How fast is fast in 12U???

[thedoanezone]

Last year at 12U Nationals in Roseville the fastest pitchers I saw were throwing between 58 and 61 mph. Most were throwing in the mid 50s. I did not see anyone clocked at 64.

If by most, you mean more than half, then I think that is a little high. I would agree that over half the pitchers at Montgomery will pitch at or over 50-52, maybe 1 out of 10 that will see 56 and out of those there's the 2 or 3 that might approach 60+.

[play4fun]

You can pitch in the high 50's all you want because without the movement, the top teams are going to eat the ball alive!!!!!

Low to mid 50's with movement is the key but if you can bring it faster with control and movement then....go go go

In Texas we were told about a 12u last year at nationals that had a 60mph screwball...now that's speed with movement! ( I think they said she was from California)

[hit4power]

Mothergoose,

I won't add to the mountain of comments on speed, except to say that Play4fun is right, speed w/o movement won't get you very far after 12U. DD is playing 14U and we relish facing those pitchers who are "fast" but don't move the ball much or struggle to hit their spots. Knowing what I know now, If i could do one thing different with my DD when she moved up to 12U it would be to begin weaning her (sooner rather than later) from relying on her fastball for strikes. Learn to throw the movement pitches to specific spots on the edges of the strike zone and/or just out of the zone, and learn to throw a really good change. When she's ready, learn the rise. Pitchers who can change speeds and move the ball up/down and around are the tough ones to beat.

[MotherGoose]

So far her curve and screwball have some major movement, but we're not sure how she'll do with the extra 5' of distance and the bigger ball - will it break too soon? She's got the strength - She'll just have to get her confidence on the mound I guess. Her rise is pretty good - but that and her drop ball are tough on her catchers.
We definitely saw in nationals that they could hit her fastball no problem - especially the Chattanooga Storm that ended up winning the whole thing. We weren't used to anybody hitting her much less cranking it out into deep left field! We wish we had called for some more off-speed pitches. Oh well. Lesson learned!

[Sftbll4ever]

Don't focus to much on the speed. Work on the movement and off speed and hitting spots. I honestly did not know how fast my dd threw until this year (1st year 14u). She was gunned at lessons a couple of weeks ago. Not to bad! We have noticed a lot more people gunning her lately and I really don't care to know what it is. She just works on moving in, out, up, down, and changing her speeds. She seems to be getting the job done. (Unless those stupid boys are in the picture. They mess up everything!!!)

[hit4power]

Dont give up on the rise/drop - the catchers will catch up (no pun intended) and be able to handle it, and most people I've talked to think the vertical movement is more difficult for hitters than the horizontal movement of the curve/screw. On moving to the bigger ball/longer distance the extra distance seems to be less problem than the bigger ball, or was for my DD. While the ball got bigger overnight hand size does not, and some kids struggle with their ability to spin the bigger ball (just cant grip it as well) until they grow a bit more. I'd be watching to make sure that spin doesn't suffer. DD had to make some adjustments to grips until she/her hands grew into the bigger ball. Not an issue for everyone, depends on size and growth spurt timing for the kid.