Fastpitch softball: pitching distance is 43', and pitchers pitching at 60 mph. What would be speed at 40'?

Question

Would the speed be faster because the pitching distance would be shorter?

Answer 1

Nope, just because the distance is shorter, the ball doesn't travel at a higher speed. It just gets there in a shorter time.

Answer 2

Speed doesn't change wth distance.  60 MPH is 60 MPH whether its thrown from 43' or 430'.

Answer 3

60 mph is 60 mph

The reaction time by the hitter is altered by the distance being shorter. It is how the ball speed is perceived by the hitter. Being closer makes it look faster while at MLB range it would be a fat batting practice pitch.

Answer 4

The speed is the same regardless of the mound distance.

To get the equivalent reaction time:

A=actual (43 feet)

N=new (40 feet)

(N-A)/N

(40-43)/40

So the reaction time would be 7.5% less.

Therefore, the "equivalent" speed would be 7.5% faster (or 64.5 mph).  But the actual speed would be the same (60mph).

Answer 5

the reaction time you mean the speed will stay the same just the reaction time will go to like 0.125 secs in stead of like 0.315 secs (i think) and in baseball it's like 0.325 secs so there you go the stats

Answer 6

While the previous respondents are correct in saying that 60 mph is 60 mph regardless of how far away the pitch is thrown from, if the ball was traveling 60 mph at 43' from the rubber, it would actually be traveling a bit faster at 40' away, due to the fact that the ball is slowing down the moment it leaves the pitchers hand. This would be due to the fact that there is gravity as well as a small amount of friction from the air. However, the difference would be incredibly small.

Answer 7

That previous poster that tried to make this is physics lesson is wrong.  A radar gun picks up a pitch speed at the same exact point every time.  Most guns are aimed at the home plate area which is why sometimes a gun might pick up bat speed rather than pitch speed.  Anyway, it doesn't matter how far away the person is standing, the gun picks up the speed at home plate.  If it says it's 60mph then it's 60mph no matter where the pitcher is standing.  

Answer 8

um 60 mph. Its a myth that speed decreases from a longer distance.