster.
- College Freshman: Could be a starting point for a pitcher developing their velocity.
- Change-up for a Professional: A pitch used to disrupt timing, not the primary fastball.
Now, consider 68 mph softball pitching:
- Elite High School Pitcher: This is a top-tier speed, competitive in almost any high school game.
- College Pitcher: A very good speed, likely a starter or key reliever on many college teams.
- Professional Pitcher: A good, respectable speed, but not at the highest end of professional velocity.
The baseball pitch speed comparison shows a vast difference in what that number represents for the batter.
The Role of Other Factors: Beyond Raw Speed
While velocity is a significant factor, it’s not the only one determining a pitch’s effectiveness.
Softball Bat Speed vs. Baseball Bat Speed
- Softball: Softball hitters often rely on tremendous softball bat speed to compensate for the higher pitch speeds and the shorter distance. The swing is typically shorter and more compact than in baseball.
- Baseball: Baseball hitters also need fast bat speeds, but the longer distance allows for a more powerful, rotational swing.
The softball exit velocity compared to baseball can be competitive, but the context of how that velocity is achieved against a pitch of a different perceived speed is crucial.
Spin and Movement
Both sports involve pitchers who throw with spin and movement to deceive batters. A well-thrown curveball or change-up at a lower velocity can be more effective than a straight fastball at a higher velocity.
- In softball, pitchers utilize rise balls, drop balls, screwballs, and curveballs, all delivered with the windmill motion. The spin imparted can create significant upward or downward movement, making a 68 mph pitch even harder to hit squarely.
- In baseball, pitchers use four-seam fastballs, two-seam fastballs, sliders, curveballs, and change-ups, all delivered overhand. The spin on these pitches creates different types of movement.
The Reaction Time Factor
Let’s quantify the reaction time for both.
-
Softball (68 mph):
- Distance: 43 feet = 516 inches
- Speed: 68 mph ≈ 99.7 feet per second ≈ 1196 inches per second
- Reaction Time = Distance / Speed = 516 inches / 1196 inches/sec ≈ 0.43 seconds
-
Baseball (68 mph):
- Distance: 60.5 feet = 726 inches
- Speed: 68 mph ≈ 99.7 feet per second ≈ 1196 inches per second
- Reaction Time = Distance / Speed = 726 inches / 1196 inches/sec ≈ 0.61 seconds
This difference of about 0.18 seconds might not seem like much, but in a sport measured in milliseconds, it’s a significant advantage for the softball hitter facing that pitch speed.
Fathoming Softball Pitching Speeds in Context
To truly appreciate softball pitching speeds, it’s essential to compare them to the athletes’ physical capabilities and the game’s demands.
Elite Softball Pitching Velocities
When a softball pitcher can consistently hit 68 mph:
- They are likely a top athlete with excellent training and pitching mechanics.
- They have a significant advantage over most batters they will face.
- They can dominate games if they also possess good control and secondary pitches.
The softball pitch speed conversion concept is primarily about understanding how these speeds impact the game’s dynamics, not about a mathematical formula to swap speeds.
The Progression of Velocity in Both Sports
- Softball: Velocity development in softball often focuses on refining the windmill motion, increasing leg drive, and improving arm speed while maintaining control and accuracy. The ceiling for velocity is naturally lower than in baseball due to biomechanics.
- Baseball: Velocity development in baseball involves building strength, power, and a repeatable overhand throwing motion. The potential for higher velocities is greater.
Why the Number 68 MPH is Different
The core takeaway is that the number 68 mph represents vastly different levels of achievement and effectiveness in softball versus baseball.
- In softball, 68 mph is a rare, elite velocity. It’s a weapon that can shut down offenses.
- In baseball, 68 mph is a more common, often developmental velocity. It’s a speed that many hitters can eventually adjust to with proper training and timing.
The relative pitch speeds are skewed by the fundamental differences in how the ball is delivered and the distance it travels.
Understanding Softball Exit Velocity Compared to Baseball
When discussing softball exit velocity compared to baseball, it’s important to remember that while baseballs are smaller and lighter, the bats used in baseball are often longer and heavier, allowing for greater leverage. This means that while the speed of the ball off the bat might be comparable in some scenarios, the force and energy transfer can differ.
- A hitter facing a 68 mph softball is reacting to a pitch that, in terms of perceived velocity and reaction time, is like a much faster baseball pitch. Therefore, their ability to generate powerful contact is tested differently.
- A hitter facing a 68 mph baseball is reacting to a pitch that offers more time to see the ball, adjust their swing, and generate power.
The softball bat speed vs baseball dynamic is also key here. Softball hitters must generate immense bat speed very quickly to catch up to faster pitches, and their swings are optimized for this. Baseball swings, while also powerful, have more time to develop rotational force.
Summary Table: 68 MPH in Softball vs. Baseball
| Feature | 68 MPH in Softball | 68 MPH in Baseball |
|---|---|---|
| Level of Play | Elite/Professional; exceptionally fast | High school/Lower college; common to slow |
| Perceived Speed | Very fast, due to shorter distance and motion | Relatively slow, due to longer distance and motion |
| Reaction Time | Approximately 0.43 seconds | Approximately 0.61 seconds |
| Pitching Motion | Underhand/Windmill | Overhand |
| Distance | 43 feet | 60 feet, 6 inches |
| Ball Size/Weight | Larger and heavier | Smaller and lighter |
| Effectiveness | Dominant pitch, difficult to hit squarely | Often used as a change-up or by developing pitchers |
| Batting Challenge | Requires exceptional reaction time and bat speed | More time for timing and power generation |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is 68 mph fast for a softball pitcher?
Yes, 68 mph is considered very fast for a softball pitcher. It’s a speed achieved by elite athletes and is typically seen at the collegiate and professional levels.
How does 68 mph in softball compare to a 75 mph baseball pitch?
A 68 mph softball pitch is often considered to have a similar perceived speed and reaction time challenge to a 75 mph baseball pitch. This is due to the shorter pitching distance in softball (43 feet vs. 60.5 feet) and the different pitching motion.
What does 68 mph mean in baseball?
In baseball, 68 mph is considered a slow pitch speed for competitive play, often seen in youth leagues, high school, or as a change-up pitch by more advanced pitchers.
Why does a softball pitch seem faster than a baseball pitch of the same speed?
This is primarily due to the shorter pitching distance in softball. A softball pitcher has less time to deliver the ball to home plate, meaning the batter has less time to react. The underhand pitching motion also plays a role, though the distance is the biggest factor.
Can a softball pitcher throw as fast as a baseball pitcher?
Generally, no. Due to biomechanical differences in the overhand baseball pitching motion compared to the underhand softball pitching motion, baseball pitchers can achieve significantly higher peak velocities.
What is a good fastball speed for a high school softball pitcher?
A good fastball speed for a high school softball pitcher is typically in the 55-65 mph range. Reaching 68 mph would place a pitcher among the very best in high school.
What is a good fastball speed for a high school baseball pitcher?
A good fastball speed for a high school baseball pitcher often starts in the 70s and can go into the 80s. 68 mph would be considered on the lower end for a competitive high school pitcher.