Home-to-First Time
Also known as: home-to-first, batter's box to first time
Home-to-first time is the stopwatch time from contact at home plate to the batter touching first base. It is a standard speed benchmark in scouting and recruiting.
Home-to-first time starts at a consistent, identifiable moment (contact) and ends at a fixed point (the base). That makes it one of the most comparable speed measurements across different players and events. Unlike a generic sprint time, it directly reflects game-relevant speed, including the batter's reaction and first steps out of the box. Times are usually taken from a live or simulated at-bat rather than a standing start. That is what makes it distinct from a straight sprint test.
Left-handed hitters and slappers generally post faster home-to-first times than right-handed hitters of similar raw speed. Their swing and follow-through naturally carry them a step or two closer to first base at the finish. Evaluators account for this when comparing times across hitters. Coaches sometimes track home-to-first time specifically for slappers. It is a leading indicator of how many additional infield hits their speed alone might produce.
Example
A scout times a hitter's home-to-first at a showcase, using a stopwatch that starts on bat-to-ball contact and stops when her foot hits the base.
Why it matters
Home-to-first time gives coaches and recruiters an objective, directly comparable speed number tied to real game situations. They do not have to rely on subjective impressions of how fast a player "looks."
How it shows up on video
Time from the moment of bat-to-ball contact to the moment the lead foot contacts first base, ideally averaged across multiple reps rather than a single best time.
Common mistakes
- Timing from the swing start rather than from actual contact, producing an inflated or uneven number
- Comparing a right-handed hitter's time directly against a left-handed hitter's without accounting for the natural head-start difference
- Relying on a single best-case time rather than an average across multiple at-bats
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab does not see first base, so it cannot calculate a home-to-first time. Use a stopwatch or count frames on your video.
Frequently asked questions
How is home-to-first time measured?
With a stopwatch or video timing starting at bat-to-ball contact and stopping when the runner's foot touches first base.
Why do left-handed hitters often have faster home-to-first times?
Their swing and natural follow-through carry their body a step or two closer to first base by the time they begin sprinting, compared to a right-handed hitter's swing path.
Related terms
- Speed to First BaseSpeed to first base is how quickly a batter gets from home to first. It is usually stopwatch-timed and used to judge bunt, slap, and infield-hit potential.
- Recruiting Video (Skills Video)A recruiting (skills) video is a short, structured video of a player's core skills. It introduces her to college coaches who haven't seen her play in person.
- Showcase Camp (Fast-Pitch)A showcase camp is an in-person event where fast-pitch players do standardized skill tests in front of college coaches. Many also include scrimmages.
- Running SlapA running slap is a full-speed slap where the hitter is already moving toward first at contact. The swing becomes the first strides of a sprint.
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