Intermediate

Exit Velocity by Age (Fast-Pitch)

Also known as: softball exit velocity by age, fastpitch exit velocity, good exit velocity, good exit velocity for softball, softball exit velo, exit velo by age

Definition

There is no trustworthy official chart of fast-pitch exit velocity by age. One major swing-sensor maker says it has not published age-based softball benchmarks. Readings change with the bat, the device and tee versus live pitching. The useful comparison is your own average over time, measured the same way.

Exit velocity is how fast the ball leaves the bat. It reflects solid contact and strength. Numbers posted online for fast-pitch ages are hard to trust. They mix different bats, devices and settings, and they rarely say how they were measured. One major swing-sensor maker states that no single trustworthy softball chart by age exists. It has not published one of its own.

Three things move the number. Bat standards differ, and the same swing can read differently with another bat. Devices disagree. A radar gun, a bat sensor and a cage system can give different readings for the same hit. Setting matters too. Tee swings and live pitches produce different numbers.

To track progress, use the same device, the same bat and the same setting each time. Record the average of ten or more swings rather than the single best one. Keep tee and live numbers separate. The same source says developing teen hitters commonly add about 3–5 mph per year. Treat that as a rough pattern, not a target.

Beginner tip

Pick one device and one bat, and test off a tee once a month. Write down the average of ten swings.

Advanced note

Track live-pitch exit velocity apart from tee work, and read it next to where the ball went. A harder-hit ground ball to the shortstop is not always progress.

Example

A 14U hitter measures her tee exit velocity with the same bat and sensor every month. Her ten-swing average climbs from one season to the next. That trend means more to her coach than any number from a chart online.

Why it matters

Comparing yourself to an unreliable chart can make you chase a number instead of better contact. A steady personal baseline shows whether strength and swing work are paying off.

Common mistakes

Comparing a tee reading to someone else's live-pitch number
Recording only the single hardest hit instead of an average
Switching bats or devices and treating the change as progress
Trusting an age chart that does not say how its data was measured

Frequently asked questions

What is a good exit velocity for 14U softball?

There is no trustworthy official benchmark by age. One major swing-sensor maker says it has not published age-based softball numbers. Readings vary with the bat, the device and tee versus live pitching. Compare your own ten-swing average over time instead.

How do I measure exit velocity in softball?

Use the same device, bat and setting every time. Record the average of ten or more swings, and keep tee and live-pitch numbers separate.

How much does exit velocity go up each year in softball?

One swing-sensor maker says developing teen hitters commonly add about 3–5 mph per year. Growth, strength and swing changes all affect it. Treat that as a rough pattern, not a goal.