Have you ever noticed that sometimes a pitch seems faster or slower than the speed shown on the radar gun? There’s a fascinating theory behind this phenomenon, called Effective Velocity (EV), and it’s a concept that could completely change the way pitchers approach their game.
What Is Effective Velocity?
Effective Velocity refers to a pitcher’s ability to manipulate a batter’s perception of pitch speed. In its simplest form, it combines two main elements:
The batter’s perceived velocity
The distance the batter has to move his bat to make contact
The core idea behind Effective Velocity is that the location of a pitch affects how the batter perceives its speed and how quickly they must react. A pitch thrown at different locations in the strike zone can appear faster or slower, even if it’s thrown at the same speed.
The Science Behind Perceived Velocity
Perceived velocity is essentially the speed a batter feels a pitch is traveling, which can vary depending on where the ball crosses the plate. To visualize this, think of an imaginary diagonal line starting from the batter’s feet, crossing over the plate, and ending at their shoulders. This is the point at which the pitch is perceived to be traveling at its radar speed.
Here’s the interesting part: for every 6 inches the pitch is thrown toward the batter from this line, the perceived velocity increases by 2.75 mph. Conversely, for every 6 inches the pitch is thrown away from the batter, the perceived velocity decreases by 2.75 mph.
This means that a pitch thrown up and inside can feel 5.5 mph faster than its actual speed. For example, a 92 mph pitch could feel like 97 mph when thrown in this location. On the other hand, a pitch thrown down and away can feel much slower.
Why Does This Matter?
As a hitter, there are moments when a pitch feels much slower or faster than its actual speed. This is where Effective Velocity comes into play—it explains why a 90 mph fastball might seem faster when thrown up and in compared to the same pitch thrown down and away.
The batter’s reaction time is also influenced by pitch location. When a pitch is thrown inside, the batter has less time to react because they need to move the bat a longer distance to make contact. In contrast, when a pitch is away, the batter can wait a bit longer and doesn’t have to move the bat as far to make contact.
How to Use Effective Velocity in Pitching Strategy
Pitchers often hear the importance of “establishing the fastball” and “pitching inside” during games. This concept is rooted in Effective Velocity. Once a pitcher can consistently throw inside, it forces the batter to adjust their timing, which opens up the rest of the strike zone.
Research has shown that most Major League hitters are capable of hitting a 90 mph fastball and can even adjust to pitches that are 3 mph faster or slower. That means they can comfortably adjust to a 6 mph window. However, when pitches fall outside this range, a hitter’s performance drops significantly.
So, what does this mean for pitchers? By varying pitch speed and using location strategically, a pitcher can create an effective velocity spread of more than 6 mph. This makes it much harder for a hitter to time their swings.
Putting It Into Practice
Veteran pitchers may not always be aware of the precise numbers behind Effective Velocity, but they instinctively use these principles in their pitching strategy. By disrupting a batter’s timing and using pitch location to their advantage, a pitcher can create a difference of up to 12 mph in perceived pitch speed, even with the same velocity.
This understanding of Effective Velocity can be a game-changer for pitchers, especially those whose velocity may not be elite. By manipulating pitch location and timing, pitchers can make their fastballs significantly more effective, throwing off hitters and increasing their chances of success.
