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Pitching Machine Speed Chart – Speed vs. Distance

When using a pitching machine, it seems like the ball is moving faster or slower depending on your distance from the machine. In fact, the ball’s speed remains constant. If pitched at 60 mph, it travels at 60 mph. However, the machine’s distance from home plate matters when it comes to batting. Consult the pitching machine speed chart to see how pitch speed and batter’s distance create a comparative “reaction time speed.”

Learn more about how players see a fastball.

Pitcher's Aid Radar Gun
Hack Attack baseball pitching machine

Calculating Speed

Pitching machines always pitch at the set speed. For example, if the machine is set to 70 mph, the pitch travels at 70 mph at any distance. However, the same 70 mph appears to travel faster when hitting 30 feet, opposed to 60 feet, from home plate. Consequently, it is beneficial to consult a pitching machine speed chart or calculate the perceived speed. Plus, understanding the ball’s travel time helps improve your game.
EQUATION

Longer Distance (feet) ÷ Shorter Distance (feet) × MPH

For the longer distance, enter the typical mound to plate distance. For example, enter 60.5 feet for a field that follows MLB guidelines. Next, the shorter distance (also in feet) represents the distance from the pitching machine to the plate. Lastly, multiply by the miles per hour (MPH) of the pitch.

EXAMPLE

A pitching machine is set at 70 mph. When the machine is placed 60 feet from home plate, the pitch appears to be traveling at 70 mph (it’s actual speed) when it reaches the player. Now if the machine is moved half the distance home, so 30 feet away, the same pitch appears to travel at 140 mph.

So, in the example above, the longer distance is 60 feet and the shorter distance is 30 feet. The MPH is 70. When we plug those numbers into the equations, we get:

(60÷30) × 70 MPH = 2 × 70 MPH = 140 MPH

To make it even easier to calculate, check the charts below to find how fast it feels like the ball is traveling based on your distance from home plate:

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Pitching Machine Speeds (compared to MLB 60.6 feet)

40 FEET VS. MLB 60.6 FEET|46 FEET VS. MLB 60.6 FEET|54 FEET VS. MLB 60.6 FEET
Pitching Machine SpeedComparison Speed|Pitching Machine SpeedComparison Speed|Pitching Machine SpeedComparison Speed
3045|4559|5056
3147|4660|5157
3248|4762|5258
3350|4863|5359
3451|4964|5461
3553|5066|5562
3654|5167|5663
3756|5268|5764
3857|5370|5865
3959|5471|5966
4060|5572|6067
4162|5674|6168
4264|5775|6269
4365|5876|6371
4467|5978|6472
4568|6079|6573
4670|6180|6674
4771|6282|6775
4873|6383|6876
4974|6484|6977
5076|6585|7078
5177|6687|7180
5279|6788|7281
5380|6889|7382
5482|6991|7483
5583|7092|7584
5685|7193|7685
5786|7295|7786
5888|7396|7887
5989|7497|7989
6091|7599|8090

Pitching Machine Speeds (compared to 46-54 feet)

40 FEET VS. 46 FEET|40 FEET VS. 54 FEET|46 FEET VS. 54 FEET
Pitching Machine SpeedComparison Speed|Pitching Machine SpeedComparison Speed|Pitching Machine SpeedComparison Speed
3034|3040|4553
3136|3142|4654
3237|3243|4755
3338|3345|4856
3439|3446|4958
3540|3547|5059
3641|3649|5160
3743|3750|5261
3844|3851|5362
3945|3953|5463
4046|4054|5565
4147|4155|5666
4248|4257|5767
4349|4358|5868
4451|4459|5969
4552|4561|6070
4653|4662|6172
4754|4763|6273
4855|4865|6374
4956|4966|6475
5057|5068|6576
5159|5169|6677
5260|5270|6779
5361|5372|6880
5462|5473|6981
5563|5574|7082
5664|5676|7183
5766|5777|7285
5867|5878|7386
5968|5980|7487
6069|6081|7588

Have questions? Contact us with any additional questions regarding pitching machines, projects, or to get started on a custom order today.

7 comments
  1. ray robbins
    ray robbins
    October 19, 2022 at 12:13 pm

    what is the proper speed for a 7 and 8 year batting machine

    Reply
    • jake
      jake
      October 21, 2022 at 8:27 am

      Hi Ray,

      An appropriate speed for 7 to 8 years old, would be in the ballpark of 30-35mph. I hope this helps. Let us know if you need anything else.

      Cheers,
      Jake S.

      Reply
  2. Bob
    Bob
    May 15, 2023 at 9:44 pm

    Watching the College World Series,a pitcher throws 70 MPH at 45 feet,how fast would it go at 60 feet? Thank you—alienpazo@aol.com

    Reply
    • tony
      tony
      June 6, 2023 at 12:10 pm

      Ok, Bob. Math isn’t my strongest suit, but first, let’s take a look at our formula again:

      Longer Distance (feet) ÷ Shorter Distance (feet) × MPH

      In this particular case, though, we are moving from a shorter distance to a longer distance, so, to my way of thinking, we’ve got to switch those first two numbers:

      Shorter distance (feet) ÷ Longer Distance (feet)

      45 ft / 60.5 ft = .7438

      Now we can take that ratio and multiply it by our pitch speed of 70:

      .7438 x 70 = 52.066 mph

      So at the longer distance, that ball will appear to be only traveling at 52 mph by the time it reaches the plate.

      Think I messed up my calculations? Please feel free to let us know here in the comments.

      Reply
      • Chad
        Chad
        April 24, 2024 at 9:57 pm

        You would do 65.6/45x 70=94 mph

        Reply
  3. Craig
    Craig
    May 22, 2023 at 8:11 pm

    In your example calculation you say 60.6 feet for MLB distance. Since the distance is 60 feet 6 inches, and 6 inches is half a foot, you should be using 60.5 as your number in the math equation.

    Reply
    • tony
      tony
      May 23, 2023 at 1:26 pm

      Craig, great “catch!” I updated the typo.

      Reply
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