Does a fastball gain or lose velocity on its way to the plate?

Question

I was at a fair with a mph clock and a man next to me was talking about how you should stand as far back when you're throwing because a fastball gains velocity on it's way to the plate, but i had always thought it was the other way around. Does anybody know?

Answer 1

it loses velocity but yet gains force

Answer 2

lose velocity  

Answer 3

It loses velocity due to air resistance which acts as friction.  

Answer 4

A fastball cannot gain velocity once it leaves the pitchers hand regardless of what coaches or announcers say.  This is because gravity pushes the ball down and wind resistance slows the ball down.  Once a ball leaves a pitches hand, the ball begins to slow down.  The only way the ball can gain velocity once it leaves the pitches hand is if the pitches has a tail wind and the the velocity of the tail wind is greater than air resistance.  Therefore under most circumstances, a pitch only slows down.  If a pitch gains velocity, it will do so without anything the pitchers can control.  Only nature can give tail winds to pitchers.  

Generally pitchers lose between 12 and 30 MPH on their balls finding their way to the plate.  There are many books and videos on the subject.

Answer 5

the ball loses velocity. Watch this video. it is showing a prospect who's ball leaves his hand at 94 and it's last clocked speed is 87. I am about to post a question about this clip too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaSIBA-uq...

Answer 6

It appears to gain velocity but actually due to gravity and friction it slows down a little. Moving objects as they get closer appear to speed up, but that is our eyes and brain trying to adjust.

Answer 7

Most pitchers would loose velocity.  

But, I would think a pitcher like Randy Johnson, who is 6'9" and standing on a mound 18" above the ground  throwing his fastball  "over the top" (straight over his head) at a downward angle towards the plate would have the assist of gravity.  

This would have to overcome what little friction would occur in that short distance.  

His release point would be approximatly 10ft above the ground hand only have to travel 60.5 feet.

Throwing downwards at 95mph must have the assist of acceleration due to gravity.(approx. 32.174 ft/s2).