How fast do you really need to throw?

It’s a misconception that most college softball pitchers throw in the mid-upper 60s.

How fast does the average college pitcher throw?

When you watch college softball on TV, you see a lot of 60+ on the radar gun. That, however, is not necessarily representative of the majority. The pitchers you see on TV are the elite of the elite. The average college pitcher probably throws in the mid-upper 50s. Of course, there are plenty of pitchers you DON’T see on TV who are also throwing in the 60s, and speed is always a desirable trait. But you don’t have to throw in the 60s to be successful, and speed is not the only thing that can make you successful as a pitcher.

How to be a successful pitcher throwing in the mid-upper 50s

You need to command your pitches and change speeds. In fact, the majority of the time, a pitcher who tops out in the 50s but commands 1-2 real movement pitches and can put her change up wherever she wants will have more success than someone throwing in the 60s without changing speeds or commanding her pitches well.

You want to prepare your body and perfect your mechanics to get as much speed out of yourself as you can, but some people just aren’t built to throw 60+ no matter how hard they work. THAT’S OK!

If you have aspirations to attend one of the big schools that are perennial NCAA tournament favorites, yes, you might need that 60+ speed. But there are thousands of other colleges with softball programs in the country, and they have a very wide variety of needs. If you know your strengths and perfect them, there is definitely a school out there that would love to have you.