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Pitching Speed by Age: Average MPH and What to Set Your Pitching Machine To
Pitching speed climbs steadily with age. In a study of 295 youth and young-adult baseball pitchers, average fastball speed was 49.5 mph at ages 9–12, 62.7 mph at 13–15, 71.8 mph at 16–17 and 73.5 mph at 18–22. Major League four-seam fastballs averaged 94.8 mph in 2026. To set a pitching machine, place it at your league's pitching distance and match the speed hitters see in games. If you place it closer, use the formula below to see what speed it simulates.
Average Pitching Speed by Age (Baseball)
| Age or level | Average fastball speed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 9–12 | 49.5 mph | Riff et al., 295 pitchers (via Antonacci et al., 2020) |
| Ages 13–15 | 62.7 mph | Riff et al. (via Antonacci et al., 2020) |
| Ages 16–17 | 71.8 mph | Riff et al. (via Antonacci et al., 2020) |
| Ages 18–22 | 73.5 mph | Riff et al. (via Antonacci et al., 2020) |
| MLB, four-seam fastball | 94.8 mph (2026 season) | MLB Statcast, reported by the Associated Press |
A second group measured by radar gun at the start of a training program averaged 52 mph at ages 10–12, 64.1 mph at 13–14 and 69.6 mph at 15–17 (Antonacci et al., 2020). These are averages: individual pitchers vary widely at every age, so treat them as a starting point, not a target.
Pitching Distance by League
Speed only means something together with distance. The same 50 mph pitch reaches the plate much sooner from 46 feet than from 60 feet 6 inches.
| League or division | Pitching distance |
|---|---|
| Little League Minor and Major (baseball) | 46 ft |
| Cal Ripken Major 60 | 46 ft |
| Little League Intermediate (50/70), ages 11–13 | 50 ft |
| Cal Ripken Major 70 | 50 ft |
| Little League Junior and Senior (baseball) | 60 ft 6 in (Junior has a 54 ft local option) |
| Little League softball, Minor / Majors / Junior and Senior | 35 ft / 40 ft / 43 ft |
| USA Softball girls, 10U to 18U | 35 ft at 10U, up to 43 ft at 18U |
Sources: Little League baseball divisions, Little League field specifications, Cal Ripken Baseball, USA Softball. Check your own league's rules, since local options exist.
How to Convert Speed for a Shorter Distance
Hitters react to time, not miles per hour. To find what a pitch at a shorter distance "feels like" from the full 60 ft 6 in distance, scale the speed by distance:
Equivalent speed = machine speed × 60.5 ÷ pitching distance in feet
- A typical 9–12 game pitch of about 50 mph from 46 feet arrives about as fast as a 65 mph pitch from 60 ft 6 in (49.5 × 60.5 ÷ 46 = 65.1).
- A 13-year-old in the Intermediate (50/70) division throwing the 13–15 average of about 63 mph from 50 feet delivers a pitch that feels like about 76 mph from 60 ft 6 in (62.7 × 60.5 ÷ 50 = 75.9). Players in Junior League and up already pitch from 60 ft 6 in, so no conversion is needed.
- Sports Attack makes the same point for its Junior Hack Attack: set 45 feet from the plate, its 70+ mph top speed "simulates 90+ MPH" (Sports Attack).
The formula is a close approximation: it ignores the pitcher's stride (release happens a few feet in front of the rubber) and the small loss of speed in flight, so treat it as a guide for setting a machine rather than an exact figure.
What Speed to Set Your Pitching Machine
- Place the machine at your league's pitching distance. Use the table above.
- Start at the average game speed for the age group (about 50 mph for 9–12, 63 mph for 13–15, 72 mph for 16–17), then raise it in small steps as hitters start squaring the ball up.
- To practice against faster pitching without a faster machine, move the machine closer and use the formula to see what speed it simulates.
- Keep breaking-ball and change-up work slower than fastball work, and keep the machine behind a protective screen.
Softball Pitching Speed by Age
In a study of windmill softball pitchers, youth pitchers (average age 11) threw an average of 41 mph (range 31–52 mph) and collegiate pitchers averaged 57 mph (range 50–61 mph) (Wasserberger et al., 2021). Youth pitch from 35–40 feet in Little League softball, and older players from 43 feet. The same distance formula applies with 43 feet as the reference: equivalent speed = machine speed × 43 ÷ your pitching distance, which gives the speed that would feel the same from 43 feet. Example: 40 mph from 35 feet feels like about 49 mph from 43 feet (40 × 43 ÷ 35 = 49.1).
Matching a Machine to the Age Group
| Machine | Listed top speed (baseball / softball) | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Sports Attack Junior Hack Attack | 70+ mph / 60+ mph | Youth leagues, machine-pitch games, backyard and travel teams |
| Sports Attack Hack Attack | 100+ mph / 80+ mph | Older hitters who need game speeds above 70 mph |
| Sports Attack I-Hack Attack | 100+ mph / 80+ mph | Same listed top speed as the Hack Attack |
Speeds are Sports Attack's published figures: Hack Attack baseball, Hack Attack softball, Junior Hack Attack baseball, Junior Hack Attack softball, I-Hack Attack baseball and I-Hack Attack softball. For a full comparison of features, power and setup, see our pitching machine buying guide.
From the Trainer
As a certified personal trainer, my advice is the same for hitters as for any athlete: progress gradually. Hitters build timing at a speed they can handle with good mechanics, then move up. Jumping straight to the fastest setting teaches a rushed swing, not a faster one.
Sources
- Antonacci et al., "Interaction Between Age and Change in Velocity During a Baseball Training Program," Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 2020 (reports Riff et al. 2016, 295 pitchers)
- Riff et al., Arthroscopy, 2016 (PubMed)
- Wasserberger et al., "Comparison of Pelvis and Trunk Kinematics Between Youth and Collegiate Windmill Softball Pitchers," Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 2021
- Associated Press: MLB pitchers set fastball velocity record, averaging 94.8 mph (Sept. 29, 2026)
- Little League: Baseball divisions and field specifications
- Babe Ruth League: Cal Ripken Baseball
- USA Softball
- Machine speeds: Sports Attack product pages, checked October 26, 2026.
Last verified October 26, 2026.
Shop Pitching Machines
Browse the full Sports Attack collection, or shop baseball pitching machines and softball pitching machines. Popular picks: the Junior Hack Attack baseball and softball machines for youth players, and the Hack Attack baseball and softball machines for older hitters. Questions about which machine fits your team? Email support@peakflowfitness.com.