Pitching Machine Distance and Speed (Fast-Pitch)
Also known as: pitching machine distance, pitching machine speed, how far should the pitching machine be, pitching machine settings softball, machine to simulate 60 mph, pitching machine rise ball setting
A machine closer than game distance feels faster than its dial says. A rough rule is equivalent speed = machine speed × 43 ÷ machine distance in feet. A machine at 35 feet set to 49 mph gives about the reaction time of a 60 mph pitch from 43 feet. Use the distance for your age group in place of 43.
Hitters react to time, not speed. Moving the machine closer cuts the time the ball is in the air. The formula above treats the ball as traveling at a steady speed from the machine to the plate. It ignores the pitcher's stride, the ball slowing down and the exact release point. Use it as a starting point and adjust to how the hitter's timing looks. For 60 mph from 43 feet, try about 49 mph at 35 feet or 56 mph at 40 feet.
Game distance changes by age. USA Softball uses 35 feet for 10U girls, 40 feet for 12U and 43 feet from 14U through adult women. A 10U hitter practicing against a machine at 43 feet sees slower timing than she will face. Many wheel machines can make a rise or a drop by changing the wheel speeds or tilting the head. Follow the maker's manual. Some machines throw true curves or changeups and others cannot.
Machines have a timing problem. The hitter cannot see an arm motion to load with. Have the feeder show the ball, then drop it into the wheels with the same rhythm each time. Use balls the machine is made for and that will not damage your bat. Keep the feeder behind a screen, and have the hitter wear a helmet.
Tips by skill level
Start the machine slower than game speed and build up. Contact first, speed second.
Alternate rounds at game-equivalent speed and a few mph slower. It trains the hitter to adjust instead of locking onto one timing.
Example
A 14U team wants to prepare for a pitcher who throws about 60 mph. Their cage only allows 35 feet, so the coach sets the machine near 49 mph. The hitters' timing in the cage matches what they see in the game.
Why it matters
Set wrong, a machine trains the wrong timing. Set well, it lets hitters see game-speed reaction time in a small space.
Common mistakes
- Setting the dial to game speed at a shorter distance and overwhelming the hitter
- Feeding balls with no visual cue for timing
- Using only one speed and location every round
- Feeding without a protective screen
Frequently asked questions
How far should the pitching machine be to simulate 60 mph?
At 43 feet, set 60 mph. Closer in, multiply the dial speed by 43 and divide by the distance. About 49 mph at 35 feet or 56 mph at 40 feet gives similar reaction time.
What speed should I set the pitching machine for 12U softball?
Start near the speeds the hitters face in games, using 40 feet as game distance. If the machine is closer, lower the speed using the distance formula and adjust from there.
Sources
Related terms
- Reaction WindowThe reaction window is the fraction of a second a fast-pitch hitter has to read the pitch, decide whether to swing, and start the swing — one of the shortest in any sport due to the combination of pitch speed and short pitching distance.
- Soft Toss vs Front TossSoft toss and front toss are two ways a partner feeds underhand tosses into a hitter's swing. In soft toss, the tosser kneels or stands to the side, or at an angle in front, and the hitter drives the ball into a net. In front toss, the tosser stands in front, about 15 feet away behind a protective screen, so the ball comes from the pitcher's direction. Soft toss suits mechanics and many reps; front toss adds timing.
- Hitting the RiseHitting the rise means squaring up a well-located rise ball instead of swinging under it. The hitter stays tall and tracks the ball up through the zone.
- Load Timing (Hitting)Load timing is when and how a hitter shifts weight back and coils the upper body. It syncs to the pitcher's delivery, not a fixed internal clock.
- Adjusting to Speed ChangesAdjusting to speed changes means retiming your load and swing when a slower pitch follows fast ones. It avoids being "way out in front" of a changeup.
Related guides & benchmarks
Put this into practice
Ask SwingVantage a follow-up question about this, or keep reading the related terms above.